# OpenAI

> The most widely adopted closed-model API, from GPT-6 Astra down to GPT-6 Luna.

Canonical: https://www.subconscious.dev/providers/openai · By The Subconscious Team · Updated October 11, 2026

- Founded: 2015
- Example models: GPT-6 Astra, GPT-6.1 Sol, GPT-6 Luna
- Website: https://openai.com

## Overview

OpenAI runs the most widely adopted closed-model API. Its October 2026 lineup has GPT-6 Astra at the top for computer use, coding and long agentic runs, priced at $10 in and $50 out per million tokens. Below it sit GPT-6.1 Sol, the default for coding, research and computer use at $2 in and $10 out, and GPT-6 Luna for high-volume jobs at $0.10 in and $0.50 out. All three carry a 1.05M token context window with up to 128K output.

The platform goes well past raw completions. The Responses API bundles hosted tools like web search, file search, code execution, computer use and MCP, and the Agents SDK adds handoffs, guardrails and tracing on top. Cached input bills at 10% of list, Batch cuts everything in half, a Fast mode trades higher price for speed, and GPT-6 Astra adds an Ultrafast tier in the API and Codex. OpenAI also ships open-weight gpt-oss models under Apache 2.0 for teams that want to self-host.

## Upsides

- Largest ecosystem of SDKs, integrations and third-party tooling, so time to value is short.
- Frontier results on computer use and coding benchmarks with GPT-6 Astra.
- Clear price tiers plus caching and Batch discounts that stack.
- Available through Azure OpenAI and Amazon Bedrock as well as direct.

## Core use cases

- Customer-facing assistants and general chat products.
- Multi-tool agents and browser or desktop automation.
- High-volume classification and extraction on Luna.

## Downsides

- Closed weights mean lock-in and exposure to model behavior changes between versions.
- Prompts over 272K tokens bill input at 2x and output at 1.5x, so long-context agent loops get expensive fast.

## At a glance

| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Model access | Closed, plus open gpt-oss |
| Flagship models | GPT-6 Astra, GPT-6.1 Sol, GPT-6 Luna |
| Speed | Fast mode; Ultrafast on GPT-6 Astra |
| Price | $0.10–$10 in, $0.50–$50 out per 1M |
| Customization | N/A |
| Deployment | API, Azure OpenAI, Bedrock |
| Long context | 1.05M; 2x input past 272K |

## FAQ

### What is OpenAI?

OpenAI runs the most widely adopted closed-model API. Its October 2026 lineup has GPT-6 Astra at the top for computer use, coding and long agentic runs, priced at $10 in and $50 out per million tokens. Below it sit GPT-6.1 Sol, the default for coding, research and computer use at $2 in and $10 out, and GPT-6 Luna for high-volume jobs at $0.10 in and $0.50 out. All three carry a 1.05M token context window with up to 128K output.

### What is OpenAI best for?

Customer-facing assistants and general chat products; Multi-tool agents and browser or desktop automation; High-volume classification and extraction on Luna.

### How much does OpenAI cost?

OpenAI pricing at a glance: $0.10–$10 in, $0.50–$50 out per 1M. Rates change often, so check OpenAI's pricing page before committing.

### How much context does OpenAI support?

OpenAI's long-context support: 1.05M; 2x input past 272K.

### What are the downsides of OpenAI?

Closed weights mean lock-in and exposure to model behavior changes between versions; Prompts over 272K tokens bill input at 2x and output at 1.5x, so long-context agent loops get expensive fast.

### What are the best alternatives to OpenAI?

Common alternatives include Subconscious, Anthropic, Google Vertex AI, Amazon Bedrock, Together AI. Each has a head-to-head comparison with OpenAI on this site.

