I’ve used each ChatGPT 4 and ChatGPT 5 in numerous methods since their inception.
In the event you’re utilizing ChatGPT 4 and are interested in upgrading to GPT 5 with increased limits, this text will assist you make an knowledgeable resolution concerning the transition. I’m a ChatGPT Plus person and have entry to each.
As a substitute of repeating advertising and marketing claims, I carried out actual checks evaluating ChatGPT 4 and 5 utilizing the identical prompts, context, and guidelines. My aim was simple: to find out which mannequin performs higher for critical day by day duties.
In the event you’re deciding whether or not to improve GPT 5 with increased limits or keep put, this breakdown of the 2 fashions of the AI chatbots will assist you decide primarily based on actual outcomes.
ChatGPT 4 vs. 5: At a look
Right here’s a fast characteristic comparability of each variations of the AI chatbot:
|
Characteristic |
ChatGPT |
Perplexity |
|
G2 ranking |
4.7/5 |
4.7/5 |
|
Greatest for |
Sturdy general-purpose AI for inventive writing, content material drafting, average coding, and image-input reasoning |
Superior and extra demanding duties like deeper reasoning, giant context, and extremely complicated coding/agent workflows
|
|
Analysis functionality |
Average multi-document reasoning; helps 32,768 tokens |
Handles longer paperwork and extra complicated logic chains; helps round 120,000 tokens |
|
Writing and enhancing |
Excels at fashion adaptation and rewriting |
Higher at following delicate directions with extra accuracy |
|
Coding |
Transforms complicated performance expectations into working code |
Greatest fitted to workflows involving AI brokers, multi-agent orchestration, or manufacturing automation |
|
Free plan |
Traditionally, free-tier customers had entry to GPT-4 and decrease fashions (e.g., GPT-3.5) in lots of markets |
Free-tier customers have entry to GPT-5 till they hit the utilization cap |
|
Pricing |
Similar as GPT 5. Within the current ChatGPT 5, you possibly can entry the ChatGPT 4o mannequin |
Free: $0 |
Notice: This text is predicated on insights drawn from hands-on testing on each instruments. Since ChatGPT 4o was capable of carry out throughout testing, I’ve in contrast it with ChatGPT 5 primarily based on a sequence of experiments.
It appears ChatGPT 4o is appropriate for duties which can be considerably less complicated and don’t require superior reasoning. For a posh job, ChatGPT 5 performs considerably higher. Nonetheless, if you happen to’re utilizing it at no cost, it has its limits. In the event you’re somebody who’s seeking to improve to ChatGPT 5, this text will assist you make an knowledgeable judgment.
Let’s get a short understanding of the similarities and the variations between the 2 variations.
ChatGPT 4 vs. ChatGPT 5: What you have to know
Earlier than we dive into the head-to-head testing, let’s take a better have a look at these AI chatbot variations and all their options. They each have some fairly cool stuff occurring, however the actual variations are sometimes within the particulars. Let’s break it down and see what makes each stand out.
ChatGPT 4o vs. ChatGPT 5: What’s totally different?
Under is an summary of the important thing variations between ChatGPT 4o and ChatGPT 5.
- Mannequin efficiency uplift. GPT-5 delivers considerably improved reasoning and multi-step logic accuracy throughout benchmark duties, together with Large Multitask Language Understanding (MMLU) and graduate-level Google-proof Q&A (GPQA).
- Quicker inference and effectivity enhancements. GPT-5 makes use of system-level optimizations to ship decrease latency and better throughput in manufacturing workloads. In evaluations of over 1,000 economically invaluable, real-world reasoning prompts, exterior specialists most well-liked GPT-5 Professional over “GPT-5 Pondering” 67.8% of the time. GPT-5 Professional made 22% fewer main errors and excelled in areas reminiscent of well being, science, arithmetic, and coding.
- Extra correct device use + API planning. GPT-5 improves structured operate calling, device routing, and execution reliability for agent workflows.
- Multimodal intelligence upgrades. GPT-5 improves imaginative and prescient, audio, and doc comprehension, together with OCR and technical diagrams.
