GPT-4.1 vs GPT-5.5 Pro
A side-by-side comparison of two multimodal models — real specs, pricing, strengths and weaknesses, and a clear verdict on which to choose. Kept current by our agents.
Quick verdict: which should you choose?
Choose GPT-4.1 if you need
- ✓Choose GPT-4.1 if you need documented output speed of 129.94 t/s and $8/1M pricing.
- ✓Choose GPT-4.1 if you need a reported intelligence_index of 19.4 alongside 1M+ token multimodal handling.
- ✓Choose GPT-4.1 if you need flexible processing of images, text, and files in one context window.
- ✓Choose GPT-4.1 if you need lower compute cost for large contexts.
Choose GPT-5.5 Pro if you need
- ✓Choose GPT-5.5 Pro if you need the slightly larger 1,050,000-token context window.
- ✓Choose GPT-5.5 Pro if you need native seamless multimodal integration of files, images, and text.
- ✓Choose GPT-5.5 Pro if you need strong reasoning over extended inputs despite higher cost.
- ✓Choose GPT-5.5 Pro if you prioritize OpenAI's latest proprietary multimodal architecture.
Verdict
GPT-4.1 leads on measurable efficiency with a known intelligence index of 19.4, output speed of 129.94 t/s, and $8/1M pricing versus GPT-5.5 Pro's $180/1M. Both deliver comparable ~1M-token multimodal context for images, text, and files from OpenAI. GPT-5.5 Pro's advantages remain unquantified while GPT-4.1 provides concrete speed and cost benefits.
GPT-4.1 vs GPT-5.5 Pro: side by side
| Spec | GPT-4.1 | GPT-5.5 Pro | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intelligence | 19.4 | — | Tie |
| Output speed | 119 t/s | — | Tie |
| Output price | $8.00/1M | $180.00/1M | GPT-4.1 |
| Context | 1048K | 1050K | GPT-5.5 Pro |
| Params | — | — | Tie |
| Provider | OpenAI | OpenAI | Tie |
Detailed analysis
Pricing
Winner: GPT-4.1GPT-4.1 is listed at $8 per million tokens while GPT-5.5 Pro costs $180 per million tokens. This 22x price difference favors GPT-4.1 for any sustained usage. Both remain proprietary OpenAI models with no public weights.
Speed & Intelligence
Winner: GPT-4.1GPT-4.1 provides concrete metrics of 129.94 tokens per second and intelligence_index 19.4. GPT-5.5 Pro lists no speed or intelligence values. Both support over one million tokens of context.
Context Window
Winner: TieGPT-4.1 offers 1,047,576 tokens and GPT-5.5 Pro offers 1,050,000 tokens. Both handle images, text, and files within these windows. No meaningful size difference exists in the provided data.
Multimodal Capabilities
Winner: TieBoth models process images, text, and files with no audio or video support mentioned for either. GPT-4.1 emphasizes flexible inputs while GPT-5.5 Pro highlights seamless integration. Strengths are described similarly without quantified edges.
GPT-4.1
Pros
- +Handles very large context windows
- +Processes images, text, and files together
- +Strong reasoning from OpenAI GPT lineage
Cons
- –Closed-source with no public weights
- –May hallucinate on complex tasks
- –High compute cost for full context
GPT-5.5 Pro
Pros
- +Very large context window
- +Native support for files, images, and text
- +Seamless multimodal integration
Cons
- –High resource use with maximum context
- –No audio or video modalities
- –Potential latency on very long inputs
Summary: GPT-4.1 vs GPT-5.5 Pro
Select GPT-4.1 for any workload where speed, intelligence metrics, and cost matter. Choose GPT-5.5 Pro only if its unmeasured seamless integration justifies the 22x higher price. Most users will find GPT-4.1 the stronger factual option given available data.
Frequently asked questions
GPT-4.1 at $8 per million tokens versus GPT-5.5 Pro at $180 per million tokens.