The go-to model when you need the right answer, not the fast answer.
92
Coding
55
Writing
90
Research
0
Images
45
Value
82
Long Context
Use this when
Tackling hard technical problems — from competition-level math to multi-step code debugging — where accuracy matters more than speed.
Skip this if
You need fast responses for conversational use, creative writing, or image-related tasks — or if your budget is tight and tasks don't require deep reasoning.
Pricing
$1.00/1M in
$4.00/1M out
↓50%since May 2026
Context
200k tokens
Speed
Deliberate
Pricing at $2/$8 per 1M input/output tokens is moderate for a reasoning model, but long internal reasoning traces can significantly inflate output token counts. Not available via all API tiers — check OpenAI access levels.
Top-tier performance on complex mathematical and logical reasoning tasks
Strong multi-step code generation and debugging with self-verification
200K context window allows analysis of large codebases or research documents
Significantly outperforms o1 on ARC-AGI and AIME benchmarks
Weaknesses
Deliberate reasoning means latency is high — unsuitable for real-time or chat applications
At $8/1M output tokens, costs can escalate quickly on long reasoning chains
Not designed for creative writing, image tasks, or casual conversation
Real-world use cases
What people actually use OpenAI: o3 for.
Solving multi-step competition math problems (AMC/AIME level) with full working
Auditing a large codebase for security vulnerabilities with reasoned explanations
Synthesizing conflicting findings across a 150-page scientific literature review
Price History
OpenAI: o3 pricing over time
↓50% since May 9
88 data points · tracked daily since May 9, 2026
Ready to try it?
Start using OpenAI: o3
Tackling hard technical problems — from competition-level math to multi-step code debugging — where accuracy matters more than speed.. Start free — no card required.
OpenAI's latest agentic flagship for coding, research, computer-use workflows, and long multi-step knowledge work.
Verdict
Best OpenAI flagship for agentic coding, research, and computer-use work.
Quality score
94%
Pricing
$2.50/1M in
$15.00/1M out
Speed
Balanced
Best for agentic coding, computer-use workflows, and complex research tasks
Context
1M tokens
Ranked from public benchmark and pricing data verified April 26, 2026: SWE-Bench Pro 58.6%, Terminal-Bench 2.0 82.7%, $5/$30 per 1M tokens, 1M API context.
AgenticCodingComputer useLong contextPremium
Best for
Agentic coding, computer-use workflows, and complex research tasks
The flagship of OpenAI's GPT-5.6 family — its most capable reasoning and agentic-coding model, with an 'ultra' mode that spawns sub-agents for long autonomous workflows.
Verdict
Best OpenAI flagship — leads terminal coding and agentic browsing.
Quality score
96%
Pricing
$2.50/1M in
$15.00/1M out
Speed
Deliberate
Best for frontier agentic coding, deep research, and hardest reasoning tasks
Context
1.1M tokens
First frontier model family to clear a customer-by-customer US government review: limited preview June 26, full public release July 9, 2026. Pricing $5/$30 ($10/$45 above 272K context). Knowledge cutoff Feb 16, 2026.
AgenticReasoningFlagshipSub-agentsPremium
Best for
Frontier agentic coding, deep research, and hardest reasoning tasks
The balanced mid-tier of the GPT-5.6 family — GPT-5.5-class capability at a fraction of the price, built for production workloads at scale.
Verdict
Best OpenAI value — near-flagship capability at 60% off.
Quality score
93%
Pricing
$1.00/1M in
$6.00/1M out
Speed
Balanced
Best for high-volume production and enterprise workloads
Context
1.1M tokens
Launched at $2.50/$15, cut to $2/$12 on July 30, 2026. Long-context above 272K: $4/$18. Part of the government-reviewed GPT-5.6 family, fully public July 9, 2026.
OpenAI: o3 is best for tackling hard technical problems — from competition-level math to multi-step code debugging — where accuracy matters more than speed.. It is a strong fit when that workflow matters more than the tradeoffs around balanced pricing and deliberate speed.
When should I avoid OpenAI: o3?
You need fast responses for conversational use, creative writing, or image-related tasks — or if your budget is tight and tasks don't require deep reasoning.
What is a cheaper alternative to OpenAI: o3?
Mistral: Mistral Nemo is the lower-cost option to compare first when you want a similar workflow fit with less token spend.
What is a faster alternative to OpenAI: o3?
GPT-5.5 is the better pick when response time matters more than maximum depth or premium quality.
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