GPT-5.1 vs GPT-5 Nano
Compare pricing, context windows, and strengths for GPT-5.1 by OpenAI and GPT-5 Nano by OpenAI - and see how to put either to work in Appaca.
GPT-5.1
Flagship model for coding, reasoning, and agentic tasks with adjustable reasoning depth and multimodal input/output.
View GPT-5.1GPT-5 Nano
The fastest and cheapest GPT-5 variant, ideal for summarization, classification, and lightweight tasks requiring high speed and low cost.
View GPT-5 NanoGPT-5.1 vs GPT-5 Nano at a glance
Specs and pricing side by side, from the Appaca AI models directory.
| Spec | GPT-5.1 | GPT-5 Nano |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | OpenAI | OpenAI |
| Model type | Text | Text |
| Context window | 400K tokens | 400K tokens |
| Input price | $1.25 / 1M tokens | $0.05 / 1M tokens |
| Output price | $10 / 1M tokens | $0.4 / 1M tokens |
| Status | Current | Current |
How GPT-5.1 and GPT-5 Nano differ
What the numbers mean in practice when choosing between GPT-5.1 and GPT-5 Nano.
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GPT-5 Nano is 96% cheaper on input tokens ($0.05 vs $1.25 per million), which adds up quickly in document-heavy workloads.
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GPT-5 Nano is 96% cheaper on output tokens ($0.4 vs $10 per million) - the bigger factor for tools that generate long documents.
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Both models offer the same 400K tokens context window.
Strengths side by side
Where each model shines, according to benchmarks and provider positioning.
GPT-5.1
1. Configurable Reasoning for Agentic Tasks
- Built to excel in autonomous or semi-autonomous coding workflows, with adjustable reasoning effort for planning, refactoring and debugging.
2. Fast Multi-Modal Input with Large Output
- Accepts both text and image inputs while producing text outputs.
- Offers up to 128 k output tokens, allowing long responses and code generation across multiple files.
3. Large Context & Knowledge Cut-Off
- 400 k token context window supports processing large codebases or documents.
- Knowledge cut-off of Sep 30 2024 ensures familiarity with recent tools and frameworks.
4. Reasoning Token Support
- Provides explicit support for reasoning tokens, enabling developers to fine-tune the balance between reasoning depth and speed.
GPT-5 Nano
1. Extremely fast performance
- Fastest model in the GPT-5 family.
- Great for real-time workflows, rapid responses, and high-throughput systems.
2. Most cost-efficient GPT-5 model
- Lowest input and output token costs.
- Suitable for large-scale or budget-sensitive applications.
3. Ideal for lightweight, well-scoped tasks
- Excels at summarization, classification, text extraction, and simple logic tasks.
- Best used when tasks are narrow and well-defined.
4. Multimodal input
- Accepts text + image as input.
- Outputs text only.
5. Broad tool support
- Supports Web Search, File Search, Image Generation (as a tool), Code Interpreter, and MCP.
- (Does not support Computer Use.)
Use GPT-5.1 or GPT-5 Nano - or both
Appaca is the AI workspace for operators. Build internal tools and AI co-workers powered by GPT-5.1 or GPT-5 Nano - connected to your real data and ready for your whole team. No code, no deployment.
Describe it, and it's built
Tell the Appaca agent the internal tool you need and it builds a working app powered by GPT-5.1 or GPT-5 Nano. No code, no API keys, no deployment.
Switch models without rebuilding
Start on GPT-5.1, test the same tool on GPT-5 Nano, and keep whichever performs better - the rest of your app stays exactly as it is.
Automated for the whole team
Schedule tools to run on autopilot - daily digests, weekly reports, real-time triggers - and share them with your whole team from one workspace.
Describe it, and it's built
Tell the Appaca agent what your team needs and it builds a working app powered by GPT-5.1 or GPT-5 Nano - connected to the tools you already use.
Related comparisons
See how GPT-5.1 and GPT-5 Nano stack up against other models in the directory.
FAQs
GPT-5 Nano is generally cheaper: $0.05 input / $0.4 output per million tokens, versus $1.25 / $10 for GPT-5.1. Actual cost depends on how many tokens your workload reads and writes.
They are equal: both GPT-5.1 and GPT-5 Nano support a 400K tokens context window.
It depends on the job. Compare the pricing, context window, and strengths above against your workload - and remember the choice isn't permanent. In Appaca you can build a tool on GPT-5.1, test the same tool on GPT-5 Nano, and switch at any time without rebuilding anything.
Yes. Appaca is a no-code AI workspace: describe the internal tool your team needs and the Appaca agent builds it as a working app powered by GPT-5.1, GPT-5 Nano, or any other model in the directory - with a built-in database, team access, and integrations. No API keys to wire up and nothing to deploy.
Build AI tools with GPT-5.1 or GPT-5 Nano
Describe the tool your team needs and get a working app powered by the model you choose - with a built-in database, team access, and integrations. No code, no deployment.