GPT-5 vs o1-preview
GPT-5 (Azure OpenAI, 272,000-token context) versus o1-preview (Azure OpenAI, 128,000-token context). GPT-5 is cheaper by 85% on a blended token mix. GPT-5 uniquely supports vision input and pdf input. Use the live calculator below to plug your real usage shape into both, then route the winner via Agent Command Center for shadow A/B without code changes.
Bottom line — GPT-5 vs o1-preview
GPT-5 and o1-preview target overlapping workloads but differ sharply on economics. GPT-5 runs roughly 85% cheaper on a blended input-plus-output token mix, which translates to approximately $71,250 per month at mid-market volume (100K requests/day). The gap compounds at enterprise scale, making the cost axis the first filter most teams apply when deciding between these two models.
GPT-5 ships a 272,000-token context window, 2.1x larger than o1-preview's 128,000 tokens. That headroom matters for long-document RAG pipelines, multi-turn agent sessions that accumulate tool-call history, and codebases where the entire repository needs to fit in a single prompt. If your average prompt stays under 128,000 tokens, the extra context on GPT-5 is insurance you may never use — and o1-preview may win on other axes.
On capability surface area, the models diverge: GPT-5 supports vision input where the other does not; GPT-5 supports pdf input where the other does not; GPT-5 supports structured output (json schema) where the other does not. These differences are binary — either your workload needs the capability or it does not. Check whether any critical path in your agent pipeline depends on a capability only one model provides before committing to a migration.
For teams evaluating both models, the recommended path is a shadow A/B test: route production traffic through an OpenAI-compatible gateway, mirror a percentage to the candidate model, score both responses with an automated evaluator (faithfulness, tool-call correctness, latency), and compare cohort-level metrics over two weeks. Future AGI Agent Command Center supports this pattern with a single `base_url` change and built-in evaluators from the ai-evaluation SDK.
Live workload comparison
Same workload run through both models. The cheaper one is highlighted.
strategy: cost-optimized
primary:
model: gpt-5
provider: azure-openai
fallback:
model: o1-preview
provider: azure-openai
shadow: { sample_rate: 0.05 } # mirror 5% of traffic to compare quality live| GPT-5 | o1-preview | |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | $1.25/M | $15.00/M |
| Output price | $10.00/M | $60.00/M |
| Context window | 272,000 | 128,000 |
| Max output | 128,000 | 32,768 |
| Function calling | ✓ | ✓ |
| Vision | ✓ | — |
| Audio input | — | — |
| Reasoning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Prompt caching | ✓ | ✓ |
| Structured output | ✓ | — |
| Pricing verified | Jun 2, 2026 | Jun 2, 2026 |
Benchmark comparison
Side-by-side public benchmark scores. Greener bar = winner.
Cost at scale: monthly spend at three usage volumes
Estimated monthly cost assuming 1,000 input + 200 output tokens per request — a realistic chat-agent shape. Adjust your own usage in the calculator at the top of this page for an exact number.
| Scale | GPT-5 | o1-preview | Delta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Startup 10K requests/day | $975 /mo | $8,100 /mo | $7,125/mo |
| Mid-market 100K requests/day | $9,750 /mo | $81,000 /mo | $71,250/mo |
| Enterprise 1M requests/day | $97,500 /mo | $810,000 /mo | $712,500/mo |
At enterprise scale (1M requests/day), a difference of even ~10% in unit price compounds into thousands of dollars per month. Cached input pricing and batch tiers can shift this further — both are surfaced on each model's own page.
When to choose which
Picked from the data above — not vendor marketing. Match the rules to your workload, not the other way around.
You're cost-sensitive at scale — GPT-5 runs ~85% cheaper on a blended in+out token mix, compounding into thousands of dollars per month at production volume.
Your workload needs long context — GPT-5 fits 272,000 tokens versus the other model's 128,000, enough headroom for full books, large codebases, or 100+ page documents in one shot.
Your inputs include screenshots, diagrams, or product photos — GPT-5 accepts image input natively, the other doesn't.
Capability diff — what you gain and lose on the swap
A specific list of what each model has that the other doesn't. If your workload depends on a row in Only GPT-5, switching to o1-preview means re-architecting that path (and vice versa).
