GPT-1 vs GPT-4
GPT-1 (2018) and GPT-4 (2023) are compact production models from OpenAI. GPT-1 ships a 512-token context window, while GPT-4 ships a 8k-token context window. This comparison covers specs, pricing, API access, capabilities, benchmarks, input and output token costs, and production fit for coding and agent workloads. It focuses on practical selection signals rather than broad model-family marketing. The goal is to make the tradeoff clear before deeper testing.
GPT-4 fits 16x more tokens; pick it for long-context work and GPT-1 for tighter calls.
Decision scorecard
Local evidence first| Signal | GPT-1 | GPT-4 |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | general production evaluation | multimodal apps, tool-calling agents, and provider-routed production |
| Decision fit | General | Coding, Agents, and Vision |
| Context window | 512 | 8k |
| Cheapest output | - | $60/1M tokens |
| Provider routes | 0 tracked | 4 tracked |
| Shared benchmarks | 0 shared | 0 shared |
Decision tradeoffs
- Use GPT-1 when your own prompt tests beat the comparison signals; the local data does not show a decisive standalone advantage yet.
- GPT-4 has the larger context window for long prompts, retrieval packs, or transcript analysis.
- GPT-4 has broader tracked provider coverage for fallback and route flexibility.
- GPT-4 uniquely exposes Vision, Multimodal, and JSON / Tool use in local model data.
- Local decision data tags GPT-4 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-1
Unavailable
No complete token price in local provider data
GPT-4
$39,000
Cheapest tracked route/tier: OpenAI API
Cost delta unavailable until both models have sourced input and output token prices.
Switch friction
- No overlapping tracked provider route is sourced for GPT-1 and GPT-4; plan for SDK, billing, or endpoint changes.
- GPT-4 adds Vision, Multimodal, and JSON / Tool use in local capability data.
- No overlapping tracked provider route is sourced for GPT-4 and GPT-1; plan for SDK, billing, or endpoint changes.
- Check replacement coverage for Vision, Multimodal, and JSON / Tool use before moving production traffic.
Specs
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2018-06-11 | 2023-03-14 |
| Context window | 512 | 8k |
| Parameters | 120M | 1.76T (8x222B MoE)* |
| Architecture | Decoder Only | Mixture of Experts |
| License | Proprietary | Proprietary |
| Openness | Proprietary | Proprietary |
| Weights | Not released | Not released |
| Code | Unknown | Unknown |
| Commercial use | Commercial use: conditional | Commercial use: conditional |
| Knowledge cutoff | - | 2021-09 |
Pricing and availability
| Pricing attribute | GPT-1 | GPT-4 |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | - | $30/1M tokens |
| Output price | - | $60/1M tokens |
| Providers | - |
Capabilities
| Capability | GPT-1 | GPT-4 |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | No | Yes |
| Multimodal | No | Yes |
| Reasoning | No | No |
| JSON / Tool use | No | Yes |
| Structured outputs | No | Yes |
| Code execution | No | Yes |
| IDE integration | No | No |
| Computer use | No | No |
| Parallel agents | No | No |
Benchmarks
No shared benchmark scores are currently available for this pair.
Continue comparing
Popular comparisons for GPT-1
Popular comparisons for GPT-4
Last reviewed: 2026-06-15. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.