Reference: The data referenced on this part is initially from the OpenAI weblog.
ChatGPT 4o vs. ChatGPT 5: What’s related?
There are just a few similarities between the 2 variations, together with:
- Multimodal at core. Each fashions perceive textual content and pictures. GPT-4o is an end-to-end omnilingual (textual content, picture, audio, video) mannequin, and GPT-5’s system card consists of multimodal mentions.
- Manufacturing-grade successors in the identical household. OpenAI positions GPT-5 fashions as successors to 4o variants, indicating continuity in design targets and deployment paths.
- Ship with formal system playing cards and layered safeguards. OpenAI paperwork red-teaming, disallowed-content testing, and moderation classifiers for every. GPT-5 provides “safe-completions,” however the shared sample, model-level and system-level security with exterior testing, stays the identical.
- Related information governance statements. Coaching sources embody public information, licensed/partnered information, and human-generated information, with filtering for security and privateness. It’s a continuity you possibly can count on when transitioning from 4 to five.
How I in contrast ChatGPT 4o and ChatGPT 5: My analysis standards
Whereas testing, I used to be on ChatGPT Plus, the place I can entry each GPT 5 and GPT 4o by means of my interface. To check each the instruments, I carried out a sequence of checks, together with:
- Reasoning and multi-step duties
- Artistic era
- Factual accuracy
- Code understanding
- Velocity and token effectivity
- Context retention
I ensured full equity through the use of equivalent prompts for each, with no modifications or changes, and the identical questions all through. To realize perception into how others understand these fashions, I additionally reviewed G2 opinions to know numerous person experiences.
Disclaimer: AI responses could range primarily based on phrasing, session historical past, and system updates for a similar prompts. These outcomes mirror the fashions’ capabilities on the time of testing.
ChatGPT 4o vs. ChatGPT 5: How they carried out in my checks
I examined each fashions intently and recognized the important thing options which can be necessary to customers. By testing every device, I discovered its strengths and weaknesses. This made it simple to match them. Wish to see the outcomes? Let’s get began.
1. Reasoning and multi-step duties
To check the mannequin’s reasoning and effectiveness in multi-step duties, I gave it the identical immediate.
Immediate 1:
“You’re given this riddle:
“A farmer has 17 sheep. All however 9 die. What number of are left?”
Then remedy this logic chain:
- If X is 3 greater than Y
- And Y is half of Z
- And Z = 16
What’s X?
Lastly, clarify the steps clearly.”
ChatGPT 4o gave me the proper reply with correct reasoning as I used to be anticipating. The responses of GTP-4o and GPT-5 have been nearly related on this case.
Right here’s the response I acquired for ChatGPT 5. It was fairly simple and concise. It gave me precisely what I requested for. The solutions have been correct, and there was no hallucination noticed.
Then, I examined the fashions with a brand new immediate to see if there have been any variations in how they responded. This one was to check the mannequin’s reasoning in fallacy recognition.
Immediate 2:
“If a circle has 4 equal right-angle corners and a diameter of 10 cm, what’s its perimeter?
Clarify why the query is flawed and rewrite it accurately.”
Whereas each fashions responded to this precisely, ChatGPT 5 identified the error within the questions whereas suggesting two totally different choices, which might have been the unique ask.
Nonetheless, ChatGPT 4o additionally gave an identical response whereas exploring what the suitable query can be. This makes it a tie after we base our resolution on how every mannequin introduced correct solutions.
Winner: Tie, each fashions carried out equally in reasoning duties.
2. Artistic era
To check the inventive era capability of those fashions, I gave them a job to put in writing a product story of a smartwatch that displays stress. I needed the story to attraction to readers’ feelings whereas being barely poetic. I gave the fashions this immediate:
Immediate 3:
Write a 120-word product story for a smartwatch that displays stress.
Tone: heat, human, barely poetic.
Keep away from clichés like “cutting-edge” or “revolutionary”.
Finish with a one-sentence emotional hook, not a CTA.
