OpenAI to Sunset GPT-4.5 API Access by July 14 — Recommends GPT-4.1 as a Better Alternative

OpenAI to Sunset GPT-4.5 API Access by July 14 — Recommends GPT-4.1 as a Better Alternative

In a significant update, OpenAI has announced that API access to its GPT-4.5 model will be officially discontinued on July 14, 2025. This move follows the recent launch of GPT-4.1, which the company now recommends as a more cost-effective and high-performing alternative for developers.

GPT-4.5 Will Remain Exclusive to ChatGPT Plus Users

Originally introduced in February 2025 under the internal codename "Orion," GPT-4.5 was designed to outperform its predecessors through enhanced training with larger datasets and more powerful compute resources. While the model demonstrated notable improvements in content creation and persuasive writing, it reportedly fell short in some industry-specific benchmarks.

Despite its advanced capabilities, OpenAI confirmed that the operational costs of GPT-4.5 were considerably high, making it one of the most expensive models ever deployed via API. The pricing stood at $75 per 1 million input tokens and $150 per 1 million output tokens — a significant barrier for many developers and businesses.

Following the sunset of API access, GPT-4.5 will continue to be available exclusively to ChatGPT Plus users as part of a research preview, allowing select individuals to still experiment with its capabilities within the ChatGPT platform.

Why GPT-4.1 Is the Future for Developers

The newly introduced GPT-4.1 promises comparable or superior performance at a significantly lower cost, positioning it as the go-to solution for developers seeking efficiency without compromising on output quality. OpenAI highlights that GPT-4.1 is better optimized for a broader range of use cases, from code generation to content writing and enterprise applications.

With this shift, OpenAI is clearly signaling a focus on sustainable AI model deployment and making its technology more accessible for developers and businesses worldwide.

Key Takeaways for Developers

• GPT-4.5 API access ends on July 14, 2025

• GPT-4.1 is now recommended due to better performance and lower pricing

• GPT-4.5 will remain available only on ChatGPT Plus as a research preview

• Developers should begin migrating to GPT-4.1 as soon as possible