← Models

GPT-5

OpenAI · GPT-5

OpenAI's general-purpose flagship model balancing frontier reasoning, coding strength, and production-ready cost-performance.

Type
language
Context
400K tokens
Max Output
128K tokens
Status
current
Input
$1.25/1M tok
Output
$10/1M tok
API Access
Yes
License
proprietary
reasoning coding agentic tool-use long-context instruction-following
Released August 2025 · Updated February 15, 2026

Overview

Freshness note: Model capabilities, limits, and pricing can change quickly. This profile is a point-in-time snapshot last verified on February 15, 2026.

GPT-5 is OpenAI’s core flagship model for general-purpose language workloads. In the OpenAI lineup, it is the default high-capability tier between lower-cost mini/nano variants and specialized coding variants. It is built for teams that need one model to handle reasoning, coding, summarization, and agent workflows without heavy model switching.

The model is production-oriented rather than benchmark-only: large context, large output budget, and pricing that is materially lower than earlier frontier generations.

Capabilities

GPT-5 performs especially well in:

  • Multi-step reasoning tasks where constraints must be preserved across long prompts.
  • Code generation, refactoring, and debugging with robust instruction compliance.
  • Structured outputs and tool-calling pipelines for workflow automation.
  • Long-context synthesis for documents, specs, and mixed-format analysis.
  • Reliable assistant behavior in enterprise support and operations workflows.

For many teams, GPT-5 is the practical “default best” model before routing difficult coding tasks to GPT-5-Codex.

Technical Details

OpenAI’s model docs list GPT-5 with:

  • 400K token context window.
  • 128K max output tokens.
  • Support for text and image input with text output in standard API usage.
  • Compatibility with modern Responses API features, including tool use and structured generation workflows.

Operationally, snapshot pinning is recommended for reproducibility, while aliases are better for continuously improving behavior.

Pricing & Access

Public API pricing (per 1M tokens):

  • Input: $1.25
  • Output: $10.00

Additional levers include batch discounts and prompt caching where applicable.

Access paths:

  • OpenAI API
  • OpenAI product surfaces (for interactive usage)
  • Partner platforms that expose OpenAI models via managed endpoints

Because output tokens are significantly more expensive than input, enforcing concise output modes can materially reduce spend.

Best Use Cases

Choose GPT-5 when you want one strong model for broad production tasks:

  • Internal copilots that mix retrieval, summarization, and action-taking.
  • Knowledge assistants requiring consistent instruction following.
  • Engineering assistants that need strong coding plus analytical writing.
  • Workflow automation with schema-constrained outputs.

Use smaller GPT-5 variants when latency/cost dominate, and use GPT-5-Codex when coding depth is the primary goal.

Comparisons

  • Claude Opus 4.6 (Anthropic): Similar top-tier reasoning/coding positioning; GPT-5 often wins on API ecosystem integration and routing flexibility.
  • Gemini 3 Pro Preview (Google): Gemini is very strong in multimodal and long-context workflows; GPT-5 is often favored for mature OpenAI tool-chain integration.
  • DeepSeek-Reasoner (DeepSeek): DeepSeek can be very cost-efficient for reasoning-heavy tasks, while GPT-5 generally provides broader production polish and ecosystem support.