Right here’s a side-by-side comparability of the responses I acquired from ChatGPT 4o and ChatGPT 5:
| ChatGPT 4o | ChatGPT 5 |
| Some days really feel heavier than others—and your physique is aware of it earlier than you do. This smartwatch listens quietly. It tracks the rhythm of your breath, the tremble in your pulse, the moments when your calm falters. No buzz, no panic—only a mild nudge when your stress quietly rises. It turns into a companion in self-awareness, serving to you acknowledge the stress earlier than it piles up. Over time, it learns your patterns, your peaks and valleys, providing insights not simply into your day—however into your internal world.
A small reminder in your wrist that you simply’re allowed to decelerate. |
Some days transfer gently. Others rush forward earlier than we even discover our breath. This smartwatch was created for each. It sits quietly in your wrist, studying the small indicators your physique whispers — coronary heart rhythms, stillness, stressed faucets, the delicate rise of rigidity.
As a substitute of pushing you to do extra, it invitations you to pause. To breathe. To return. Actual-time stress insights mix with conscious nudges and calm rituals, serving to you flip scattered moments into regular ones. It’s expertise made for the tender elements of life — to not management them, however to know them. As a result of peace will not be one thing you chase; it’s one thing you be taught to stick with. |
ChatGPT 4o’s response is suitable, however the phrase depend of the response is 95 phrases. The immediate talked about “120 phrases” exactly. ChatGPT 5 can also be responsible of this, however to a lesser extent. GPT 5’s response is 108 phrases, which is nearer to what was initially requested for.
In response to me, the textual content appeared extra participating on GPT-5. Discover the way it makes use of a mixture of quick and lengthy sentences to reinforce readability? This makes GPT-5 a winner for inventive era.
Winner: ChatGPT 5, as a result of its response felt extra participating to learn.
3. Factual accuracy
To check factual accuracy, I assigned a job to reply just a few basic data questions whereas incorporating citations from credible public sources.
Immediate 4: Reply the next with citations to credible public sources (no blogs).
Q1: What yr did the primary business 5G rollout start globally?
Q2: Which three nations lead fiber-to-home penetration in the present day?
Present the first supply hyperlinks and keep away from outdated information.
Right here’s the place one thing out of the peculiar occurred. The response from GPT-4o for the primary query was cheap. It cited a reputed PR web site, PR Newswire, to reply, together with just a few informal sources (blogs). Nonetheless, I explicitly talked about to not cite blogs.
However right here’s the place issues have been totally different. The reply to the second query was extremely correct and related. GPT-4o cited 2025 information and gave the suitable response.
Once we have a look at GPT-5’s response, it offered an correct reply to query one. It additionally referred to the PR Newswire web page with out drawing any insights from random blogs (as prompted).
Nonetheless, GPT-5’s response to the second query wasn’t correct and related. It offered a solution citing 2024 information, whereas we had particularly requested contemporary info. That is the place ChatGPT 5’s factual accuracy seems to be decrease than that of ChatGPT 4.
Winner: ChatGPT 4o, as a result of it gave essentially the most correct and contemporary response. Though it did embody some info from blogs within the first query, it cited respected sources too.
4. Code understanding
On this check, I handed a Python operate to the fashions that contained an error. I needed to see which mannequin fixes it and provides the proper clarification.
I gave them a immediate:
Immediate 5:
“Here’s a Python operate:
def get_sum(nums):
outcome = 0
for n in nums:
outcome += n
return outcome
print(get_sum([1, 2, ‘3’]))
What error will happen and why?
Repair the code safely.
Then rewrite it in a practical fashion and add kind hints.“
Each ChatGPT 4o and ChatGPT 5 gave correct responses. The presentation was barely higher in GPT-4o than in GPT-5. Nonetheless, ChatGPT 5 offered a extra detailed clarification.
From a person’s perspective, I’d go for ChatGPT 5, as the reason is extra necessary to me than the visible construction of the reply.
| ChatGPT 4o | ChatGPT 5 |
 |
 |
Winner: ChatGPT 5, as a result of it gave extra descriptive explanations.
