GPT-5.5 vs GPT-5.6 Sol: which is better for agents?

GPT-5.6 Sol scores higher on output quality (8.6/10 vs 7.6/10), while GPT-5.6 Sol is the cheaper option. GPT-5.5 is best for existing GPT-5.5 setups on an API key until they move to GPT-6.1 Sol; GPT-5.6 Sol is best for existing GPT-5.6 Sol setups until they move to GPT-6.1 Sol. Live community votes on this page show what people actually prefer.

Is GPT-5.5 cheaper than GPT-5.6 Sol?

GPT-5.6 Sol is cheaper: roughly $4.40 vs $13 per 1M tokens (blended). GPT-5.5: $5.00 in · $30 out / 1M tokens. GPT-5.6 Sol: $2.00 in · $10 out / 1M tokens.

Can I switch between GPT-5.5 and GPT-5.6 Sol in the same agent?

Yes. Model-agnostic agents (Cline, Aider, OpenClaw, Hermes Agent, Kilo Code, OpenCode) let you swap models per task. Many people route hard tasks to the stronger model and routine work to the cheaper one.

GPT-5.5 vs GPT-5.6 Sol — Which AI Model Is Better? (2026)

Community vote

Pick a winner in each dimension. You can change your vote any time. 1 vote cast so far.

Output Quality

Correctness and depth of what it produces

Agentic Ability

Tool calls, instruction-following, and multi-step tasks

Speed

Tokens per second and time-to-first-token

Value for Money

How much capability you get per dollar

Reliability

Consistent results: fewer refusals, loops and format breaks

0%1 vote100%

Specs and pricing side by side

Spec

GPT-5.5

GPT-5.6 Sol

Maker

OpenAI

Blended price / 1M

$13

$4.40

Input / output

$5.00 in · $30 out / 1M tokens

$2.00 in · $10 out / 1M tokens

Context window

1.1M

Open weights

Tool use

Yes

Reasoning

Yes

Output Quality

7.6

8.6

Agentic Ability

6.2

7.9

Speed

7.8

7.6

Value for Money

4.0

4.6

Reliability

8.8

9.2

Pricing and capabilities synced from the OpenRouter catalogue. Scores are editorial (0–10).

Verdict: GPT-5.5 or GPT-5.6 Sol?

Updated 2026-10-14

Choose GPT-5.5 if you want existing GPT-5.5 setups on an API key until they move to GPT-6.1 Sol. Choose GPT-5.6 Sol if you want existing GPT-5.6 Sol setups until they move to GPT-6.1 Sol.

In our editorial scoring, GPT-5.6 Sol leads in 4 of five dimensions (output quality, agentic ability, value for money and reliability), while GPT-5.5 leads in 1. On price, GPT-5.5 runs about $13 per 1M tokens (blended) and is proprietary; GPT-5.6 Sol is about $4.40 and proprietary.

Across 1 community votes on this matchup, GPT-5.6 Sol currently leads in 1 of five dimensions. Cast your own vote above to move the needle.

Where GPT-5.5 falls short