GPT-4o vs GPT-5.1 Instant
Wins 0 of 4 areas
—
Wins 4 of 4 areas
Coding · Reasoning · Images and charts · Following instructions
GPT-5.1 Instant is the stronger all-rounder.
Scores updated · 7 tests both models report · How we compare
Where each one wins
Tests won in each of the four areas where both have results. Each piece is one test, so a longer bar means more evidence; grey means the two scored within a point of each other.
- CodingWriting and fixing software01GPT-5.1 Instant1 of 1 test
- ReasoningHard problems that need careful thinking01GPT-5.1 Instant1 of 1 test
- Images and chartsUnderstanding pictures, charts and video01GPT-5.1 Instant1 of 1 test
- Following instructionsDoing exactly what it is asked01GPT-5.1 Instant1 of 1 test
Coding, reasoning, images and charts and following instructions rest on a single test each.
What it costs
Prices per million tokens, roughly 750,000 words. The bars show the cost of a million tokens read plus a million written.
The biggest differences
The tests each model wins by the widest margin, up to three each. Scores are out of 100.
Where GPT-5.1 Instant pulls ahead
- Fixes real GitHub issues in Python projectsSWE-bench Verified+43.1points ahead
- Graduate-level biology, physics and chemistry questionsGPQA Diamond+35.5points ahead
- College exam questions with charts, maps and diagramsMMMU+13.2points ahead
Where GPT-4o pulls ahead
No clear win on a test scored out of 100.
Every test, side by side
All 7 tests both models report. The winning score is in its model's colour; marks a score checked independently.
Images and chartsGPT-5.1 Instant
- MMMUGPT-5.1 Instant by 13.272.285.4+13.2
Following instructionsGPT-5.1 Instant
- Multi-ChallengeGPT-5.1 Instant by 10.940.351.2+10.9
Other results3 tests, not counted
Tests outside the eight areas. They are not counted above: several are summary scores built from other tests, or the same test under another name.
- AIME 2025GPT-5.1 Instant by 82.311.794+82.3
- Tau2 airlineGPT-5.1 Instant by 21.545.567+21.5
- τ²-Bench (Retail)GPT-5.1 Instant by 14.563.477.9+14.5
Questions people ask
Which is better, GPT-4o or GPT-5.1 Instant?
GPT-5.1 Instant wins all four areas where both have results: coding, reasoning, images and charts and following instructions. GPT-4o wins none.
Which is better for coding?
GPT-5.1 Instant. It wins the one coding test both models report.
How do you compare the two?
We use the 7 benchmark tests both models have published scores on. The verdict counts the 4 tests in the eight capability areas, and a gap under one point (ten on rating-style scales) counts as a tie. The other 3 are listed but not counted, because several are summary scores or repeat a test. Each score is the one shown on the model's own page.