5. Context retention
To check each fashions for context retention, I used a 3-turn sequence:
Right here’s the sequence:
Flip one immediate:
Bear in mind this description:
“Acme Corp builds renewable-powered micro-data facilities for distant communities.”
Summarize it in a single line and say “saved”.
Flip two immediate:
Don’t restate the abstract.
Now, describe their enterprise mannequin in your individual phrases.
Flip three immediate (stress check):
With out repeating the unique line, describe who advantages most from their resolution and why.
Right here’s what I noticed: ChatGPT 4o answered totally different prompts precisely primarily based on the context it retained.
GPT-5.1 retained context precisely. Within the stress check, it answered the “why” half in a descriptive method, much like how GPT-4o responded.
Winner: Tie, since each fashions carried out equally nicely in retaining context.
ChatGPT 4o vs. ChatGPT 5: Head-to-head comparability desk
Right here’s a desk displaying the net builder software program that wins.
| Characteristic and performance | Winner | Why it received |
| Reasoning and multi-step duties | Tie | Each fashions introduced correct solutions. |
| Artistic era | ChatGPT 5 🏆 | It adopted the directions given within the immediate higher than GPT-4o. |
| Factual accuracy | ChatGPT 4o 🏆 | It gave essentially the most correct and contemporary responses. |
| Code understanding | ChatGPT 5 🏆 | It gave extra descriptive explanations. |
| Context retention | Tie | Each fashions carried out equally nicely. |
Ceaselessly requested questions (FAQs) about ChatGPT 4 vs. ChatGPT 5
Nonetheless have questions? Get your solutions right here!
Q1. What enhancements does ChatGPT 5 deliver over ChatGPT 4?
Based mostly on my testing and OpenAI’s bulletins, ChatGPT 5 reveals important developments. It causes extra deeply, writes extra richly, and codes extra creatively. GPT-5 outperforms GPT-4 on almost all benchmarks. For instance, it scored 74.9% on real-world coding checks and set new highs on math and imaginative and prescient duties. It additionally hallucinates far much less (with solely a 4.8% error price) and catches errors extra successfully.
Q2. How is entry to ChatGPT 5 totally different from ChatGPT 4?
GPT-5 is now open to everybody. Not like GPT-4, which was locked behind the paid ChatGPT Plus tier, GPT-5 is the default mannequin for all ChatGPT customers. Which means you don’t want a particular subscription to strive GPT-5. After all, paid plans nonetheless exist: ChatGPT Plus ($20/mo) offers increased utilization limits on GPT-5, and the brand new Professional plan ($200/mo) supplies limitless GPT-5.
Q3. ChatGPT 4 vs. 5: which is best?
GPT-5 is the extra superior mannequin. For complicated duties, GPT-5’s solutions are superior. Nonetheless, in my checks, there have been some areas the place GPT-4o’s responses felt higher than GPT-5, particularly in factual accuracy.
This fall. Is ChatGPT 5 free?
Sure. You should use GPT-5 at no cost inside the ChatGPT interface. OpenAI has made GPT-5 the default mannequin for all customers, permitting anybody to speak with it for free of charge. If you wish to use ChatGPT Plus or Professional extra incessantly or entry the premium GPT-5 Professional mode, you’ll need to pay for a subscription. Nonetheless, the fundamental GPT-5 is free to strive.
Match the mannequin to the duty
After testing each fashions in sensible workflows, I realized one thing necessary. There’s no single “greatest” mannequin for everybody. ChatGPT 5 shines in coding depth and artistic nuance. Nonetheless, ChatGPT 4o nonetheless produces extremely dependable solutions, particularly on factual queries, and performs exceptionally nicely for structured content material and on a regular basis duties.
For me, GPT-5 has develop into the go-to after I want extra profound logic, richer writing tone, or multi-step automation assist. It reduces back-and-forth time, and that issues. Nonetheless, GPT-4o nonetheless feels regular, predictable, and environment friendly for fast-execution duties.
In the end, the selection depends upon the duties that you simply’ll work on with these instruments. Make your judgment accordingly.
Curious to check out new AI platforms? Examine DeepSeek and ChatGPT to find out which one most accurately fits your goal.
