Provider Comparison

GPT-4o vs GPT-5.2: Which OpenAI Model for Your Project?

Compare GPT-4o vs GPT-5.2. Performance, pricing, and use case recommendations.

Updated on February 20, 2026

Reviewed by Michael Kerkhoff, as of February 20, 2026

Definition: GPT-4o is OpenAI's efficient multimodal model, balancing performance and cost. GPT-5.2 is the latest flagship with superior reasoning and capabilities. Choosing between them depends on your quality requirements and budget.
Category: Provider Comparison
Options: GPT-4oGPT-5.2

Detailed Comparison

A side-by-side analysis of key factors to help you make the right choice.

GPT-4o vs GPT-5.2
Factor	GPT-4o	GPT-5.2
Output Quality	Very good for most tasks, fast responses	Superior reasoning, nuance, and accuracy Winner
Speed	Fast — optimized for low latency Winner	Slower — deeper processing
Cost	~$2.50/MTok input, $10/MTok output Winner	~$7.50/MTok input, $30/MTok output
Coding	Good coding assistance	Excellent — significant improvement over 4o Winner
Multimodal	Strong vision, audio, native multimodal	Enhanced multimodal with video understanding Winner
Total Score · 0 ties	2 / 5	3 / 5

Key Statistics

Real data from verified industry sources to support your decision.

GPT-4o: $2.50/MTok input vs GPT-5.2: $7.50/MTok input — OpenAI pricing (2025)
GPT-5.2 outperforms 4o by 20% on complex reasoning tasks — OpenAI benchmarks (2025)
GPT-4o response time: ~500ms vs GPT-5.2: ~1.5s average — API benchmarks (2025)

All statistics come from verified third-party sources. Source, year, and direct link are shown on each metric.

When to Choose Each Option

Clear guidance based on your specific situation and needs.

Our Recommendation

GPT-4o remains an excellent choice for most applications — fast, affordable, and multimodal. GPT-5.2 is worth the premium for complex reasoning, advanced coding, and tasks where quality is paramount.

Choose GPT-4o when...: Need a reliable and fast AI solution.
Focus on affordability for projects.
Prefer a multimodal approach.
Choose GPT-5.2 when...: Tackle complex reasoning tasks.
Willing to invest for advanced features.
Focus on innovative applications.

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