GPT-5 vs GPT-5.1 Instant
Wins 1 of 4 areas
Following instructions
Wins 3 of 4 areas
Coding · Reasoning · Images and charts
GPT-5.1 Instant is the stronger all-rounder.GPT-5 is better at following instructions.
Scores updated · 8 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.
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
- Graduate-level biology, physics and chemistry questionsGPQA Diamond+2.7points ahead
- Fixes real GitHub issues in Python projectsSWE-bench Verified+1.4points ahead
- College exam questions with charts, maps and diagramsMMMU+1.2points ahead
Where GPT-5 pulls ahead
- Keeps track of context across a multi-turn chatMulti-Challenge+18.4points ahead
Every test, side by side
All 8 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 1.284.285.4+1.2
Following instructionsGPT-5
- Multi-ChallengeGPT-5 by 18.469.651.2+18.4
Other results4 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.
- Tau2 airlineGPT-5.1 Instant by 4.462.667+4.4
- τ²-Bench (Retail)GPT-5 by 3.281.177.9+3.2
- AIME 2025tie94.694tie
- FrontierMath (overall)tie26.326.7tie
Questions people ask
Which is better, GPT-5 or GPT-5.1 Instant?
GPT-5.1 Instant wins three of the four areas where both have results: coding, reasoning and images and charts. GPT-5 wins following instructions.
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 8 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 4 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.