GPT-5.5 is OpenAI's best model for research — it scores 94/100 vs 88/100 for GPT-5.4, at $5/1M input tokens. Across all providers, Claude Fable 5 still leads research at 100/100 — worth considering if you're not committed to OpenAI.
The shortest way to see the safest default, the lower-cost option, and the specialist pick before you read deeper.
GPT-5.5 is the safest overall answer here when you want the strongest default instead of the lowest list price.
Meta: Llama 3.1 8B Instruct is the lower-cost option to start with when you still need useful output at scale.
GPT-5.4 is the better pick when large documents, transcripts, or knowledge-heavy work lead the decision.
GPT-5.5 leads OpenAI's lineup for research at 94/100 ($5/1M input, 1M context).
GPT-4o Mini is the value pick at $0.15/1M input with a research score of 62/100.
Claude Fable 5 (Anthropic) is the overall research leader at 100/100 if provider choice is open.
Choose GPT-5.5 when research quality is the priority and you're staying on OpenAI.
Choose GPT-4o Mini when token volume matters more than peak quality.
Teams open to other providers should also evaluate Claude Fable 5 before committing.
Switch the scoring lens to see whether the top answer changes when you care more about cost, speed, or long-document work.
OpenAI / Premium / May 28, 2026
Best OpenAI flagship for agentic coding, research, and computer-use work.
Ranks models by the broadest mix of coding, writing, research, and long-context usefulness.
You only care about the highest public coding benchmark score or need a cheaper high-volume model.
The fastest way to see where the recommendation shifts when your priority changes.
Best OpenAI flagship for agentic coding, research, and computer-use work.
Best for agentic automation and desktop control workflows.
Capable but outclassed — GPT-5.4 is now cheaper and better.
Solid OpenAI budget option, though Gemini Flash offers better value.
Best all-around pick for image-heavy and multimodal workflows.
OpenAI's fastest, cheapest option for everyday high-volume tasks.
58.6% on SWE-Bench Pro, ahead of GPT-5.4 on the same public coding benchmark
82.7% on Terminal-Bench 2.0 for complex command-line workflows
1M token API context window for large-codebase and document-heavy workflows
Claude Opus 4.7 leads GPT-5.5 on SWE-Bench Pro for pure coding ceiling
Premium API pricing makes it less attractive for high-volume low-risk work
UseRightAI recommendations are based on practical decision factors people actually feel in day-to-day use.
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GPT-5.5 — it scores 94/100 on research in this directory, ahead of GPT-5.4 at 88/100. Best OpenAI flagship for agentic coding, research, and computer-use work.
Not overall. Claude Fable 5 (Anthropic) leads the directory for research at 100/100 vs GPT-5.5's 94/100. GPT-5.5 is the best pick if you're staying within OpenAI's ecosystem.
GPT-4o Mini at $0.15/1M input tokens (research score: 62/100). Use it for volume work and reserve GPT-5.5 for the tasks where quality matters most.
$5/1M input tokens and $30/1M output tokens via the API, or through ChatGPT Plus at $20/mo for chat use. Context window: 1M tokens.