OpenAI offers several models — choosing the right one dramatically affects cost, speed, and quality.

Current Model Lineup

• gpt-4o: Best overall — fast, multimodal, cost-effective flagship
• gpt-4o-mini: 95% cheaper than GPT-4o — best for high-volume, simpler tasks
• o1: Best for complex reasoning, math, and coding — slower and pricier
• o1-mini: Reasoning model at lower cost
• o3-mini: Latest small reasoning model — fast and capable

Rule of Thumb

Start with gpt-4o-mini. Upgrade to gpt-4o where quality matters. Use o1 only for hard reasoning tasks.

Reference:

OpenAI models overview

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search?search=Models