GPT-4o vs GPT-5
Complete pricing and performance comparison between OpenAI's GPT-4o and OpenAI's GPT-5.
Quick Verdict
Cheaper
GPT-5 (input) / GPT-4o (output)
Input: 2.0x diff, Output: 1.0x diff
Larger Context
GPT-5
400K vs 128K
Higher Quality
GPT-5
Score: 45 vs 17
Faster
GPT-4o
135 vs 60 tok/s
Pricing Comparison
| Spec | GPT-4o | GPT-5 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provider | OpenAI | OpenAI | |
| Input / 1M tokens | $2.5 | $1.25 | GPT-5 is 50% more expensive |
| Output / 1M tokens | $10 | $10 | Same |
| Context Window | 128K | 400K | 3x difference |
| Max Output | 16K | 16K |
Performance Benchmarks
| Metric | GPT-4o | GPT-5 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality Index | 17 | 45 | GPT-5 |
| Output Speed | 135 tok/s | 60 tok/s | GPT-4o |
| Time to First Token | 0.53s | 117.69s | GPT-4o |
| Value (Quality/$) | 6.9 | 35.7 | Higher = better value |
Benchmark data from Artificial Analysis. Quality Index is a composite score across reasoning, coding, and knowledge tasks.
Cost at Scale
Estimated cost at different usage levels (3:1 input-to-output token ratio, typical for chat).
| Usage | GPT-4o | GPT-5 | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
Single request 1K in / 300 out | $0.0055 | $0.0042 | GPT-5 saves $0.0013 |
10 requests 10K in / 3K out | $0.055 | $0.042 | GPT-5 saves $0.013 |
100 requests 100K in / 30K out | $0.550 | $0.425 | GPT-5 saves $0.125 |
1,000 requests 1M in / 300K out | $5.50 | $4.25 | GPT-5 saves $1.25 |
10,000 requests 10M in / 3M out | $55.00 | $42.50 | GPT-5 saves $12.50 |
1M requests/mo 1B in / 300M out | $5500.00 | $4250.00 | GPT-5 saves $1250.00 |
Pros & Cons
GPT-4o Strengths
- +Faster output (135 vs 60 tok/s)
- +Lower latency (faster first token)
GPT-5 Strengths
- +Cheaper input tokens
- +Larger context window (400K vs 128K)
- +Higher quality score (45 vs 17)
When to Use Each Model
Choose GPT-4o for
- →Real-time applications, chat, or autocomplete
Choose GPT-5 for
- →Long documents, large codebases, or multi-turn conversations
- →Tasks requiring maximum accuracy and reasoning
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, GPT-4o or GPT-5?
For input tokens, GPT-5 is 2.0x cheaper at $1.25/1M tokens. For output tokens, GPT-4o is 1.0x cheaper at $10/1M tokens. At typical usage (1M input + 300K output), GPT-4o costs $5.50 vs GPT-5 at $4.25.
What's the context window difference?
GPT-4o supports 128K context (128,000 tokens), while GPT-5 supports 400K (400,000 tokens). GPT-5 can handle 3x more context in a single request.
Which model has better benchmarks?
Quality Index: GPT-4o scores 17 vs GPT-5 at 45. Speed: GPT-4o generates 135 tok/s vs GPT-5 at 60 tok/s. Time to first token: GPT-4o at 0.53s vs GPT-5 at 117.69s.
When should I choose GPT-4o over GPT-5?
Choose GPT-4o when you need: Faster output (135 vs 60 tok/s), Lower latency (faster first token). Choose GPT-5 when you need: Cheaper input tokens, Larger context window (400K vs 128K), Higher quality score (45 vs 17).
How much would 10,000 API requests cost?
At 1K input + 300 output tokens per request (typical chat): GPT-4o = $55.00, GPT-5 = $42.50. At 10K input + 1K output per request (longer conversations): GPT-4o = $350.00, GPT-5 = $225.00.