Model Comparison

GPT-5.4 vs GPT-5.1 ThinkingWhich is better in 2026?

GPT-5.4 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks. GPT-5.1 Thinking is 1.6x cheaper per token.

Verdict: GPT-5.4 vs GPT-5.1 Thinking — which is better?

GPT-5.4 (by OpenAI) and GPT-5.1 Thinking (by OpenAI) are two of the AI models people compare most. Here is how they stack up on benchmarks, price and capabilities, and which one to pick in 2026.

GPT-5.4 outperforms in 3 benchmarks (FrontierMath, GPQA, Tau2 Telecom), while GPT-5.1 Thinking is better at 0 benchmarks. GPT-5.4 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.

On price, GPT-5.1 Thinking is roughly 1.6x cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 input/output basis, which adds up quickly at production volume.

GPT-5.4 also accepts a larger context window (1,000,000 input tokens), making it the stronger choice for long documents and large codebases.

Choose GPT-5.4 if…

  • you want the strongest raw capability — it leads on 3 of 3 shared benchmarks
  • you process long inputs — it offers a 1,000,000 token context window
  • you want the most recent training data — it shipped Mar 2026

Choose GPT-5.1 Thinking if…

  • cost matters — it's about 1.6x cheaper per token

Performance Benchmarks

Comparative analysis across standard metrics

3 benchmarks

GPT-5.4 outperforms in 3 benchmarks (FrontierMath, GPQA, Tau2 Telecom), while GPT-5.1 Thinking is better at 0 benchmarks.

GPT-5.4 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.

Sat Jun 13 2026 • llm-stats.com

Arena Performance

Human preference votes

Pricing Analysis

Price comparison per million tokens

GPT-5.1 Thinking costs less

For input processing, GPT-5.4 ($2.50/1M tokens) is 2.0x more expensive than GPT-5.1 Thinking ($1.25/1M tokens).

For output processing, GPT-5.4 ($15.00/1M tokens) is 1.5x more expensive than GPT-5.1 Thinking ($10.00/1M tokens).

In conclusion, GPT-5.4 is more expensive than GPT-5.1 Thinking.*

* Using a 3:1 ratio of input to output tokens

Lowest available price from all providers
Sat Jun 13 2026 • llm-stats.com
OpenAI
GPT-5.4
Input tokens$2.50
Output tokens$15.00
Best providerOpenAI
OpenAI
GPT-5.1 Thinking
Input tokens$1.25
Output tokens$10.00
Best providerOpenAI
Notice missing or incorrect data?Start an Issue

Context Window

Maximum input and output token capacity

GPT-5.4 accepts 1,000,000 input tokens compared to GPT-5.1 Thinking's 400,000 tokens. Both models can generate responses up to 128,000 tokens.

OpenAI
GPT-5.4
Input1,000,000 tokens
Output128,000 tokens
OpenAI
GPT-5.1 Thinking
Input400,000 tokens
Output128,000 tokens
Sat Jun 13 2026 • llm-stats.com

Input Capabilities

Supported data types and modalities

Both GPT-5.4 and GPT-5.1 Thinking support multimodal inputs.

They are both capable of processing various types of data, offering versatility in application.

GPT-5.4

Text
Images
Audio
Video

GPT-5.1 Thinking

Text
Images
Audio
Video

License

Usage and distribution terms

Both models are licensed under proprietary licenses.

Both models have usage restrictions defined by their respective organizations.

GPT-5.4

Proprietary

Closed source

GPT-5.1 Thinking

Proprietary

Closed source

Release Timeline

When each model was launched

GPT-5.4 was released on 2026-03-05, while GPT-5.1 Thinking was released on 2025-11-12.

GPT-5.4 is 4 months newer than GPT-5.1 Thinking.

GPT-5.4

Mar 5, 2026

3 months ago

3mo newer
GPT-5.1 Thinking

Nov 12, 2025

7 months ago

Knowledge Cutoff

When training data ends

Neither model specifies a knowledge cutoff date.

Unable to compare the recency of their training data.

No cutoff dates available

Provider Availability

GPT-5.4 is available from OpenAI. GPT-5.1 Thinking is available from OpenAI.

GPT-5.4

openai logo
OpenAI
Input Price:Input: $2.50/1MOutput Price:Output: $15.00/1M

GPT-5.1 Thinking

openai logo
OpenAI
Input Price:Input: $1.25/1MOutput Price:Output: $10.00/1M
* Prices shown are per million tokens

Outputs Comparison

Notice missing or incorrect data?Start an Issue discussion

Key Takeaways

Larger context window (1,000,000 tokens)
Higher FrontierMath score (47.6% vs 26.7%)
Higher GPQA score (92.8% vs 88.1%)
Higher Tau2 Telecom score (98.9% vs 95.6%)
Less expensive input tokens
Less expensive output tokens

Detailed Comparison

AI Model Comparison Table
Feature
OpenAI
GPT-5.4
OpenAI
GPT-5.1 Thinking

FAQ

Common questions about GPT-5.4 vs GPT-5.1 Thinking.

Which is better, GPT-5.4 or GPT-5.1 Thinking?

GPT-5.4 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks. GPT-5.4 is made by OpenAI and GPT-5.1 Thinking is made by OpenAI. The best choice depends on your use case — compare their benchmark scores, pricing, and capabilities above.

How does GPT-5.4 compare to GPT-5.1 Thinking in benchmarks?

GPT-5.4 scores Tau2 Telecom: 98.9%, ARC-AGI: 93.7%, Graphwalks BFS <128k: 93.0%, GPQA: 92.8%, Graphwalks parents <128k: 89.8%. GPT-5.1 Thinking scores Tau2 Telecom: 95.6%, AIME 2025: 94.0%, BrowseComp Long Context 128k: 90.0%, GPQA: 88.1%, MMMU: 85.4%.

Is GPT-5.4 cheaper than GPT-5.1 Thinking?

GPT-5.1 Thinking is 2.0x cheaper for input tokens. GPT-5.4 costs $2.50/M input and $15.00/M output via openai. GPT-5.1 Thinking costs $1.25/M input and $10.00/M output via openai.

What are the context window sizes for GPT-5.4 and GPT-5.1 Thinking?

GPT-5.4 supports 1.0M tokens and GPT-5.1 Thinking supports 400K tokens. A larger context window lets you process longer documents, conversations, or codebases in a single request.

What are the main differences between GPT-5.4 and GPT-5.1 Thinking?

Key differences include context window (1.0M vs 400K), input pricing ($2.50 vs $1.25/M). See the full comparison above for benchmark-by-benchmark results.