OpenAI models: Every model and what it's best for

Keeping track of all the new AI models getting released at the moment is practically a full-time job. I would know: I've been writing about them for the past few years, and it feels like every time I publish an article, another new model drops. OpenAI is one of the worst offenders (or prolific innovators), and things aren't helped by how confusing all the OpenAI model names are. 

So, let's try to simplify things: consider this your complete guide to all of OpenAI's major models. We'll look at what each one is good for, how much they cost, and how to make the most of them in your work. 

But first, I have to apologize for the crimes against consistent naming conventions, capitalization, and hyphenation we're all going to have to endure. GPT-4.1 mini, o4-mini, and GPT Image 1 are three of OpenAI's latest models. Hang in there.

Table of contents:

• Why are there so many OpenAI models?

• Major OpenAI models

• Legacy OpenAI models

• How to choose the right OpenAI model

• Automate OpenAI models

Why are there so many OpenAI models?

OpenAI is one of the most important AI companies. Its ChatGPT chatbot and DALL·E 2 image generator essentially kickstarted the current AI boom. Over the past few years, it's continued to develop large language models, multimodal models, and text-to-image models.

OpenAI is moving fast. As the technology advances, new models have come out, and we've naturally been left with an extensive list—including some legacy models.

OpenAI models at a glance

GPT-4.1

Best OpenAI model for complex tasks that don't require advanced reasoning

GPT-4.1 is OpenAI's flagship multimodal LLM and one of the most powerful non-reasoning AI models available right now. 

It's best to consider GPT-4.1 the ultimate Swiss Army knife of OpenAI's models. While there's very little it can't do, there are some situations where another model might be more appropriate. For example, a dedicated reasoning model will perform better on multi-step tasks like code generation, while a smaller cost-optimized model will offer better value for basic text generation. 

• GPT-4.1 inputs: Text, images

• GPT-4.1 outputs: Text

• GPT-4.1 context window: 1,047,576 tokens

• GPT-4.1 input pricing: $2.00/M tokens

• GPT-4.1 output pricing: $8.00/M tokens

GPT-4.1 mini

Best OpenAI model for balancing power, performance, and affordability

GPT-4.1 mini is a fast and affordable general-purpose AI model. In benchmarks, it performs almost as well as GPT-4.1 but at ⅕th the price. If you aren't sure which model to use, GPT-4.1 mini is probably the sensible starting point. Unless you know you need the extra power of GPT-4.1 or are concerned about cost optimization, it's a very strong option. 

• GPT-4.1 mini inputs: Text, images

• GPT-4.1 mini outputs: Text

• GPT-4.1 mini context window: 1,047,576 tokens

• GPT-4.1 mini input pricing: $0.40/M tokens

• GPT-4.1 mini output pricing: $1.60/M tokens

GPT-4.1 nano

Best OpenAI model for speed and price

GPT-4.1 nano is the smallest GPT-4.1 model available. As a result, it's the fastest and cheapest model—though it isn't as powerful as GPT-4.1 or GPT-4.1 mini. It's the model to use for simple tasks, or when you need to prioritize speed and cost-effectiveness. 

• GPT-4.1 nano inputs: Text, images

• GPT-4.1 nano outputs: Text

• GPT-4.1 nano context window: 1,047,576 tokens

• GPT-4.1 nano input pricing: $0.10/M tokens

• GPT-4.1 nano output pricing: $1.40/M tokens

GPT-4o

Best OpenAI model for multimodality

While a specially trained version of GPT-4o powers ChatGPT, it's largely been replaced by the newer, more powerful, and more affordable GPT-4.1 model in the API. But GPT-4o still has one key API feature that its successor lacks: GPT-4o Audio supports audio inputs and outputs. It can transcribe audio into text or reply with speech.

• GPT-4o inputs: Text, audio, images

• GPT-4o outputs: Text, audio

• GPT-4o context window: 128,000 tokens

• GPT-4o input pricing: $2.50/M tokens for text; $40/M tokens for audio

• GPT-4o output pricing: $10/M tokens for text; $80/M tokens for audio

GPT-4o mini

Best OpenAI model for multimodality on a budget

Like GPT-4o, GPT-4o mini has been replaced by the more affordable and powerful GPT-4.1 mini in the API—though it still powers ChatGPT for free users. Similarly, GPT-4o mini Audio offers audio inputs and outputs for ¼th the cost of GPT-4o Audio. For developers that need an audio model but are cost constrained, it's the best option.

• GPT-4o mini inputs: Text, images, audio

• GPT-4o mini outputs: Text, audio

• GPT-4o mini context window: 128,000 tokens

• GPT-4o mini input pricing: $0.15/M tokens for text; $0.10/M tokens for audio

• GPT-4o mini output pricing: $0.60/M tokens for text; $20/M tokens for audio

o3

Best OpenAI model for advanced reasoning and logic

o3 is OpenAI's most powerful reasoning model, and it's one of the most advanced AI models currently available. 

