Wednesday, March 4, 2026

Right here’s What I Discovered After Testing Each


I’ve used each ChatGPT 4 and ChatGPT 5 in varied methods since their inception. 

When you’re utilizing ChatGPT 4 and are interested in upgrading to GPT 5 with increased limits, this text will allow you to make an knowledgeable choice in regards to the transition. I’m a ChatGPT Plus person and have entry to each. 

As a substitute of repeating advertising and marketing claims, I performed actual checks evaluating ChatGPT 4 and 5 utilizing the identical prompts, context, and guidelines. My aim was easy: to find out which mannequin performs higher for severe each day duties.

When 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 based mostly on actual outcomes. 

Notice: This text relies on insights drawn from hands-on testing on each instruments. Since ChatGPT 4o was in a position to carry out throughout testing, I’ve in contrast it with ChatGPT 5 based mostly 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 fancy process, ChatGPT 5 performs considerably higher. Nonetheless, if you happen to’re utilizing it at no cost, it has its limits. When you’re somebody who’s trying to improve to ChatGPT 5, this text will allow you to make an knowledgeable judgment. 

Let’s get a quick understanding of the similarities and the variations between the 2 variations. 

ChatGPT 4 vs. ChatGPT 5: What it’s worthwhile to know

Earlier than we dive into the head-to-head testing, let’s take a more in-depth take a look at these AI chatbot variations and all their options. They each have some fairly cool stuff happening, however the true 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 completely different?

Beneath is an outline of the important thing variations between ChatGPT 4o and ChatGPT 5. 

Reference: The knowledge referenced on this part is initially from the OpenAI weblog

ChatGPT 4o vs. ChatGPT 5: What’s comparable?

There are a couple of 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 contains 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.
  • Comparable knowledge governance statements. Coaching sources embody public knowledge, licensed/partnered knowledge, and human-generated knowledge, with filtering for security and privateness. It’s a continuity you may anticipate 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 way of my interface. To match each the instruments, I performed a sequence of checks, together with:

  • Reasoning and multi-step duties
  • Artistic technology
  • Factual accuracy
  • Code understanding
  • Pace and token effectivity
  • Context retention

I ensured full equity through the use of an identical prompts for each, with no modifications or changes, and the identical questions all through. To achieve perception into how others understand these fashions, I additionally reviewed G2 opinions to grasp varied person experiences.

Disclaimer: AI responses could differ based mostly 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 vital to customers. By testing every device, I discovered its strengths and weaknesses. This made it simple to check them. Need 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 might be given this riddle:
“A farmer has 17 sheep. All however 9 die. What number of are left?”

Then resolve this logic chain:

  1. If X is 3 greater than Y
  2. And Y is half of Z
  3. And Z = 16
    What’s X?

Lastly, clarify the steps clearly.”

ChatGPT 4o gave me the right reply with correct reasoning as I used to be anticipating. The responses of GTP-4o and GPT-5 have been virtually comparable on this case.

Right here’s the response I obtained for ChatGPT 5. It was fairly easy and concise. It gave me precisely what I requested for. The solutions have been correct, and there was no hallucination noticed. 

chatgpt5

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 completely different choices, which might have been the unique ask. 

Nonetheless, ChatGPT 4o additionally gave the same response whereas exploring what the precise query could be. This makes it a tie once we base our choice on how every mannequin offered correct solutions. 

prompt2

Winner: Tie, each fashions carried out equally in reasoning duties.

2. Artistic technology

To check the artistic technology means of those fashions, I gave them a process to jot down a product story of a smartwatch that displays stress. I wished 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 obtained 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 light nudge when your stress quietly rises. It turns into a accomplice in self-awareness, serving to you acknowledge the strain 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 just’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 refined rise of stress.

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 grasp 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 appropriate, however the phrase rely 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 keeping with me, the textual content appeared extra partaking 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 artistic technology. 

Winner: ChatGPT 5, as a result of its response felt extra partaking to learn.

3. Factual accuracy

To check factual accuracy, I assigned a process to reply a couple of 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 industrial 5G rollout start globally?

Q2: Which three nations lead fiber-to-home penetration as we speak?

Present the first supply hyperlinks and keep away from outdated knowledge.

Right here’s the place one thing out of the strange 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 a couple of informal sources (blogs). Nonetheless, I explicitly talked about to not cite blogs. 

However right here’s the place issues have been completely different. The reply to the second query was extremely correct and related. GPT-4o cited 2025 knowledge and gave the precise response. 

Factual accuracy

After we take a look at GPT-5’s response, it supplied 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 supplied a solution citing 2024 knowledge, whereas we had particularly requested recent info. That is the place ChatGPT 5’s factual accuracy seems to be decrease than that of ChatGPT 4. 

gpt5 Factual accuracy

Winner: ChatGPT 4o, as a result of it gave probably the most correct and recent response. Though it did embrace some info from blogs within the first query, it cited respected sources too. 

4. Code understanding

On this check, I handed a Python perform to the fashions that contained an error. I wished to see which mannequin fixes it and offers the right clarification. 

I gave them a immediate:

Immediate 5:
“Here’s a Python perform:
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 model and add sort 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 supplied a extra detailed clarification. 

From a person’s perspective, I’d go for ChatGPT 5, as the reason is extra vital 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 match 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 personal phrases.

Flip three immediate (stress check):

With out repeating the unique line, describe who advantages most from their answer and why.

Right here’s what I noticed: ChatGPT 4o answered completely different prompts precisely based mostly on the context it retained.

gpt 4 Context retention

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. 

gpt 5 Context retention

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 online builder software program that wins.

Characteristic and performance Winner Why it gained
Reasoning and multi-step duties Tie Each fashions offered correct solutions.
Artistic technology ChatGPT 5 🏆 It adopted the directions given within the immediate higher than GPT-4o. 
Factual accuracy ChatGPT 4o 🏆 It gave probably the most correct and recent responses.
Code understanding ChatGPT 5 🏆 It gave extra descriptive explanations.
Context retention Tie Each fashions carried out equally nicely.

Incessantly 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 displays 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 fee) and catches errors extra successfully. 

Q2. How is entry to ChatGPT 5 completely different from ChatGPT 4? 

GPT-5 is now open to everybody. In contrast to GPT-4, which was locked behind the paid ChatGPT Plus tier, GPT-5 is the default mannequin for all ChatGPT customers. Meaning you don’t want a particular subscription to attempt 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) offers 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 autumn. 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 talk with it for gratis. If you wish to use ChatGPT Plus or Professional extra incessantly or entry the premium GPT-5 Professional mode, you will have to pay for a subscription. Nonetheless, the essential GPT-5 is free to attempt.

Match the mannequin to the duty

After testing each fashions in sensible workflows, I realized one thing vital. 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 once I want extra profound logic, richer writing tone, or multi-step automation help. It reduces back-and-forth time, and that issues. Nonetheless, GPT-4o nonetheless feels regular, predictable, and environment friendly for fast-execution duties.

Finally, the selection is dependent upon the duties that you just’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 objective.



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