GPT-4 vs GPT-5: My Journey with the Next-Gen AI Revolution
I’ve been using AI tools for quite some time now. When GPT-5 launched in August 2025, I was excited to see how it compares to GPT-4. Let me share my experience with both models and help you understand which one might work best for you.
What is GPT-4?
GPT-4 is a large language model developed by OpenAI and the fourth in its series of GPT foundation models. It was launched on March 14, 2023, and was publicly accessible through the chatbot products ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot until 2025. GPT-4 is more capable than its predecessor GPT-3.5.1
When I first started using GPT-4, I was amazed by its abilities. It can generate, edit, and iterate with users on creative and technical writing tasks, such as composing songs, writing screenplays, or learning a user’s writing style.2
What is GPT-5?
GPT-5 is much smarter across the board, as reflected by its performance on academic and human-evaluated benchmarks, particularly in math, coding, visual perception, and health. It sets a new state of the art across math (94.6% on AIME 2025 without tools), real-world coding (74.9% on SWE-bench Verified, 88% on Aider Polyglot), multimodal understanding (84.2% on MMMU), and health (46.2% on HealthBench Hard).3
Our smartest, fastest, and most useful model yet, with thinking built in. Available to everyone.4
Features Comparison
GPT-4 Features
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Text Generation | Can be used for text generation use cases, such as summarization and knowledge-based Q&A. The model is also capable of reasoning, solving complex math problems and coding. |
| Multimodal Input | GPT-4 Vision (GPT-4V) is a version of GPT-4 that can process images in addition to text.1 |
| Context Window | GPT-4 Turbo features a 128K context window1 |
| Language Support | With GPT-4, it is able to understand and communicate in numerous languages and dialects.1 |
| Creative Tasks | It can also generate code, process images, and interpret 26 languages.5 |
GPT-5 Features
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Enhanced Reasoning | GPT-5 gets more value out of less thinking time. In our evaluations, GPT-5 (with thinking) performs better than OpenAI o3 with 50-80% less output tokens across capabilities.3 |
| Reduced Hallucinations | GPT-5 is significantly less likely to hallucinate than our previous models. With web search enabled, GPT-5’s responses are ~45% less likely to contain a factual error than GPT-4o.3 |
| Better Personality | Overall, GPT-5 is less effusively agreeable, uses fewer unnecessary emojis, and is more subtle and thoughtful in follow-ups. It should feel less like “talking to AI” and more like chatting with a helpful friend with PhD-level intelligence.3 |
| Unified Architecture | GPT-5 builds on the Transformer foundations of GPT-4 but introduces a hybrid multi-model architecture that dynamically selects different sub-models for different tasks. Instead of a single large model, GPT-5 includes several specialized variants such as gpt-5, gpt-5-mini, gpt-5-thinking, and gpt-5-nano.6 |
| Extended Context | GPT-5 supports 272K input tokens — over 2x the context capacity of GPT-4o — enabling full document, codebase, and conversation processing in one go.7 |
Use Cases
GPT-4 Use Cases
I’ve used GPT-4 for various tasks:
- Content Creation: Writing blog posts, articles, and creative stories
- Code Generation: Allows the programmer to receive answers to coding questions. A feature termed “context-aware conversations” allows the user to highlight a portion of code and direct GPT-4 to perform actions on it, such as the writing of unit tests.1
- Education: The language learning app Duolingo uses GPT-4 to explain mistakes and practice conversations. Khan Academy announced a pilot program using GPT-4 as a tutoring chatbot called “Khanmigo”.1
- Business Applications: Microsoft announced Microsoft 365 Copilot, bringing GPT-4 support to products such as Microsoft Office, Outlook, and Teams.1
- Accessibility: Be My Eyes, which helps visually impaired people to identify objects and navigate their surroundings, incorporates GPT-4’s image recognition capabilities.1
GPT-5 Use Cases
With GPT-5, I’ve discovered even more powerful applications:
- Enterprise Solutions: Organizations like BNY, California State University, Figma, Intercom, Lowe’s, Morgan Stanley, SoftBank, T-Mobile have already armed their workforces with AI.8