Reasoning models like o3 are best for logical, technical, and scientific tasks. If you need the most powerful model OpenAI has for generating computer code, analyzing text documents and images, or solving complex puzzles, o3 is the one to use. But because reasoning models use additional resources to work through problems, they're more expensive for tasks that don't require advanced reasoning.

• OpenAI o3 inputs: Text, images

• OpenAI o3 outputs: Text

• OpenAI o3 context window: 200,000 tokens

• OpenAI o3 input pricing: $10/M tokens

• OpenAI o3 output pricing: $40/M tokens

o4-mini

Best OpenAI model for affordable reasoning and logic

o4-mini is OpenAI's most powerful small reasoning model. It was developed from the as-yet-unreleased o4 model, and as a result, it's almost as powerful as o3 at just over 1/10th the price. 

o4-mini is the best reasoning model for most situations. If you're truly pushing the limits of what AI can do, o3 can give slightly better results, but in many situations, o4-mini's speed, affordability, and higher usage limits offset the small drop in reasoning ability.

• OpenAI o4-mini inputs: Text, images

• OpenAI o4-mini outputs: Text

• OpenAI o4-mini context window: 200,000 tokens

• OpenAI o4-mini input pricing: $1.10/M tokens

• OpenAI o4-mini output pricing: $4.40/M tokens

Whisper

Best OpenAI model for affordable audio transcription

Whisper is an older audio transcription and translation model. While GPT-4o is far more powerful, at just $0.006 per minute of audio transcribed or translated, Whisper is a solid budget option for low-stakes audio services. 

• Whisper inputs: Text, images

• Whisper outputs: Text

• Whisper input pricing: $0.006/minute

GPT Image 1

Best OpenAI model for generating images

GPT Image 1 is the successor to OpenAI's DALL·E image models, and it's one of the best text-to-image models available.

OpenAI's pricing for image models is quite complicated because images are converted into tokens based on their size and quality. It currently costs $0.011 to generate a 1024 x 1024 low-quality image and $0.167 to generate a 1024 x 1024 high-quality image.

• GPT Image 1 inputs: Text, images

• GPT Image 1 outputs: Images

• GPT Image 1 input pricing: $5/M text tokens; $10/M image tokens

• GPT Image 1 output pricing: $40/M image tokens

GPT-4.5

Best OpenAI model for human-like responses

GPT-4.5 is OpenAI's best GPT model, but after July 2025, it'll only be available through ChatGPT. While it outperforms GPT-4o, GPT-4.1 is almost as good and takes significantly less processing power to run—which makes it much more cost-effective. But if you're interested in trying out GPT-4.5, ChatGPT Plus and ChatGPT Pro subscribers can select it from the model selector.

• GPT-4.5 inputs: Text, images

• GPT-4.5 outputs: Text

• GPT-4.5 pricing: Available as part of ChatGPT Plus ($20/month) and ChatGPT Pro ($200/month)

Sora

Best OpenAI model for generating video

Sora is OpenAI's video generation model. It can take a combination of text prompts, still images, and videos, and generate a video based on all that. Sora isn't available as an API. 

ChatGPT Plus subscribers can generate watermarked 10-second videos in 720p resolution. ChatGPT Pro subscribers can generate unwatermarked 20-second videos in 1080p resolution.

• Sora inputs: Text, images, videos

• Sora outputs: Videos

• Sora pricing: Available as part of ChatGPT Plus ($20/month) and ChatGPT Pro ($200/month)

Legacy OpenAI models

OpenAI has developed and deprecated dozens of models over the past few years. Here are some of the major models that are no longer supported, actively used, or state-of-the-art:

• o1

• GPT-4

• GPT-3.5 Turbo

• GPT-3

• DALL·E 3

• DALL·E 2

How to choose the right OpenAI model

OpenAI has lots of models, but they each serve a purpose. GPT-4.1 and GPT-4.1 mini are the most flexible—which is why they power ChatGPT. o3 and o4-mini provide advanced reasoning to solve complex problems, while GPT-4.1 nano prioritizes speed and affordability. There's certainly a lot of overlap between the different models' abilities, but in general, one should strike you as the best balance between power and price. 

OpenAI keeps releasing new models, changing pricing, and otherwise mixing things up. I'll do my best to keep this list as current and accurate as possible in the meantime.

Automate OpenAI models

All the OpenAI models are the most helpful when they're part of your existing workflow. With Zapier's ChatGPT integration, you can use o3-mini, GPT-4o mini, and GPT-4o to automate everything from intelligent sales outreach to content generation to customer support. This means doing things like automatically identifying opportunities in your CRM, summarizing business information, and prioritizing your workflow—using all the apps already in your tech stack.

Learn more about how to automate OpenAI models with Zapier, or get started with one of these pre-made templates.

Related reading:

• How to create a custom GPT: A beginner's guide

• What are Claude computer use and ChatGPT Operator?

• What is ChatGPT deep research?