- • Vision input
- • PDF input
- • Structured output (JSON schema)
Capabilities both share (5)
- ✓ Function calling
- ✓ Parallel tool calls
- ✓ Streaming
- ✓ Prompt caching
- ✓ Native reasoning mode
Migration considerations
Concrete differences to wire through your stack before you flip traffic from one to the other.
- Context window changes down 53% when moving from GPT-5 (272,000) to o1-preview (128,000). Re-check any prompt that relies on cramming long history or documents.
- Max output tokens differ: 128,000 on GPT-5 vs 32,768 on o1-preview. Long-form generation tasks may truncate differently — adjust streaming UI and chunking accordingly.
- GPT-5 has capabilities o1-preview lacks: Vision input, PDF input, Structured output (JSON schema). Switching to o1-preview means re-architecting any flow that depends on these.
How to A/B test GPT-5 vs o1-preview in production
If you're stuck between the two, run them side-by-side on real traffic. Four steps the Future AGI team uses internally:
- 1. Point your existing OpenAI SDK at
https://gateway.futureagi.com/v1. No code change beyondbase_urland a virtual key. - 2. Mark GPT-5 primary, mirror 20% of traffic to o1-preview in shadow mode. Both responses are logged; only the primary is served to users.
- 3. Score every shadow response with an evaluator — faithfulness, tool-call correctness, response latency, cost. Built-in evaluators in ai-evaluation cover the common axes.
- 4. Compare cohort-level metrics after two weeks. Switch primary when the candidate wins on what matters to your workload — and stays within your latency budget.
Full walkthrough on the Agent Command Center page.
FAQ — GPT-5 vs o1-preview
Which is cheaper, GPT-5 or o1-preview? ▾
GPT-5 is cheaper by roughly 85% on a blended input + output token mix. Input prices are $1.25/M for GPT-5 versus $15.00/M for o1-preview; output prices are $10.00/M versus $60.00/M. The exact savings depend on your input:output ratio — use the live calculator above to plug in your own request shape.
What is the context window of GPT-5 versus o1-preview? ▾
GPT-5 supports up to 272,000 tokens of context. o1-preview supports up to 128,000 tokens. GPT-5 has the larger window by a factor of 2.1x, which matters for long-document RAG, multi-turn agent sessions, and tasks that need to keep an entire codebase in working memory.
Do GPT-5 and o1-preview both support tool calling? ▾
Yes — both GPT-5 and o1-preview support native function calling. Both also support structured output via JSON schema, so an agent can be ported between them with the same tool definitions.
Can GPT-5 and o1-preview process images? ▾
GPT-5 accepts native image input. o1-preview does not — you would need to route image-heavy workloads through GPT-5 or add a separate vision model in front of o1-preview.
Which model supports prompt caching for cost reduction? ▾
Both GPT-5 and o1-preview support prompt caching. Cached input tokens are typically discounted 50–90% versus uncached input, depending on the provider. For agents with a stable system prompt + retrieval context, the cached pricing tier is the real unit economics number to track.
When should I choose GPT-5 over o1-preview? ▾
You're cost-sensitive at scale — GPT-5 runs ~85% cheaper on a blended in+out token mix, compounding into thousands of dollars per month at production volume. Your workload needs long context — GPT-5 fits 272,000 tokens versus the other model's 128,000, enough headroom for full books, large codebases, or 100+ page documents in one shot. Your inputs include screenshots, diagrams, or product photos — GPT-5 accepts image input natively, the other doesn't.
When should I choose o1-preview over GPT-5? ▾
On the data this page surfaces, o1-preview is the right pick when GPT-5's lower price or different capability profile aren't a fit for your workload. Run the live calculator above against your actual usage shape to confirm.
How do I A/B test GPT-5 against o1-preview in production? ▾
Route both through an OpenAI-compatible gateway like Future AGI Agent Command Center with shadow mode enabled. Send 100% of traffic to your primary model, mirror 10–20% to the candidate, score every response with an evaluator (faithfulness, tool-call correctness, response time), and compare cohort-level metrics for two weeks. Switch when the candidate wins on the metrics that matter to your workload and stays within your latency budget.