---
title: "gpt-5-search-api - Model Details & Comparison"
description: "gpt-5-search-api from OpenAI: capabilities, context limits, pricing, and side-by-side comparisons with alternative models."
url: "https://maxim-root-proxy-preview.getmaxim.workers.dev/bifrost/model-library/compare/openai/gpt-5-search-api"
markdown: "https://maxim-root-proxy-preview.getmaxim.workers.dev/bifrost/model-library/compare/openai/gpt-5-search-api.md"
---

# gpt-5-search-api - Model Details & Comparison

> gpt-5-search-api from OpenAI: capabilities, context limits, pricing, and side-by-side comparisons with alternative models.

## Important Links

- [View MCP Gateway](https://maxim-root-proxy-preview.getmaxim.workers.dev/bifrost/resources/mcp-gateway.md)
- [Features](https://maxim-root-proxy-preview.getmaxim.workers.dev/bifrost/#features)
- [Enterprise](https://maxim-root-proxy-preview.getmaxim.workers.dev/bifrost/enterprise)
- [Pricing](https://maxim-root-proxy-preview.getmaxim.workers.dev/bifrost/pricing.md)
- [Docs](https://docs.getbifrost.ai)
- [GitHub](https://github.com/maximhq/bifrost)
- [Book a Demo](https://maxim-root-proxy-preview.getmaxim.workers.dev/bifrost/book-a-demo)

## About gpt-5-search-api

gpt-5-search-api is a chat model from OpenAI, one of 91 chat models they offer. It is priced at $1.25 per 1M input tokens and $10.00 per 1M output tokens, ranking 1922 out of 2669 chat models by cost and cheaper than 27% of models in this category. gpt-5-search-api supports vision, function calling, web search, prompt caching, structured output. Its 272K-token context window is in the top 19% among chat models.

## Specifications

- **OpenAI Provider.**
- **Chat Mode.**
- **272,000 Max Input Tokens.**
- **128,000 Max Output Tokens.**
- **128,000 Max Tokens.**
- **$1.25 / 1M tokens Input Price.**
- **$10.00 / 1M tokens Output Price.**

## Capabilities

gpt-5-search-api supports: Function Calling, Vision, Web Search, Prompt Caching, Parallel Function Calling, System Messages, Response Schema, Tool Choice, PDF Input.

## gpt-5-search-api Pricing Overview

At $1.25 per 1M input tokens and $10.00 per 1M output tokens, gpt-5-search-api ranks 1922 out of 2669 chat models by input cost. It is more expensive compared to the median of $0.50 for chat models, and is cheaper than 27% of models in this category.

gpt-5-search-api is one of 91 OpenAI chat models, with support for vision, function calling, web search, prompt caching, structured output. its 272K-token context window places it in the top 19% of chat models.

## Models to Compare

Alternatives to gpt-5-search-api with comparable capabilities.

| Model | Provider | Input $/1M | Output $/1M |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| gpt-5.6-luna | Azure | $1.10 | $6.60 |
| gemini-2.5-pro | Vertex AI | $1.25 | $10.00 |
| gemini-3.5-flash | Vertex AI | $1.50 | $9.00 |
| gemini-3.6-flash | Vertex AI | $1.50 | $7.50 |
| gemini-2.5-pro-preview-tts | Vertex AI | $1.25 | $10.00 |

- [Compare gpt-5.6-luna](https://maxim-root-proxy-preview.getmaxim.workers.dev/bifrost/model-library/compare/azure/gpt-5.6-luna.md)
- [Compare gemini-2.5-pro](https://maxim-root-proxy-preview.getmaxim.workers.dev/bifrost/model-library/compare/vertex_ai/gemini-2.5-pro.md)
- [Compare gemini-3.5-flash](https://maxim-root-proxy-preview.getmaxim.workers.dev/bifrost/model-library/compare/vertex_ai/gemini-3.5-flash.md)
- [Compare gemini-3.6-flash](https://maxim-root-proxy-preview.getmaxim.workers.dev/bifrost/model-library/compare/vertex_ai/gemini-3.6-flash.md)
- [Compare gemini-2.5-pro-preview-tts](https://maxim-root-proxy-preview.getmaxim.workers.dev/bifrost/model-library/compare/vertex_ai/gemini-2.5-pro-preview-tts.md)

