GPT Image (OpenAI)
OpenAI's image model — DALL-E's successor in ChatGPT and the API
Overview
GPT Image is OpenAI's current image generation model, accessible through ChatGPT and the API. OpenAI retired DALL-E 2 and DALL-E 3 on May 12, 2026; the current flagship, GPT Image 2 (released April 21, 2026, also branded "ChatGPT Images 2.0"), is architecturally different from its DALL-E predecessors — it's autoregressive (generating images token-by-token like text) rather than diffusion-based, with roughly 99% text-rendering accuracy (up from 90-95% on DALL-E 3), native 4K output, built-in reasoning/planning, and the ability to pull web information before generating.
GPT Image is integrated directly into ChatGPT Plus and ChatGPT Enterprise — users generate images conversationally, asking ChatGPT to refine results through natural language — and is also available via the OpenAI image API for developers (the older DALL-E API endpoints are deprecated). The model refuses to generate content that violates OpenAI's policies, including realistic depictions of public figures and certain sensitive content, and declines to reproduce artists' styles if they've opted out of the training dataset.
Pricing
Pricing shown for reference only. These figures reflect RECATOOLS research as of 16 Sep 2026 and may be out of date or incomplete. This is not financial or purchasing advice — always confirm the current price on the provider’s official website before making any decision.
Use cases
What you can produce with GPT Image (OpenAI)
- In-image text that actually works — multi-line copy, mixed font weights, even CJK scripts — which reviewers call the breakout capability
- Character consistency held across repeated generations
- A model that reasons before it generates and can search the web mid-task for reference material: GPT Image 2 is autoregressive rather than diffusion-based
- Output free of the yellow-tinted AI-art look that dated earlier generations
- Pricing you can budget: roughly $0.006, $0.053 and $0.211 per 1024px image at low, medium and high quality, and $0.41 for a high-quality 4K frame — which stings at production volume
- ⚠️ No positional control. Designers call natural-language steering terrible for graphic design specifically, because there is no way to pin exact positions
- ⚠️ 2K as the reliable ceiling — OpenAI concedes higher resolutions are experimental and inconsistent — and no path back, since DALL-E 2 and 3 API access was cut off on 12 May 2026
GPT Image 2 is OpenAI's current image model — DALL-E 2 and 3 were retired May 12, 2026 — and its headline win is text: multi-line copy and even CJK scripts render reliably, which no mainstream rival matches. It reasons before generating, can pull web references mid-task, and outputs up to 4K, though OpenAI itself calls anything above 2K experimental. ChatGPT integration makes iteration conversational, and API pricing is usage-based (roughly $0.21 for a high-quality 1024px image, $0.41 at 4K), so production volume adds up fast. Fine artistic control still trails Midjourney, designers complain natural language is a blunt instrument for precise layout work, and content filters are strict. For on-brief images with legible text it's the default choice; ASEAN users get broad prompt-language tolerance and solid API documentation.
What people say
May 12, 2026 was the day DALL-E actually died: OpenAI cut off API access to DALL-E 2 and 3, finishing a migration that began in March 2025, when GPT-4o image generation replaced DALL-E 3 as ChatGPT's default. GPT Image 1.5 followed in December 2025 and GPT Image 2 (ChatGPT Images 2.0) on April 21, 2026; press coverage described it reasoning before it generates and searching the web mid-task, which OpenAI's current pages no longer spell out.
User reaction centres on two things. Text rendering is the breakout: reviewers report multi-line copy, mixed font weights, and even CJK scripts holding up, and an r/ChatGPTPro thread called the character-consistency and text upgrades "wild." The second is the look — one r/LocalLLM user credited it with finally killing the yellow-tinted AI-art filter. Complaints cluster around control and cost. Graphic designers call natural-language steering "terrible for graphic design specifically" since there's no way to pin exact positions, and GPT Image 2 cost about $0.006, $0.053 and $0.211 per 1024px image at low, medium and high quality, which stings at production volume. OpenAI itself says resolutions above 2560x1440 are experimental, so treat that as the reliable ceiling.
The forced migration annoyed developers — an OpenAI community thread titled "OpenAI is making a huge mistake by deprecating DALL-E-3" gathered teams whose pipelines depended on the older model's cheaper, faster responses. For most users, though, the trade is straightforwardly favourable: this is the first mainstream model where in-image text just works.
The current model is newer again. ChatGPT Images 2.5 launched on 8 September 2026 for all ChatGPT users, with OpenAI claiming up to 50% lower latency than 2.0, and the API gained two models: GPT-Image-2.5 Flare, the default for most uses, and Sunburst, a slower premium option. Both are billed per token at GPT Image 2's rates of $5 per million text input tokens, $8 for image input and $30 for image output, add xhigh and max quality levels, and accept sizes up to 3840 pixels on an edge.
Summary of public user & expert reviews, compiled by RECATOOLS.
Notable facts
- DALL-E 3 was trained with a technique where human annotators provided extremely detailed captions for every training image, which is why it follows complex prompts more accurately than any predecessor.
- The model can accurately count objects in a scene — generating exactly 7 red apples on a table, for example — something that defeated every previous AI image generator.
- DALL-E 3's content policy rejects requests to generate images of real living people by name, a deliberate choice to prevent misuse for misinformation.
Frequently asked questions
About this listing
This entry was compiled from publicly available data including GPT Image (OpenAI)'s official website, press releases, documentation, and reputable third-party publications. RECATOOLS is not affiliated with GPT Image (OpenAI) unless explicitly stated.
Third-party AI tools update their pricing, features, availability, and policies frequently. Information here may be outdated by the time you read this — we make reasonable efforts to keep listings current, but cannot guarantee absolute accuracy.
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