GPT-4o (11-20) vs GPT-5.2 Codex
GPT-4o (11-20) (2024) and GPT-5.2 Codex (2025) compare a standalone API model against a coding-specialized model. GPT-4o (11-20) ships a 128k-token context window, while GPT-5.2 Codex ships a not-yet-sourced context window. This page treats the result as workflow and deployment fit, not a universal model winner.
Treat this as a product-type comparison: GPT-4o (11-20) is standalone API model, while GPT-5.2 Codex is coding-specialized model. Choose based on workflow fit before reading any benchmark or price row as decisive.
Decision scorecard
Local evidence first| Signal | GPT-4o (11-20) | GPT-5.2 Codex |
|---|---|---|
| Product type | Standalone API model | Coding-specialized model |
| Best for | multimodal apps | custom coding agents, code generation, and tool loops |
| Decision fit | Coding, Agents, and Long context | Coding, Agents, and Vision |
| Context window | 128k | — |
| Cheapest output | - | $14/1M tokens |
| Provider routes | 0 tracked | 1 tracked |
| Shared benchmarks | 0 rows | 0 rows |
Decision tradeoffs
- GPT-4o (11-20) has the larger context window for long prompts, retrieval packs, or transcript analysis.
- Local decision data tags GPT-4o (11-20) for Coding, Agents, and Long context.
- GPT-5.2 Codex has broader tracked provider coverage for fallback and procurement flexibility.
- GPT-5.2 Codex uniquely exposes Multimodal, Reasoning, and Function calling in local model data.
- Local decision data tags GPT-5.2 Codex for Coding, Agents, and Vision.
Monthly cost at traffic
Estimate token spend from the cheapest tracked input and output route or tier on this page.
GPT-4o (11-20)
Unavailable
No complete token price in local provider data
GPT-5.2 Codex
$4,900
Cheapest tracked route/tier: Vercel AI Gateway
Cost delta unavailable until both models have sourced input and output token prices.
Switch friction
- No overlapping tracked provider route is sourced for GPT-4o (11-20) and GPT-5.2 Codex; plan for SDK, billing, or endpoint changes.
- GPT-5.2 Codex adds Multimodal, Reasoning, and Function calling in local capability data.
- No overlapping tracked provider route is sourced for GPT-5.2 Codex and GPT-4o (11-20); plan for SDK, billing, or endpoint changes.
- Check replacement coverage for Multimodal, Reasoning, and Function calling before moving production traffic.
Specs
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2024-11-20 | 2025-12-18 |
| Context window | 128k | — |
| Parameters | 1.76T (8x222B MoE)* | — |
| Architecture | mixture of experts | decoder only |
| License | Proprietary | Proprietary |
| Openness | Proprietary | Proprietary |
| Commercial use | Commercial use with conditions | Commercial use with conditions |
| Knowledge cutoff | 2023-10 | 2025-08 |
Pricing and availability
| Pricing attribute | GPT-4o (11-20) | GPT-5.2 Codex |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | - | $1.75/1M tokens |
| Output price | - | $14/1M tokens |
| Providers | - |
Capabilities
| Capability | GPT-4o (11-20) | GPT-5.2 Codex |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | Yes | Yes |
| Multimodal | No | Yes |
| Reasoning | No | Yes |
| Function calling | No | Yes |
| Tool use | No | Yes |
| Structured outputs | No | No |
| Code execution | Yes | Yes |
| IDE integration | No | No |
| Computer use | No | No |
| Parallel agents | No | No |
Benchmarks
No shared benchmark rows are currently sourced for this pair.
Deep dive
The capability footprint differs most on multimodal input: GPT-5.2 Codex, reasoning mode: GPT-5.2 Codex, function calling: GPT-5.2 Codex, and tool use: GPT-5.2 Codex. Both models share vision and code execution, so the practical split is not just feature count. Use those differences to decide whether the page is about raw model quality, agentic coding support, multimodal ingestion, or predictable structured API behavior.
Pricing coverage is uneven: GPT-4o (11-20) has no token price sourced yet and GPT-5.2 Codex has $1.75/1M input tokens. Provider availability is 0 tracked routes versus 1. Treat unknown pricing as an integration gap, then verify the route you will actually call before estimating production spend.
Choose GPT-4o (11-20) when coding workflow support are central to the workload. Choose GPT-5.2 Codex when coding workflow support and broader provider choice are more important. For production, rerun your own prompts through the exact provider, region, and tool stack you plan to ship. This keeps the decision grounded in measurable tradeoffs instead of brand-level assumptions. It also helps separate model capability from provider packaging, which can change cost and latency. For teams standardizing a stack, that distinction is often the difference between a benchmark win and a reliable deployment.
FAQ
Is GPT-4o (11-20) or GPT-5.2 Codex open source?
GPT-4o (11-20) is listed under Proprietary. GPT-5.2 Codex is listed under Proprietary. License labels affect whether you can self-host, redistribute weights, or rely only on hosted APIs, so confirm the upstream license before deployment.
Which is better for vision, GPT-4o (11-20) or GPT-5.2 Codex?
Both GPT-4o (11-20) and GPT-5.2 Codex expose vision. The better choice depends on benchmark fit, context budget, pricing, and whether your provider route exposes the same capability surface. Use this as a quick comparison signal, then confirm the provider-specific limits before committing to production.
Which is better for multimodal input, GPT-4o (11-20) or GPT-5.2 Codex?
GPT-5.2 Codex has the clearer documented multimodal input signal in this comparison. If multimodal input is mission-critical, validate it against the provider endpoint because model-level support and API-level exposure can differ.
Which is better for reasoning mode, GPT-4o (11-20) or GPT-5.2 Codex?
GPT-5.2 Codex has the clearer documented reasoning mode signal in this comparison. If reasoning mode is mission-critical, validate it against the provider endpoint because model-level support and API-level exposure can differ.
Which is better for function calling, GPT-4o (11-20) or GPT-5.2 Codex?
GPT-5.2 Codex has the clearer documented function calling signal in this comparison. If function calling is mission-critical, validate it against the provider endpoint because model-level support and API-level exposure can differ.
Where can I run GPT-4o (11-20) and GPT-5.2 Codex?
GPT-4o (11-20) is available on the tracked providers still being sourced. GPT-5.2 Codex is available on Vercel AI Gateway. Provider coverage can affect latency, region availability, compliance posture, and fallback options.
Continue comparing
Last reviewed: 2026-05-22. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.