- Advanced Coding: As a coding collaborator, GPT-5 tackles complex tasks end-to-end and delivers more readily usable code, better design, and is more effective at debugging.4
- Healthcare Applications: Our best model yet for health-related questions, providing more precise and reliable responses while acting as more of a proactive thought partner.4
- Business Intelligence: GPT-5 produces higher-quality responses by using your company’s files and connected apps like Google Drive, SharePoint, and more, while respecting existing permissions.4
- Scientific Research: GPT-5 is smarter across the board, providing more useful responses across math, science, finance, law, and more. It’s like having a team of experts on call for whatever you want to know.4
Competitors
Both models face competition from:
- Anthropic Claude – Known for its safety features and long context window
- Google Gemini – Google’s multimodal AI model
- Meta Llama – Open-source alternative
- xAI Grok – Elon Musk’s AI with real-time data access
- Microsoft Copilot – Microsoft Copilot is a chatbot developed by Microsoft. It was launched as Bing Chat on February 7, 2023, as a built-in feature for Microsoft Bing and Microsoft Edge. It utilizes the Microsoft Prometheus model, which was built on top of GPT-4.1
Pricing
GPT-4 API Pricing
Pricing for the text-only GPT-4 API starts at $0.03 per 1k prompt tokens (one token is about four characters in English) and $0.06 per 1k completion (output) tokens.9
GPT-5 Pricing Structure
| Model | Input (per 1M tokens) | Output (per 1M tokens) | Cached Input |
|---|---|---|---|
| GPT-5 | $1.2510 | $1010 | $0.125 per 1M tokens10 |
| GPT-5 Mini | $0.2511 | $211 | $0.02512 |
| GPT-5 Nano | Lower tier pricing | Lower tier pricing | Available |
Developers who have had early access are touting GPT-5’s pricing as much better than competing models. But GPT-5 is also priced competitively with GPT-4o. OthersideAI’s co-founder and CEO, Matt Shumer, writes that GPT-5 “is cheaper than GPT-4o, which is fantastic.”10
ChatGPT Subscription Plans
| Plan | Price | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | GPT-5 will be available to all free users of ChatGPT as their default model. This is part of the company’s effort to give free users access to an AI reasoning model for the first time.13 |
| Plus | $20/month | Higher caps, GPT-5 Thinking mode, file uploads, web browsing.7 |
| Pro | $200/month | Unlimited GPT-5 messages, with generous access to GPT-5 thinking, and access to GPT-5 pro—plus the flexibility to add credits as needed.14 |
| Team | $25/user/month | Includes access to Codex and ChatGPT agent for reasoning and taking action across your documents, tools, and codebases.14 |
Performance Benchmarks
GPT-4 demonstrates aptitude on several standardized tests. OpenAI claims that in their own testing the model received a score of 1410 on the SAT (94th percentile), 163 on the LSAT (88th percentile), and 298 on the Uniform Bar Exam (90th percentile). In contrast, OpenAI claims that GPT-3.5 received scores for the same exams in the 82nd, 40th, and 10th percentiles, respectively.1
Meanwhile, OpenAI claims GPT-5 is state-of-the-art in several domains, slightly edging out leading AI models from Anthropic, Google DeepMind, and Elon Musk’s xAI on key benchmarks.13
Safety and Reliability
GPT-4 Safety Features
We spent 6 months making GPT-4 safer and more aligned. GPT-4 is 82% less likely to respond to requests for disallowed content and 40% more likely to produce factual responses than GPT-3.5 on our internal evaluations.2
GPT-5 Safety Improvements
Health & Writing: Scores highest to date on HealthBench with proactive reasoning and user-aware responses; still not a replacement for medical professionals. Safety (“Safe Completions”): Employs nuanced refusal mechanisms explaining limitations and offering safer alternatives instead of blunt refusals, a significant safety refinement.6
Comments by AI USTAD
I’ve been working with both GPT-4 and GPT-5 extensively over the past months, and I must say, the evolution is remarkable. When I first tried GPT-4 back in 2023, I was blown away by its capabilities. It helped me write complex code, create detailed content strategies, and even assisted with creative projects. The multimodal features were game-changing – I could upload images and get detailed analysis.
