GPT-4o (08-06) vs o3
GPT-4o (08-06) (2024) and o3 (2025) are frontier reasoning models from OpenAI. GPT-4o (08-06) ships a 128k-token context window, while o3 ships a 200k-token context window. On Aider Polyglot, o3 leads by 58.2 pts. On pricing, o3 costs $2/1M input tokens versus $2.50/1M for the alternative. This comparison covers specs, pricing, API access, capabilities, benchmarks, input and output token costs, and production fit for coding and agent workloads.
o3 is safer overall; choose GPT-4o (08-06) when coding workflow support matters.
Decision scorecard
Local evidence first| Signal | GPT-4o (08-06) | o3 |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | multimodal apps and provider-routed production | reasoning-heavy apps, multimodal apps, and tool-calling agents |
| Decision fit | Coding, RAG, and Agents | Coding, RAG, and Agents |
| Context window | 128k | 200k |
| Cheapest output | $10/1M tokens | $8/1M tokens |
| Provider routes | 3 tracked | 3 tracked |
| Shared benchmarks | 1 shared | Aider Polyglot leader |
Decision tradeoffs
- Local decision data tags GPT-4o (08-06) for Coding, RAG, and Agents.
- o3 holds a shared-benchmark lead on Aider Polyglot, ahead by 58.2 points.
- o3 has the larger context window for long prompts, retrieval packs, or transcript analysis.
- o3 has the lower cheapest tracked output price at $8/1M tokens.
- o3 uniquely exposes Reasoning, Function calling, and Tool use in local model data.
- Local decision data tags o3 for Coding, RAG, and Agents.
Monthly cost at traffic
Estimate token spend from the cheapest tracked input and output route or tier on this page.
GPT-4o (08-06)
$4,500
Cheapest tracked route/tier: OpenAI API
o3
$3,600
Cheapest tracked route/tier: OpenAI API
Estimated monthly gap: $900. Batch, cache, alternate speed tiers, and negotiated pricing are excluded from this local estimate.
Switch friction
- Provider overlap exists on OpenAI API and OpenRouter; start route-level A/B tests there.
- o3 is $2/1M tokens lower on cheapest tracked output pricing before cache, batch, or negotiated discounts.
- o3 adds Reasoning, Function calling, and Tool use in local capability data.
- Provider overlap exists on OpenAI API and OpenRouter; start route-level A/B tests there.
- GPT-4o (08-06) is $2/1M tokens higher on cheapest tracked output pricing, so quality gains need to justify the spend.
- Check replacement coverage for Reasoning, Function calling, and Tool use before moving production traffic.
Specs
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2024-08-06 | 2025-04-16 |
| Context window | 128k | 200k |
| Parameters | 1.76T (8x222B MoE)* | — |
| Architecture | Mixture of Experts | Decoder Only |
| License | Proprietary | Proprietary |
| Openness | Proprietary | Proprietary |
| Commercial use | Commercial use: conditional | Commercial use: conditional |
| Knowledge cutoff | 2023-10 | 2024-06 |
Pricing and availability
| Pricing attribute | GPT-4o (08-06) | o3 |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | $2.50/1M tokens | $2/1M tokens |
| Output price | $10/1M tokens | $8/1M tokens |
| Providers |
Capabilities
| Capability | GPT-4o (08-06) | o3 |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | Yes | Yes |
| Multimodal | Yes | Yes |
| Reasoning | No | Yes |
| Function calling | No | Yes |
| Tool use | No | Yes |
| Structured outputs | Yes | Yes |
| Code execution | Yes | Yes |
| IDE integration | No | No |
| Computer use | No | No |
| Parallel agents | No | No |
Benchmarks
| Benchmark | GPT-4o (08-06) | o3 |
|---|---|---|
| Aider Polyglot | 23.1 | 81.3 |
Deep dive
On shared benchmark coverage, Aider Polyglot has GPT-4o (08-06) at 23.1 and o3 at 81.3, with o3 ahead by 58.2 points. The largest visible gap is 58.2 points on Aider Polyglot, which matters most when that benchmark mirrors your workload. Treat isolated benchmark wins as directional, because provider routing, prompt style, and tool access can move real application results.
The capability footprint differs most on reasoning mode: o3, function calling: o3, and tool use: o3. Both models share vision, multimodal input, structured outputs, 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.
For cost, GPT-4o (08-06) lists $2.50/1M input and $10/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider, while o3 lists $2/1M input and $8/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider. A 70/30 input-output blend puts o3 lower by about $0.95 per million blended tokens. Availability is 3 providers versus 3, so concentration risk also matters.
Choose GPT-4o (08-06) when coding workflow support are central to the workload. Choose o3 when coding workflow support, larger context windows, and lower input-token cost are more important. For production, rerun your own prompts through the exact provider, region, and tool stack you plan to ship.
FAQ
Which has a larger context window, GPT-4o (08-06) or o3?
o3 supports 200k tokens, while GPT-4o (08-06) supports 128k tokens. That gap matters most for long documents, large codebases, retrieval-heavy agents, and conversations where earlier context must remain visible. Use this as a quick comparison signal, then confirm the provider-specific limits before committing to production.
Which is cheaper, GPT-4o (08-06) or o3?
o3 is cheaper on tracked token pricing. GPT-4o (08-06) costs $2.50/1M input and $10/1M output tokens. o3 costs $2/1M input and $8/1M output tokens. Provider discounts or batch pricing can still change the final bill.
Is GPT-4o (08-06) or o3 open source?
GPT-4o (08-06) is listed under Proprietary. o3 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 (08-06) or o3?
Both GPT-4o (08-06) and o3 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 (08-06) or o3?
Both GPT-4o (08-06) and o3 expose multimodal input. 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.
Where can I run GPT-4o (08-06) and o3?
GPT-4o (08-06) is available on OpenAI API, Salesforce Einstein Generative AI, and OpenRouter. o3 is available on OpenAI API, OpenRouter, and Vercel AI Gateway. Provider coverage can affect latency, region availability, compliance posture, and fallback options.
Continue comparing
Last reviewed: 2026-06-15. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.