Head-to-head · Updated April 2026
GPT-5.5 is the stronger model if quality matters: it improves on GPT-5.4 in public coding and terminal-workflow benchmarks, expands API context to 1M tokens, and is the new OpenAI premium pick. GPT-5.4 still matters if cost is the main constraint, since its listed input price is lower. For new OpenAI-first coding or agent workflows, GPT-5.5 is the better default.
GPT-5.5
Best OpenAI flagship for agentic coding, research, and computer-use work.
WinnerGPT-5.4
Best for agentic automation and desktop control workflows.
| GPT-5.5 | GPT-5.4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Input cost / 1M tokens | $$5.00/1M | $$8.00/1M |
| Output cost / 1M tokens | $$30.00/1M | $$15.00/1M |
| Context window | 1M tokens | 272k tokens |
| Speed | Balanced | Balanced |
| Price tier | Premium | Premium |
Which model wins for each use case — and why.
GPT-5.5 scores 58.6% on SWE-Bench Pro vs GPT-5.4 at 57.7%, and improves more clearly on Terminal-Bench 2.0.
GPT-5.5 reaches 82.7% on Terminal-Bench 2.0 vs GPT-5.4 at 75.1%, a bigger practical gap for tool-using coding agents.
GPT-5.4 remains cheaper in the catalog, so it can still be the better value when you do not need GPT-5.5's ceiling.
GPT-5.5 has a 1M API context window, while GPT-5.4 is listed with a smaller context window in the current catalog.
Pick GPT-5.5 if…
Pick GPT-5.4 if…
Bottom line
For most workflows, GPT-5.5 is the stronger choice.
The strongest OpenAI pick for agentic coding and knowledge work. Claude Opus 4.7 still wins on the public SWE-Bench Pro coding number, but GPT-5.5 is the better OpenAI default when ecosystem, Codex, or computer-use workflows matter.
Is GPT-5.5 better than GPT-5.4?
Yes for quality. GPT-5.5 improves on GPT-5.4 on SWE-Bench Pro and Terminal-Bench 2.0, and it has a larger 1M API context window.
Should I upgrade from GPT-5.4 to GPT-5.5?
Upgrade for coding agents, large-context work, or high-value tasks. Stay with GPT-5.4 when cost matters more than the last few points of quality.
Which one is cheaper?
GPT-5.4 is cheaper in the current catalog. GPT-5.5 is the premium OpenAI pick, not the budget pick.
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