GPT-4.1 nano vs GPT-5.5 Pro
GPT-4.1 nano vs GPT-5.5 Pro: GPT-4.1 nano is cheaper for input-heavy usage ($0.10/M vs $30.00/M input tokens), while GPT-5.5 Pro is better for long-context tasks (1,050,000 tokens).
Direct answer: choose GPT-4.1 nano for lower token spend and choose GPT-5.5 Pro when your workload needs longer context.
Common pricing searches covered on this page: GPT-4.1 nano vs GPT-5.5 Pro • GPT-4.1 nano vs GPT-5.5 Pro pricing • GPT-4.1 nano vs GPT-5.5 Pro API pricing and 4 1 nano vs 5 5 pro pricing.
Cost Comparison (1000 input + 500 output tokens, 100 requests/day)
GPT-4.1 nano
GPT-5.5 Pro
Cost Differences
GPT-5.5 Pro costs more than GPT-4.1 nano
Quick Recommendation
Winner for direct API pricing: GPT-4.1 nano. At the default workload, GPT-4.1 nano saves about $359.10/month ($4,369.05/year) versus GPT-5.5 Pro.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | GPT-4.1 nano | GPT-5.5 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | OpenAI | OpenAI |
| Input Price | $0.10/1M tokens | $30.00/1M tokens |
| Output Price | $0.40/1M tokens | $180.00/1M tokens |
| Context Window | 128,000 tokens | 1,050,000 tokens |
| Max Output | 8,192 tokens | 128,000 tokens |
| Category | efficient | reasoning |
| Capabilities | text | textvisioncodereasoning |
| Release Date | 4/14/2025 | 4/24/2026 |
GPT-4.1 nano vs GPT-5.5 Pro: Which Should You Choose?
Choosing between GPT-4.1 nano and GPT-5.5 Pro depends on your priorities: cost efficiency, context length, or raw capability. GPT-4.1 nano is the more affordable option at $0.10/1M input tokens — 100% cheaper than GPT-5.5 Pro. Meanwhile, GPT-5.5 Pro offers a significantly larger context window at 1,050,000 tokens vs 128,000 for GPT-4.1 nano.
These models target different tiers: GPT-4.1 nano is a efficient model while GPT-5.5 Pro is reasoning. This means they're optimized for different workloads. GPT-5.5 Pro targets more demanding workloads, while GPT-4.1 nano provides a cost-effective option for everyday tasks.
Output costs matter too. GPT-4.1 nano charges $0.40/1M output tokens vs $180.00 for GPT-5.5 Pro. For generation-heavy workloads (content creation, code generation, summarization), output pricing often dominates your bill. GPT-4.1 nano has the edge here at $0.40/1M output tokens.
Multimodal capabilities: GPT-5.5 Pro supports vision (image inputs) while GPT-4.1 nano is text-only. If your application needs image understanding, this narrows your choice.
Best Use Cases
Choose GPT-4.1 nano when:
- • Budget is a primary concern
- • You're already using OpenAI's API ecosystem
- • You're running high-volume, latency-sensitive workloads
Choose GPT-5.5 Pro when:
- • You need a larger context window (1,050,000 tokens)
- • You need more capabilities (vision, code, reasoning)
- • You need longer outputs (up to 128,000 tokens)
- • You're already using OpenAI's API ecosystem
Pros and Caveats at a Glance
GPT-4.1 nano
- • Input pricing: $0.10/M tokens
- • Output pricing: $0.40/M tokens
- • Context window: 128,000 tokens
- • Max output: 8,192 tokens
Watch out for
- • Smaller context window than GPT-5.5 Pro
GPT-5.5 Pro
- • Input pricing: $30.00/M tokens
- • Output pricing: $180.00/M tokens
- • Context window: 1,050,000 tokens
- • Max output: 128,000 tokens
Watch out for
- • Higher input cost than GPT-4.1 nano
- • Higher output cost than GPT-4.1 nano
Try Different Scenarios
Use the calculator below to see how costs change with different usage patterns
GPT-4.1 nano (OpenAI)
GPT-5.5 Pro (OpenAI)
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