## Related Resources

- [Calculate gpt-5-search-api costs](https://maxim-root-proxy-preview.getmaxim.workers.dev/bifrost/llm-cost-calculator/provider/openai/model/gpt-5-search-api.md)
- [Check OpenAI status](https://maxim-root-proxy-preview.getmaxim.workers.dev/bifrost/provider-status/openai.md)
- [All OpenAI pricing](https://maxim-root-proxy-preview.getmaxim.workers.dev/bifrost/llm-cost-calculator/provider/openai.md)

## FAQ

### Is gpt-5-search-api cheaper than gpt-5.6-luna?

No. gpt-5-search-api costs $1.25 per 1M input tokens while gpt-5.6-luna costs $1.10 per 1M input tokens, making gpt-5.6-luna 12% more affordable for input. However, gpt-5-search-api may offer different capabilities or performance characteristics that justify the price difference.

### How does gpt-5-search-api pricing compare to the average chat model?

gpt-5-search-api input pricing is $1.25 per 1M tokens, which is 150% above the median of $0.50 for chat models. It ranks 1922 out of 2669 chat models by input cost, making it cheaper than 27% of models in this category. For output, it costs $10.00 per 1M tokens compared to the median of $1.44.

### What makes gpt-5-search-api different from other OpenAI models?

Among OpenAI's 91 chat models, gpt-5-search-api ranks 40 by input cost.

### What are the best alternatives to gpt-5-search-api?

The most comparable chat models to gpt-5-search-api are: gpt-5.6-luna from Azure ($1.10/1M input tokens); gemini-2.5-pro from Vertex AI ($1.25/1M input tokens); gemini-3.5-flash from Vertex AI ($1.50/1M input tokens); gemini-3.6-flash from Vertex AI ($1.50/1M input tokens). These alternatives were selected based on similar capabilities, pricing, and provider diversity. You can compare any of these models in detail using the Bifrost Model Library.

### How large is gpt-5-search-api's context window?

gpt-5-search-api supports up to 272,000 input tokens, placing it in the top 19% of chat models by context window size (rank 511 of 2653). This makes it suitable for processing long documents, extensive code repositories, or maintaining detailed conversation histories.

### How do I check if OpenAI is down?

You can monitor OpenAI service health in real time on the Bifrost OpenAI Status page. It tracks current component status, active incidents, and historical reliability data pulled from the official status page every 60 seconds.

### How do I calculate gpt-5-search-api costs?

gpt-5-search-api is priced based on input and output tokens. Use the interactive calculator at the top of this page to estimate costs for your specific workload. Enter your expected input and output tokens volume and the calculator will show the total cost breakdown. For reference, processing 1M input tokens costs $1.25 and generating 1M output tokens costs $10.00.

## Related Resources

- [OpenAI models](https://maxim-root-proxy-preview.getmaxim.workers.dev/bifrost/model-library/provider/openai.md)
- [Model library](https://maxim-root-proxy-preview.getmaxim.workers.dev/bifrost/model-library.md)
- [LLM cost calculator](https://maxim-root-proxy-preview.getmaxim.workers.dev/bifrost/llm-cost-calculator.md)
- [Docs: Bifrost docs](https://docs.getbifrost.ai)
- [GitHub: maximhq/bifrost](https://github.com/maximhq/bifrost)
- [Pricing: Bifrost pricing](https://maxim-root-proxy-preview.getmaxim.workers.dev/bifrost/pricing.md)
- [Enterprise: Bifrost enterprise](https://maxim-root-proxy-preview.getmaxim.workers.dev/bifrost/enterprise)
- [Book a Demo: Bifrost demo](https://maxim-root-proxy-preview.getmaxim.workers.dev/bifrost/book-a-demo)
- [Resources: Bifrost resources](https://maxim-root-proxy-preview.getmaxim.workers.dev/bifrost/resources.md)

---

*This is a markdown version of [https://maxim-root-proxy-preview.getmaxim.workers.dev/bifrost/model-library/compare/openai/gpt-5-search-api](https://maxim-root-proxy-preview.getmaxim.workers.dev/bifrost/model-library/compare/openai/gpt-5-search-api) for AI/LLM consumption.*