Comprehensive side-by-side LLM comparison
Both models show comparable benchmark performance. Both models have their strengths depending on your specific coding needs.
OpenAI
GPT-5.1 Instant, released by OpenAI in November 2025, is a low-latency variant from the GPT-5.1 family optimized for fast response times and high-throughput workloads. It targets real-time applications, conversational assistants, and production APIs where response speed is a primary requirement alongside GPT-5.1-generation reasoning quality.
OpenAI
GPT-5.1 Thinking, released by OpenAI in November 2025, is an extended reasoning variant from the GPT-5.1 family that applies chain-of-thought processing to improve accuracy on complex reasoning, mathematics, and coding tasks. It targets analytical workflows where deliberate reasoning over a problem significantly improves output quality.
Launched on the same date

GPT-5.1 Instant
OpenAI
2025-11

GPT-5.1 Thinking
OpenAI
2025-11
Average performance across 1 common benchmarks
GPT-5.1 Instant
GPT-5.1 Thinking
Performance comparison across key benchmark categories
GPT-5.1 Instant
GPT-5.1 Thinking
Available providers and their performance metrics
GPT-5.1 Instant
GPT-5.1 Thinking
GPT-5.1 Instant
GPT-5.1 Thinking