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GPT-4 Turbo vs GPT-4o

Pricing verdict: GPT-4 Turbo vs GPT-4o: GPT-4o is cheaper for input-heavy usage ($2.50/M vs $10.00/M input tokens), while GPT-4 Turbo is better for long-context tasks (128,000 tokens).

Direct answer: choose GPT-4o for lower token spend and choose GPT-4 Turbo when your workload needs longer context.

Compare API pricing, input and output token costs, context windows, and monthly estimates on one page so you can pick the cheaper model fast.

OpenAI
GPT-4 Turbo
vs
OpenAI
GPT-4o

Cost Comparison (1000 input + 500 output tokens, 100 requests/day)

GPT-4 Turbo

Per Request:$0.025
Daily:$2.50
Monthly:$75.00
Yearly:$912.50

GPT-4o

Per Request:$0.007500
Daily:$0.75
Monthly:$22.50
Yearly:$273.75

Cost Differences

$0.0175
Per Request
$1.75
Daily
$52.50
Monthly
$638.75
Yearly

GPT-4o costs less than GPT-4 Turbo

Quick Recommendation

Winner for direct API pricing: GPT-4o. At the default workload, GPT-4o saves about $52.50/month ($638.75/year) versus GPT-4 Turbo.

Feature Comparison

FeatureGPT-4 TurboGPT-4o
ProviderOpenAIOpenAI
Input Price$10.00/1M tokens$2.50/1M tokens
Output Price$30.00/1M tokens$10.00/1M tokens
Context Window128,000 tokens128,000 tokens
Max Output4,096 tokens16,384 tokens
Categoryflagshipflagship
Capabilities
textvisioncode
textvisionaudio
Release Date4/9/20245/13/2024

GPT-4 Turbo vs GPT-4o: Which Should You Choose?

Choosing between GPT-4 Turbo and GPT-4o depends on your priorities: cost efficiency, context length, or raw capability. GPT-4o is the more affordable option at $2.50/1M input tokens75% cheaper than GPT-4 Turbo.

Both models are in the flagship category, making this a direct head-to-head comparison. At scale — say 10,000 requests per day — the cost difference adds up: GPT-4o would save you roughly $5,250.00/month compared to GPT-4 Turbo. For startups and indie developers, that difference can be significant.

Output costs matter too. GPT-4 Turbo charges $30.00/1M output tokens vs $10.00 for GPT-4o. For generation-heavy workloads (content creation, code generation, summarization), output pricing often dominates your bill. GPT-4o has the edge here at $10.00/1M output tokens.

Multimodal capabilities: Both models support vision (image understanding), so you can send images alongside text prompts with either option.

Best Use Cases

Choose GPT-4 Turbo when:

  • • You're already using OpenAI's API ecosystem

Choose GPT-4o when:

  • • Budget is a primary concern
  • • You need longer outputs (up to 16,384 tokens)
  • • You're already using OpenAI's API ecosystem

Pros and Caveats at a Glance

GPT-4 Turbo

  • Input pricing: $10.00/M tokens
  • Output pricing: $30.00/M tokens
  • Context window: 128,000 tokens
  • Max output: 4,096 tokens

Watch out for

  • Higher input cost than GPT-4o
  • Higher output cost than GPT-4o

GPT-4o

  • Input pricing: $2.50/M tokens
  • Output pricing: $10.00/M tokens
  • Context window: 128,000 tokens
  • Max output: 16,384 tokens

Watch out for

  • Trade-offs are minor in this matchup.

Try Different Scenarios

Use the calculator below to see how costs change with different usage patterns

GPT-4 Turbo (OpenAI)

GPT-4o (OpenAI)

Start using GPT-4 Turbo today

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Start using GPT-4o today

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, GPT-4 Turbo or GPT-4o?
GPT-4o is cheaper for input tokens at $2.50 per million tokens vs $10.00 for GPT-4 Turbo — that's 75% savings on input costs.
What is the context window difference between GPT-4 Turbo and GPT-4o?
GPT-4 Turbo supports 128,000 tokens while GPT-4o supports 128,000 tokens — a difference of 0 tokens in favor of GPT-4 Turbo.
Which model is better for AI Chatbot?
Both models support text. For ai chatbot, GPT-4o is the lower-cost option, while GPT-4 Turbo offers a larger context window (128,000 vs 128,000 tokens). Choose GPT-4o for budget sensitivity or GPT-4 Turbo for longer context tasks.
Which model has better overall pricing for heavy usage?
At 100 requests/day with 1,000 input and 500 output tokens each, GPT-4 Turbo costs about $75.00/month and GPT-4o costs about $22.50/month. Overall, GPT-4o has lower combined input + output rates ($2.50 in, $10.00 out) vs GPT-4 Turbo.

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