## Comparisons

- [Subconscious vs OpenAI](https://www.subconscious.dev/compare/subconscious-vs-openai.md)
- [OpenAI vs Anthropic](https://www.subconscious.dev/compare/openai-vs-anthropic.md)
- [OpenAI vs Google Vertex AI](https://www.subconscious.dev/compare/openai-vs-google-vertex.md)
- [OpenAI vs Amazon Bedrock](https://www.subconscious.dev/compare/openai-vs-aws-bedrock.md)
- [OpenAI vs Together AI](https://www.subconscious.dev/compare/openai-vs-together-ai.md)
- [OpenAI vs Fireworks AI](https://www.subconscious.dev/compare/openai-vs-fireworks.md)
- [OpenAI vs Baseten](https://www.subconscious.dev/compare/openai-vs-baseten.md)
- [OpenAI vs Groq](https://www.subconscious.dev/compare/openai-vs-groq.md)
- [OpenAI vs Cerebras](https://www.subconscious.dev/compare/openai-vs-cerebras.md)
- [OpenAI vs DeepInfra](https://www.subconscious.dev/compare/openai-vs-deepinfra.md)
- [OpenAI vs Hugging Face Inference Providers](https://www.subconscious.dev/compare/openai-vs-hugging-face.md)
- [OpenAI vs Modal](https://www.subconscious.dev/compare/openai-vs-modal.md)
- [OpenAI vs Cloudflare Workers AI](https://www.subconscious.dev/compare/openai-vs-cloudflare-workers-ai.md)
- [OpenAI vs xAI](https://www.subconscious.dev/compare/openai-vs-xai.md)
- [OpenAI vs Mistral AI](https://www.subconscious.dev/compare/openai-vs-mistral-ai.md)
- [OpenAI vs DeepSeek](https://www.subconscious.dev/compare/openai-vs-deepseek.md)
- [OpenAI vs Moonshot AI](https://www.subconscious.dev/compare/openai-vs-moonshot-ai.md)
- [OpenAI vs Z.ai](https://www.subconscious.dev/compare/openai-vs-z-ai.md)
- [OpenAI vs Alibaba Cloud](https://www.subconscious.dev/compare/openai-vs-alibaba-cloud.md)
- [OpenAI vs Meta](https://www.subconscious.dev/compare/openai-vs-meta.md)
- [OpenAI vs Cohere](https://www.subconscious.dev/compare/openai-vs-cohere.md)
- [OpenAI vs SambaNova](https://www.subconscious.dev/compare/openai-vs-sambanova.md)
- [OpenAI vs Nebius](https://www.subconscious.dev/compare/openai-vs-nebius.md)
- [OpenAI vs Crusoe](https://www.subconscious.dev/compare/openai-vs-crusoe.md)
- [OpenAI vs fal](https://www.subconscious.dev/compare/openai-vs-fal.md)
- [OpenAI vs Novita AI](https://www.subconscious.dev/compare/openai-vs-novita-ai.md)
- [OpenAI vs Venice](https://www.subconscious.dev/compare/openai-vs-venice.md)
- [OpenAI vs Parasail](https://www.subconscious.dev/compare/openai-vs-parasail.md)
- [OpenAI vs Inference.net](https://www.subconscious.dev/compare/openai-vs-inference-net.md)
- [OpenAI vs GMI Cloud](https://www.subconscious.dev/compare/openai-vs-gmi-cloud.md)
- [OpenAI vs Thinking Machines](https://www.subconscious.dev/compare/openai-vs-thinking-machines.md)
- [OpenAI vs Sail Research](https://www.subconscious.dev/compare/openai-vs-sail-research.md)
- [OpenAI vs Morph](https://www.subconscious.dev/compare/openai-vs-morph.md)
- [OpenAI vs Relace](https://www.subconscious.dev/compare/openai-vs-relace.md)
- [OpenAI vs TypeSafe AI](https://www.subconscious.dev/compare/openai-vs-typesafe-ai.md)
- [OpenAI vs StepFun](https://www.subconscious.dev/compare/openai-vs-stepfun.md)
- [OpenAI vs Runware](https://www.subconscious.dev/compare/openai-vs-runware.md)
- [OpenAI vs StreamLake](https://www.subconscious.dev/compare/openai-vs-streamlake.md)
- [OpenAI vs Wafer](https://www.subconscious.dev/compare/openai-vs-wafer.md)
- [OpenAI vs RunInfra](https://www.subconscious.dev/compare/openai-vs-runinfra.md)
- [OpenAI vs Particle.AI](https://www.subconscious.dev/compare/openai-vs-particle-ai.md)
- [OpenAI vs Luminal](https://www.subconscious.dev/compare/openai-vs-luminal.md)
- [OpenAI vs Infron](https://www.subconscious.dev/compare/openai-vs-infron.md)
- [OpenAI vs Inception](https://www.subconscious.dev/compare/openai-vs-inception.md)
- [OpenAI vs Dolphin](https://www.subconscious.dev/compare/openai-vs-dolphin.md)

## Sources

- [OpenAI API pricing 2026](https://justinmckelvey.com/blog/openai-api-pricing)
- [GPT-6 Astra review](https://www.syntaxdispatch.com/blog/gpt-6-astra-review)
- [Practical guide to building with GPT-6, OpenAI](https://openai.com/index/practical-guide-building-gpt-6/)

Pricing and model lineups change often; figures are a snapshot.