o3 alternatives
Best o3 alternatives
10 models that can stand in for o3, ranked by benchmark score, with what each one does better.
Current Model
o3
- Input / 1M
- $2
- Output / 1M
- $8
- Context
- 200K
- Intelligence
- 20.2
Quick picks
The best alternative depends on what you need
Why people switch away from o3, and the model that fits each reason best.
Ranked
Top o3 alternatives
Each model is scored against o3. Green means better, red means worse.
| Model | Input / 1M | Output / 1M | Context | Intelligence | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
o3 OpenAI | Input / 1M$2 | Output / 1M$8 | Context200K | Intelligence20.2 | Reference model |
| Input / 1M$1.25-37% | Output / 1M$10+25% | Context400K+100% | Intelligence24.7+22% | Compare | |
Why switch:Higher intelligence scoreLarger 400K contextNewer release | |||||
| Input / 1M$0.75-62% | Output / 1M$4.50-44% | Context400K+100% | Intelligence24.1+19% | Compare | |
Why switch:1.8x cheaper outputHigher intelligence scoreLarger 400K contextNewer release | |||||
| Input / 1M$1.25-37% | Output / 1M$10+25% | Context400K+100% | Intelligence23.7+17% | Compare | |
Why switch:Higher intelligence scoreLarger 400K contextNewer release | |||||
| Input / 1M$1.25-37% | Output / 1M$10+25% | Context400K+100% | Intelligence23+14% | Compare | |
Why switch:Higher intelligence scoreLarger 400K contextNewer release | |||||
| Input / 1M$0.20-90% | Output / 1M$1.25-84% | Context400K+100% | Intelligence20.7+2% | Compare | |
Why switch:6.4x cheaper outputHigher intelligence scoreLarger 400K contextNewer release | |||||
| Input / 1M$3+50% | Output / 1M$15+88% | Context1M+400% | Intelligence20.7+2% | Compare | |
Why switch:Higher intelligence scoreLarger 1M contextNewer release | |||||
| Input / 1M$0.25-87% | Output / 1M$2-75% | Context400K+100% | Intelligence20.6+2% | Compare | |
Why switch:4x cheaper outputHigher intelligence scoreLarger 400K contextNewer release | |||||
| Input / 1M$0.25-87% | Output / 1M$2-75% | Context400K+100% | Intelligence20.4+1% | Compare | |
Why switch:4x cheaper outputHigher intelligence scoreLarger 400K contextNewer release | |||||
| Input / 1M$1-50% | Output / 1M$5-37% | Context200K | Intelligence16.9-16% | Compare | |
Why switch:1.6x cheaper outputNewer release | |||||
| Input / 1M$1.10-45% | Output / 1M$4.40-45% | Context200K | Intelligence16.7-17% | Compare | |
Why switch:1.8x cheaper output | |||||
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to o3?
GPT-5.1 from OpenAI ranks first, based on independent benchmark scores. It costs $10 per 1M output tokens, compared with $8 for o3.
Is there a cheaper alternative to o3?
Yes. GPT-5.4 Nano charges $1.25 per 1M output tokens, versus $8 for o3.
Can I try o3 and its alternatives at the same time?
Yes. Shortcut Chat sends one prompt to several models at once, so you can compare o3 with any of these alternatives on your own tasks.
Not sure which to pick? Try them all.
Send one prompt to o3 and its alternatives at the same time, and keep the answer you like best.