Model Comparison
GPT-4o vs Phi-4-multimodal-instructWhich is better in 2026?
GPT-4o significantly outperforms across most benchmarks. Phi-4-multimodal-instruct is 70.0x cheaper per token.
Verdict: GPT-4o vs Phi-4-multimodal-instruct — which is better?
GPT-4o (by OpenAI) and Phi-4-multimodal-instruct (by Microsoft) are two of the AI models people compare most. Here is how they stack up on benchmarks, price and capabilities, and which one to pick in 2026.
GPT-4o outperforms in 1 benchmarks (MathVista), while Phi-4-multimodal-instruct is better at 0 benchmarks. GPT-4o significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.
On price, Phi-4-multimodal-instruct is roughly 70.0x cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 input/output basis, which adds up quickly at production volume.
Choose GPT-4o if…
- you want the strongest raw capability — it leads on 1 of 1 shared benchmarks
Choose Phi-4-multimodal-instruct if…
- cost matters — it's about 70.0x cheaper per token
- you want the most recent training data — it shipped Feb 2025
- you need open weights you can self-host or fine-tune
Performance Benchmarks
Comparative analysis across standard metrics
GPT-4o outperforms in 1 benchmarks (MathVista), while Phi-4-multimodal-instruct is better at 0 benchmarks.
GPT-4o significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.
Arena Performance
Human preference votes
Pricing Analysis
Price comparison per million tokens
For input processing, GPT-4o ($2.50/1M tokens) is 50.0x more expensive than Phi-4-multimodal-instruct ($0.05/1M tokens).
For output processing, GPT-4o ($10.00/1M tokens) is 100.0x more expensive than Phi-4-multimodal-instruct ($0.10/1M tokens).
In conclusion, GPT-4o is more expensive than Phi-4-multimodal-instruct.*
* Using a 3:1 ratio of input to output tokens
Context Window
Maximum input and output token capacity
Both models have the same input context window of 128,000 tokens. Phi-4-multimodal-instruct can generate longer responses up to 128,000 tokens, while GPT-4o is limited to 4,096 tokens.
Input Capabilities
Supported data types and modalities
Both GPT-4o and Phi-4-multimodal-instruct support multimodal inputs.
They are both capable of processing various types of data, offering versatility in application.
GPT-4o
Phi-4-multimodal-instruct
License
Usage and distribution terms
GPT-4o is licensed under a proprietary license, while Phi-4-multimodal-instruct uses MIT.
License differences may affect how you can use these models in commercial or open-source projects.
Proprietary
Closed source
MIT
Open weights
Release Timeline
When each model was launched
GPT-4o was released on 2024-05-13, while Phi-4-multimodal-instruct was released on 2025-02-01.
Phi-4-multimodal-instruct is 9 months newer than GPT-4o.
May 13, 2024
2.2 years ago
Feb 1, 2025
1.5 years ago
8mo newerKnowledge Cutoff
When training data ends
Phi-4-multimodal-instruct has a documented knowledge cutoff of 2024-06-01, while GPT-4o's cutoff date is not specified.
We can confirm Phi-4-multimodal-instruct's training data extends to 2024-06-01, but cannot make a direct comparison without GPT-4o's cutoff date.
—
Jun 2024
Provider Availability
GPT-4o is available from Azure, OpenAI. Phi-4-multimodal-instruct is available from DeepInfra.
GPT-4o
Phi-4-multimodal-instruct
Outputs Comparison
Key Takeaways
GPT-4o
View detailsOpenAI
GPT-4oPhi-4-multimodal-instructDetailed Comparison
Interactive Arena
Judge for yourself.
Run your own prompts against GPT-4o and Phi-4-multimodal-instruct side-by-side, then vote on the output you prefer.
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FAQ
Common questions about GPT-4o vs Phi-4-multimodal-instruct.