GPT-1 vs GPT-4 Turbo Preview
GPT-1 (2018) and GPT-4 Turbo Preview (2023) are compact production models from OpenAI. GPT-1 ships a 512-token context window, while GPT-4 Turbo Preview ships a 128K-token context window. This comparison covers specs, pricing, capabilities, benchmarks, provider availability, and production fit. 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 Turbo Preview fits 250x more tokens; pick it for long-context work and GPT-1 for tighter calls.
Decision scorecard
Local evidence first| Signal | GPT-1 | GPT-4 Turbo Preview |
|---|---|---|
| Decision fit | General | Coding, RAG, and Agents |
| Context window | 512 | 128K |
| Cheapest output | - | $30/1M tokens |
| Provider routes | 0 tracked | 3 tracked |
| Shared benchmarks | 0 rows | 0 rows |
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 Turbo Preview has the larger context window for long prompts, retrieval packs, or transcript analysis.
- GPT-4 Turbo Preview has broader tracked provider coverage for fallback and procurement flexibility.
- GPT-4 Turbo Preview uniquely exposes Vision, Structured outputs, and Code execution in local model data.
- Local decision data tags GPT-4 Turbo Preview for Coding, RAG, and Agents.
Monthly cost at traffic
Estimate token spend from the cheapest tracked input and output prices on this page.
GPT-1
Unavailable
No complete token price in local provider data
GPT-4 Turbo Preview
$15,500
Cheapest tracked route: 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 Turbo Preview; plan for SDK, billing, or endpoint changes.
- GPT-4 Turbo Preview adds Vision, Structured outputs, and Code execution in local capability data.
- No overlapping tracked provider route is sourced for GPT-4 Turbo Preview and GPT-1; plan for SDK, billing, or endpoint changes.
- Check replacement coverage for Vision, Structured outputs, and Code execution before moving production traffic.
Specs
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2018-06-11 | 2023-11-06 |
| Context window | 512 | 128K |
| Parameters | 120M | 1.76T (8x222B MoE)* |
| Architecture | decoder only | mixture of experts |
| License | Unknown | Proprietary |
| Knowledge cutoff | - | 2023-12 |
Pricing and availability
| Pricing attribute | GPT-1 | GPT-4 Turbo Preview |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | - | $10/1M tokens |
| Output price | - | $30/1M tokens |
| Providers | - |
Capabilities
| Capability | GPT-1 | GPT-4 Turbo Preview |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | No | Yes |
| Multimodal | No | No |
| Reasoning | No | No |
| Function calling | No | No |
| Tool use | No | No |
| Structured outputs | No | Yes |
| Code execution | No | Yes |
Benchmarks
No shared benchmark rows are currently sourced for this pair.
Deep dive
The capability footprint differs most on vision: GPT-4 Turbo Preview, structured outputs: GPT-4 Turbo Preview, and code execution: GPT-4 Turbo Preview. Both models share the core language-model surface, 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-1 has no token price sourced yet and GPT-4 Turbo Preview has $10/1M input tokens. Provider availability is 0 tracked routes versus 3. Treat unknown pricing as an integration gap, then verify the route you will actually call before estimating production spend.
Choose GPT-1 when provider fit are central to the workload. Choose GPT-4 Turbo Preview when coding workflow support, larger context windows, 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
Which has a larger context window, GPT-1 or GPT-4 Turbo Preview?
GPT-4 Turbo Preview supports 128K tokens, while GPT-1 supports 512 tokens. That gap matters most for long documents, large codebases, retrieval-heavy agents, and conversations where earlier context must remain visible.
Is GPT-1 or GPT-4 Turbo Preview open source?
GPT-1 is listed under Unknown. GPT-4 Turbo Preview 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-1 or GPT-4 Turbo Preview?
GPT-4 Turbo Preview has the clearer documented vision signal in this comparison. If vision is mission-critical, validate it against the provider endpoint because model-level support and API-level exposure can differ.
Which is better for structured outputs, GPT-1 or GPT-4 Turbo Preview?
GPT-4 Turbo Preview has the clearer documented structured outputs signal in this comparison. If structured outputs is mission-critical, validate it against the provider endpoint because model-level support and API-level exposure can differ.
Which is better for code execution, GPT-1 or GPT-4 Turbo Preview?
GPT-4 Turbo Preview has the clearer documented code execution signal in this comparison. If code execution is mission-critical, validate it against the provider endpoint because model-level support and API-level exposure can differ.
Where can I run GPT-1 and GPT-4 Turbo Preview?
GPT-1 is available on the tracked providers still being sourced. GPT-4 Turbo Preview is available on OpenAI API, Azure OpenAI, and OpenRouter. Provider coverage can affect latency, region availability, compliance posture, and fallback options.
Continue comparing
Last reviewed: 2026-05-11. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.