GPT-5.5 Release Date: When Did OpenAI Launch "Spud"?
OpenAI officially released GPT-5.5 on April 23, 2026. Internally codenamed "Spud," the model is the direct successor to GPT-5.4 and OpenAI's most capable model to date. Here is the complete release timeline and everything you need to know about availability.
The Official GPT-5.5 Release Date
GPT-5.5 launched on April 23, 2026 — exactly one day after OpenAI published the official announcement blog post. The initial rollout went to ChatGPT Plus, Pro, Business, and Enterprise users, as well as Codex users on qualifying plans.
GPT-5.5 API access followed on April 24, 2026, with OpenAI noting that "API deployments require different safeguards" and that they were "working closely with partners and customers on the safety and security requirements."
Full GPT-5.5 Release Timeline
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| April 22, 2026 | OpenAI publishes announcement blog post |
| April 23, 2026 | GPT-5.5 and GPT-5.5 Pro roll out to ChatGPT and Codex users |
| April 24, 2026 | GPT-5.5 and GPT-5.5 Pro available in the API |
| April 24, 2026 | System card updated with additional safeguard details |
Who Got Access First?
ChatGPT: GPT-5.5 rolled out to Plus, Pro, Business, and Enterprise users. GPT-5.5 Pro went to Pro, Business, and Enterprise users. Free-tier users did not receive access at launch.
Codex: GPT-5.5 became available for Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, Edu, and Go plan users.
API: Available from April 24, 2026, via the Responses and Chat Completions APIs.
GPT-5.5 vs GPT-5.4: Why the Timing?
GPT-5.5 follows GPT-5.4 in OpenAI's rapid iteration cycle. The GPT-5 series has seen accelerated development, with each version delivering meaningful improvements rather than incremental patches. OpenAI released GPT-5.5 with a specific focus on:
- Competitive pressure from Claude Opus 4.7 (Anthropic) and Gemini 3.1 Pro (Google)
- Enterprise demand for better agentic coding and knowledge work capabilities
- Improvements in scientific research workflows
The model launched just one week after Anthropic released Claude Opus 4.7, illustrating the pace of AI model competition in 2026.
GPT-5.5 API Pricing at Launch
| Model | Input (per 1M tokens) | Output (per 1M tokens) |
|---|---|---|
| gpt-5.5 | $5.00 | $30.00 |
| gpt-5.5-pro | $30.00 | $180.00 |
| Batch/Flex rate | 50% of standard | 50% of standard |
| Priority processing | 2.5× standard | 2.5× standard |
While GPT-5.5 is priced higher than GPT-5.4, OpenAI notes it is more token-efficient — completing the same tasks with fewer tokens, which often results in lower net cost for production workloads.
Context Window
- API: 1,000,000 tokens (1M)
- Codex: 400,000 tokens (400K)
How to Access GPT-5.5 Right Now
In ChatGPT:
- Open ChatGPT on any plan (Plus or above)
- Click the model selector at the top of the chat
- Select "GPT-5.5" or "GPT-5.5 Pro"
Via API:
Use "model": "gpt-5.5" or "model": "gpt-5.5-pro" in your API requests.
Via third-party platforms: Tools like Framia.pro integrate GPT-5.5 into ready-to-use workflows — ideal for teams who want GPT-5.5's capabilities for content, research, or business automation without managing API infrastructure directly.
Why April 2026?
OpenAI's release cadence has dramatically accelerated. The GPT-5 series — GPT-5, GPT-5.1, GPT-5.2, GPT-5.4, GPT-5.5 — shipped across a compressed timeline driven by competition. OpenAI also cited internal demand: more than 85% of OpenAI employees use Codex every week, meaning internal teams are direct beneficiaries of faster model releases.
What Comes After GPT-5.5?
The GPT-5 family continues to evolve. GPT-6 — a full next-generation architecture — remains on the horizon, but GPT-5.5 is expected to be OpenAI's primary flagship model throughout 2026. With a 1M-token context window, state-of-the-art agentic coding, and improved scientific reasoning, it sets a high bar for anything that follows.
Summary
- Release date: April 23, 2026
- API access: April 24, 2026
- Codename: "Spud"
- Predecessor: GPT-5.4
- Available to: Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise (not free tier)
- API pricing: $5/$30 per 1M tokens (base); $30/$180 (Pro)
- Context: 1M tokens (API), 400K (Codex)