Codex Models (living tracker)
Which models Codex can use right now, which one it picks by default, what they cost through the API, and what just got deprecated — checked against the official models documentation and updated whenever the lineup moves.
The default Codex model is GPT-5.6 Sol, the flagship that went GA on July 9, 2026. It ships alongside GPT-5.6 Terra (balanced) and GPT-5.6 Luna (fast and cheap). If you have not changed anything, you are on Sol at medium reasoning.
Current lineup
Seven models are live across Codex surfaces as of July 9, 2026. Everything in this table reflects the official models page atlearn.chatgpt.com/docs/models, verified 2026-07-09.
| Model | Role | Status | Since | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| gpt-5.6-sol | Default flagship | GA | Jul 9, 2026 | The default — the standard Power setting runs Sol at medium reasoning. |
| gpt-5.6-terra | Balanced | GA | Jul 9, 2026 | The mid-priced option in the 5.6 family. |
| gpt-5.6-luna | Fast / cheap | GA | Jul 9, 2026 | The lowest-priced option in the 5.6 family. |
| gpt-5.5 | Previous flagship | Available | Apr 23, 2026 | Held the default slot from April 23 until the 5.6 launch. |
| gpt-5.4 | Previous generation | Available | Mar 5, 2026 | Still listed as available on the official models page. |
| gpt-5.4-mini | Subagent workhorse | Available | — | The small model of the 5.4 generation, used for subagent work. |
| gpt-5.3-codex-spark | Real-time preview | Preview | Feb 12, 2026 | 1,000+ tokens/sec on Cerebras hardware · 128k context · text-only · ChatGPT Pro only. |
We have not verified a release date for gpt-5.4-mini, so its Since column stays blank rather than carrying a guess.
Which Codex models are deprecated?
Two: gpt-5.2 and gpt-5.3-codex are marked deprecated when you sign in with a ChatGPT account. The split matters if you use an API key — gpt-5.3-codex remains available through the Responses API, so API-side workflows built on it still run. The docs note that carve-out only for gpt-5.3-codex. Both flags were live on the official models page as of July 9, 2026.
| Model | ChatGPT sign-in | API |
|---|---|---|
| Deprecated gpt-5.2 | Deprecated when signed in with ChatGPT | No Responses API carve-out noted on the models page |
| Deprecated gpt-5.3-codex | Deprecated when signed in with ChatGPT | Still available through the Responses API |
API pricing
Responses API list prices at GA (July 9, 2026), per 1 million tokens — confirmed across launch coverage from TechCrunch, Axios, and VentureBeat, verified 2026-07-09.
| Model | Input / 1M | Output / 1M |
|---|---|---|
| gpt-5.6-sol | $5.00 | $30.00 |
| gpt-5.6-terra | $2.50 | $15.00 |
| gpt-5.6-luna | $1.00 | $6.00 |
Codex subscription plans meter usage in credits rather than raw token prices — Sol burns 250 credits per 1M input tokens, 25 per 1M cached, and 1,500 per 1M output. Plan caps and credit math live in the usage limits reference.
Which model should I use?
Stay on GPT-5.6 Sol, the default — it is the flagship, and the standard Power setting runs it at medium reasoning. Drop to Terra when you want lower API cost on routine work, or Luna for fast, cheap bulk tasks. Spark is a separate case: a ChatGPT Pro-only research preview built for real-time speed (1,000+ tokens per second), text-only, with a 128k context window.
Model timeline
Five model launches between February and July 2026 — a roughly monthly cadence. Treat the lineup table above as perishable.
Sources
- learn.chatgpt.com/docs/models— the official models documentation: lineup, default, and deprecation flags. The old developers.openai.com/codex/models URL now permanently redirects here. Verified 2026-07-09.
- OpenAI announcements + launch coverage— GA date, the June 26 preview, and API pricing confirmed across TechCrunch, Axios, and VentureBeat; Spark specs from OpenAI's announcement and the Cerebras engineering blog. Verified 2026-07-09.
- github.com/openai/codex/releases— the CLI release record, for cross-checking when model support lands in the tool. See our releases hub.
Changelog for this page
Every edit to this reference, newest first. This is what living document means.