Best OpenAI Models in 2026
As of October 17, 2026, the top model among OpenAI models on the BenchLM leaderboard is GPT-6.1 Sol with a score of 84.1.
Bottom line: the live table above sets the order across OpenAI's lineup, which now spans several GPT generations. Pro tiers add premium reasoning at a higher price and Codex models specialize in code; check each row's evidence label before reading a small gap as a real one.
Full Rankings (36 ranked)
How to choose
Key Takeaways
The top model is GPT-6.1 Sol by OpenAI with a BenchAlign v5.8 score of 84.1 and Supported evidence.
The best open-weight model is GPT-OSS 120B at position #28.
36 models are included in this ranking.
Score in Context
What these scores mean
Models are ranked by the same overall BenchLM score used across all leaderboards. Comparing within OpenAI's lineup helps identify which model fits your use case and budget.
Known limitations
This page only shows OpenAI models. Cross-provider comparison requires the overall or category-specific leaderboards. Newer models may have limited benchmark coverage initially.
About this ranking
Ranking data as of October 17, 2026
All OpenAI models ranked by benchmark performance — GPT-5, GPT-4o, o1, o3, and more.
Unless noted otherwise, ranking surfaces on this page use BenchLM’s provisional leaderboard lane rather than the stricter sourced-only verified leaderboard.
GPT-6.1 Sol leads this ranking with a score of 84.1, followed by GPT-6 Astra (83.9) and GPT-6 Sol (78.5). There is meaningful separation between the top models, suggesting genuine performance differences.
The best open-weight option is GPT-OSS 120B (ranked #28 with a score of 37.3). Proprietary models hold a clear advantage in this category, though open-weight options may suffice for less demanding use cases.
This ranking uses provisional overall weighted scores from the active scoring formula. For detailed model profiles, click any model name above. To compare two specific models head-to-head, use the "vs #" links.
Explore More
Know when it’s worth switching models
The model to choose, the cheaper alternative, and the release we would wait on.
Read a sample issueJoin 5,600+ readers.
One email each week. Unsubscribe anytime.