# GPT-Live-1 Is in the API at $0.05 a Minute, but That Buys Only the Voice Layer

OpenAI made GPT-Live-1, its full-duplex voice model, generally available in the API on 10 September at $0.05 per minute for the voice session, with telephony support. The reasoning runs on a backend model you pick and pay for separately, and OpenAI publishes no all-in per-minute cost. GPT-Live-1 stays conditional: the no-API caveat is gone, and cost is the new one.

By Neomanex. Updated 2026-09-26.

**Verdict: [GPT-Live-1](/models/gpt-live-1) stays conditional.** The condition we attached in July, no API, is gone. The one that replaces it is cost: the $0.05 per minute OpenAI charges covers only the voice session. The reasoning runs on a backend model you choose, such as [GPT-5.6 Luna](/models/gpt-5-6-luna) or [GPT-6 Astra](/models/astra), billed separately, and OpenAI gives no all-in figure.

## What happened

OpenAI's API changelog entry of 10 September and its developer docs say:

- **Availability.** "GPT-Live 1 is now generally available in the API."
- **Price.** "$0.05 per minute, billed per second". "Backend model and tool usage is billed separately."
- **Backend choice.** The backend can be "a supported Responses model" or "any model, agent harness, or service your application runs".
- **Telephony.** The getting-started guide lists "Telephony and SIP" for connecting phone calls.

We have not tested the API.

## Why it matters

$0.05 a minute is $3 an hour of voice-session time. Every minute of that conversation also runs a backend model at its own token rate. Two OpenAI models from our directory as examples:

| Backend (per our directory) | Input / output per 1M tokens | Our verdict |
|---|---|---|
| [GPT-5.6 Luna](/models/gpt-5-6-luna) | $0.20 / $1.20 | Conditional |
| [GPT-6 Astra](/models/astra) | $10 / $50 | Conditional |

OpenAI's docs give no worked per-minute figure for any pairing, so the $0.05 number alone cannot budget a voice agent. The gap between those two backends is 50x on input tokens.

Our directory also lists [GPT-6 Luna](/models/gpt-6-luna), released 22 September, at $0.10 / $0.50 per 1M tokens. We have not confirmed which models count as a "supported Responses model" for GPT-Live-1; check before you budget on any of them.

## What changes for you

- **Cost both halves.** Run a representative call transcript through the voice session and your chosen backend, and compute the all-in cost per minute before you commit.
- **Route by difficulty.** Put high-volume, simple flows such as scheduling on a budget backend, and reserve a frontier model such as Astra for calls that need it.
- **Confirm the backend.** Check that your chosen model is supported before you budget on its rate.

**Our directory.** The [GPT-Live-1 entry](/models/gpt-live-1) now carries the API pricing: $0.05 per minute for the voice session, with the backend model and tools billed separately. Its summary still describes the ChatGPT-only model, including "no API", and is flagged for refresh. The rating does not move: the no-API condition has cleared, but the all-in cost is unpublished and we have not tested the API.

## FAQ

**How much does GPT-Live-1 cost in the API?**
$0.05 per minute for the voice session, billed per second, per OpenAI. The backend model and tool usage are billed separately, so the real per-minute cost depends on which model you pair it with.

**Can GPT-Live-1 answer phone calls?**
Yes. OpenAI's getting-started guide lists Telephony and SIP for connecting phone calls.

**Which backend model should I use?**
OpenAI's docs allow a supported Responses model or any model, agent harness or service your application runs. Price your candidates against a real transcript before choosing.

**Is GPT-Live-1 generally available?**
Yes. OpenAI's API changelog lists GPT-Live 1 as generally available in the API from 10 September.

Canonical: https://neomanex.com/news/gpt-live-1-api-launch-voice-layer-pricing