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GPT-4 Turbo vs GPT-5.3 Codex

GPT-4 Turbo vs GPT-5.3 Codex: GPT-5.3 Codex is cheaper for input-heavy usage ($1.75/M vs $10.00/M input tokens), while GPT-5.3 Codex is better for long-context tasks (256,000 tokens).

Direct answer: choose GPT-5.3 Codex for lower token spend and choose GPT-5.3 Codex when your workload needs longer context.

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

OpenAI
GPT-4 Turbo
vs
OpenAI
GPT-5.3 Codex

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-5.3 Codex

Per Request:$0.008750
Daily:$0.875
Monthly:$26.25
Yearly:$319.375

Cost Differences

$0.01625
Per Request
$1.625
Daily
$48.75
Monthly
$593.125
Yearly

GPT-5.3 Codex costs less than GPT-4 Turbo

Quick Recommendation

Winner for direct API pricing: GPT-5.3 Codex. At the default workload, GPT-5.3 Codex saves about $48.75/month ($593.125/year) versus GPT-4 Turbo.

Feature Comparison

FeatureGPT-4 TurboGPT-5.3 Codex
ProviderOpenAIOpenAI
Input Price$10.00/1M tokens$1.75/1M tokens
Output Price$30.00/1M tokens$14.00/1M tokens
Context Window128,000 tokens256,000 tokens
Max Output4,096 tokens32,768 tokens
Categoryflagshipcoding
Capabilities
textvisioncode
textcode
Release Date4/9/20243/1/2026

GPT-4 Turbo vs GPT-5.3 Codex: Which Should You Choose?

Choosing between GPT-4 Turbo and GPT-5.3 Codex depends on your priorities: cost efficiency, context length, or raw capability. GPT-5.3 Codex is the more affordable option at $1.75/1M input tokens83% cheaper than GPT-4 Turbo. Meanwhile, GPT-5.3 Codex offers a significantly larger context window at 256,000 tokens vs 128,000 for GPT-4 Turbo.

These models target different tiers: GPT-4 Turbo is a flagship model while GPT-5.3 Codex is coding. This means they're optimized for different workloads. GPT-4 Turbo is built for complex tasks that require deeper reasoning, while GPT-5.3 Codex offers better value for routine operations.

Output costs matter too. GPT-4 Turbo charges $30.00/1M output tokens vs $14.00 for GPT-5.3 Codex. For generation-heavy workloads (content creation, code generation, summarization), output pricing often dominates your bill. GPT-5.3 Codex has the edge here at $14.00/1M output tokens.

Multimodal capabilities: GPT-4 Turbo supports vision (image inputs) while GPT-5.3 Codex is text-only. If your application needs image understanding, this narrows your choice.

Best Use Cases

Choose GPT-4 Turbo when:

  • • You need more capabilities (vision)
  • • You're already using OpenAI's API ecosystem

Choose GPT-5.3 Codex when:

  • • Budget is a primary concern
  • • You need a larger context window (256,000 tokens)
  • • You need longer outputs (up to 32,768 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-5.3 Codex
  • Higher output cost than GPT-5.3 Codex
  • Smaller context window than GPT-5.3 Codex

GPT-5.3 Codex

  • Input pricing: $1.75/M tokens
  • Output pricing: $14.00/M tokens
  • Context window: 256,000 tokens
  • Max output: 32,768 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-5.3 Codex (OpenAI)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, GPT-4 Turbo or GPT-5.3 Codex?
GPT-5.3 Codex is cheaper for input tokens at $1.75 per million tokens vs $10.00 for GPT-4 Turbo — that's 83% savings on input costs.
What is the context window difference between GPT-4 Turbo and GPT-5.3 Codex?
GPT-4 Turbo supports 128,000 tokens while GPT-5.3 Codex supports 256,000 tokens — a difference of 128,000 tokens in favor of GPT-5.3 Codex.
Which model is better for AI Chatbot?
Both models support text. For ai chatbot, GPT-5.3 Codex is the lower-cost option, while GPT-5.3 Codex offers a larger context window (256,000 vs 128,000 tokens). Choose GPT-5.3 Codex for budget sensitivity or GPT-5.3 Codex 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-5.3 Codex costs about $26.25/month. Overall, GPT-5.3 Codex has lower combined input + output rates ($1.75 in, $14.00 out) vs GPT-4 Turbo.

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