GPT-4o vs GPT-4 vs GPT-3.5: Which OpenAI Model Should You Use?
OpenAI has released many model versions and it can be confusing. Here’s a clear breakdown of GPT-4o, GPT-4, and GPT-3.5 to help you choose the right model.
Quick Comparison
| Model | Released | Access | Key Strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| GPT-4o | May 2024 | Free (limited) + Plus | Best overall, multimodal |
| GPT-4 Turbo | Nov 2023 | Plus subscribers | Longer context, knowledge |
| GPT-3.5 Turbo | Mar 2022 | Free + API | Speed, cost-efficiency |
| o1 (Reasoning) | Sep 2024 | Plus subscribers | Complex reasoning, STEM |
GPT-4o: The Current Champion
“4o” stands for “omni” — it can process text, images, audio, and video in one unified model. This is what ChatGPT uses by default for free users (with limits) and Plus users.
GPT-4o Improvements Over GPT-4
- 2x faster response times
- Native multimodal (images, audio built-in)
- Better instruction following
- Lower API costs (5x cheaper than GPT-4)
GPT-3.5: Still Relevant for Speed
GPT-3.5 Turbo is incredibly fast (often 10x faster than GPT-4) and cheap via API. For simple tasks like classification, short summaries, and chatbots, GPT-3.5 is often the right choice.
o1: OpenAI’s Reasoning Model
o1 is designed for complex, multi-step reasoning. It’s slower (it “thinks” before answering) but dramatically better for math, science, and complex problem-solving. Not for casual conversation.
Which Should You Use?
- GPT-4o: Default choice — best balance of capability and speed
- GPT-3.5: When you need fast, cheap responses for simple tasks
- o1: When you have a hard math/science/logic problem
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