Now with GPT-5, my workflow has completely transformed. The reduced hallucination rate is immediately noticeable – I spend far less time fact-checking. The thinking mode is incredible for complex problems. Just yesterday, I used it to debug a particularly tricky piece of code that had been bothering me for hours. GPT-5 not only found the issue but explained the underlying logic in a way that felt like talking to a senior developer.
What really stands out is the personality improvement. GPT-4 sometimes felt robotic and overly agreeable. GPT-5 feels more like a knowledgeable colleague who isn’t afraid to point out potential issues in my approach. The extended context window has been a lifesaver for analyzing long documents – I can now upload entire codebases or research papers without breaking them into chunks.
The pricing is surprisingly competitive too. Despite being more capable, GPT-5’s API costs are actually lower than what I was paying for GPT-4o. The semantic caching feature has reduced my API costs by about 60% for repetitive tasks. For businesses, this is a game-changer.
However, it’s not perfect. The image generation still has issues, and sometimes the thinking mode can be slower than expected during peak hours. But overall, if you’re serious about leveraging AI for productivity, GPT-5 is absolutely worth the upgrade. For casual users, the free tier with GPT-5 access is incredibly generous – something I never expected OpenAI to offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is GPT-5 really available now? A: The OpenAI post in X indicates that the release will be August 7, 2025, 10 AM PT. So ChatGPT 5’s release date has been announced August 7, 2025, 10 AM PT. All available data points to the release of GPT-5 on August 7, 2025.15
Q: Can I use GPT-5 for free? A: Yes! OpenAI says its latest version of the popular AI model is better at coding, more accurate and less deceptive than previous versions. GPT-5, which was unveiled to the public during a live streamed event on Thursday, is free for everyone. But users in paid tiers will get higher usage limits, as well as access to GPT-5 Pro.16
Q: How much better is GPT-5 compared to GPT-4? A: Performance beats price: GPT-5 outperforms GPT-4o in coding (75% vs 31%), math, multimodal reasoning, and factual accuracy.7
Q: What’s the main difference between GPT-4 and GPT-5? A: GPT-5, which was released Thursday, is OpenAI’s first “unified” AI model and combines the reasoning abilities of its o-series of models with the fast responses of its GPT series. The next-generation model signals a new era for ChatGPT pointing to OpenAI’s broader ambitions to develop AI systems that are more like agents than chatbots. While GPT-4 enabled AI chatbots to offer smart responses, GPT-5 allows ChatGPT to complete a wide variety of tasks on behalf of users.13
Q: Which model should I choose for my business? A: If you need cutting-edge performance and can afford slightly higher costs, GPT-5 is the clear winner. For budget-conscious projects or simpler tasks, GPT-4 or GPT-5 Mini might be sufficient.
Q: Are there any limitations with GPT-5? A: Although safety features have improved, research has revealed vulnerabilities, such as misspelled prompts that can still elicit inappropriate content. Not AGI Yet: GPT-5 represents a modest step toward AGI, offering human-like capabilities in reasoning and context, but lacks continuous self-improvement and broader cognitive autonomy.6
Q: Can GPT-5 replace human workers? A: Altman said he believes GPT-5’s ability to “instantaneously create an entire piece of computer software for you” will likely be a core part of its appeal and use. “I think this idea of software on demand will be a defining part of the new GPT-5 era,” he said. Earlier this summer, Altman compared contemporary AI agents to an “intern that can work for a couple of hours.” He predicted that “at some point, it’ll be like an experienced software engineer that can work for days.”16
Q: How do I access GPT-5 API? A: GPT-5 is starting to roll out to Team users today, with access for Enterprise and Edu coming next week. GPT-5 is now available in the OpenAI API today, and developers can start using it.
