Model Comparison
GPT-5.4 vs Qwen2.5 72B InstructWhich is better in 2026?
GPT-5.4 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks. Qwen2.5 72B Instruct is 15.5x cheaper per token.
Verdict: GPT-5.4 vs Qwen2.5 72B Instruct — which is better?
GPT-5.4 (by OpenAI) and Qwen2.5 72B Instruct (by Alibaba Cloud / Qwen Team) 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-5.4 outperforms in 1 benchmarks (GPQA), while Qwen2.5 72B Instruct is better at 0 benchmarks. GPT-5.4 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.
On price, Qwen2.5 72B Instruct is roughly 15.5x cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 input/output basis, which adds up quickly at production volume.
GPT-5.4 also accepts a larger context window (1,000,000 input tokens), making it the stronger choice for long documents and large codebases.
Choose GPT-5.4 if…
- you want the strongest raw capability — it leads on 1 of 1 shared benchmarks
- you process long inputs — it offers a 1,000,000 token context window
- you want the most recent training data — it shipped Mar 2026
Choose Qwen2.5 72B Instruct if…
- cost matters — it's about 15.5x cheaper per token
- you need open weights you can self-host or fine-tune
Performance Benchmarks
Comparative analysis across standard metrics
GPT-5.4 outperforms in 1 benchmarks (GPQA), while Qwen2.5 72B Instruct is better at 0 benchmarks.
GPT-5.4 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.
Arena Performance
Human preference votes
Pricing Analysis
Price comparison per million tokens
For input processing, GPT-5.4 ($2.50/1M tokens) is 7.1x more expensive than Qwen2.5 72B Instruct ($0.35/1M tokens).
For output processing, GPT-5.4 ($15.00/1M tokens) is 37.5x more expensive than Qwen2.5 72B Instruct ($0.40/1M tokens).
In conclusion, GPT-5.4 is more expensive than Qwen2.5 72B Instruct.*
* Using a 3:1 ratio of input to output tokens
Context Window
Maximum input and output token capacity
GPT-5.4 accepts 1,000,000 input tokens compared to Qwen2.5 72B Instruct's 131,072 tokens. GPT-5.4 can generate longer responses up to 128,000 tokens, while Qwen2.5 72B Instruct is limited to 8,192 tokens.
Input Capabilities
Supported data types and modalities
GPT-5.4 supports multimodal inputs, whereas Qwen2.5 72B Instruct does not.
GPT-5.4 can handle both text and other forms of data like images, making it suitable for multimodal applications.
GPT-5.4
Qwen2.5 72B Instruct
License
Usage and distribution terms
GPT-5.4 is licensed under a proprietary license, while Qwen2.5 72B Instruct uses Qwen.
License differences may affect how you can use these models in commercial or open-source projects.
Proprietary
Closed source
Qwen
Open weights
Release Timeline
When each model was launched
GPT-5.4 was released on 2026-03-05, while Qwen2.5 72B Instruct was released on 2024-09-19.
GPT-5.4 is 18 months newer than Qwen2.5 72B Instruct.
Mar 5, 2026
3 months ago
1.5yr newerSep 19, 2024
1.7 years ago
Knowledge Cutoff
When training data ends
Neither model specifies a knowledge cutoff date.
Unable to compare the recency of their training data.
Provider Availability
GPT-5.4 is available from OpenAI. Qwen2.5 72B Instruct is available from DeepInfra, Hyperbolic, Fireworks, Together.
GPT-5.4
Qwen2.5 72B Instruct
Outputs Comparison
Key Takeaways
GPT-5.4
View detailsOpenAI
Qwen2.5 72B Instruct
View detailsAlibaba Cloud / Qwen Team
Detailed Comparison
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FAQ
Common questions about GPT-5.4 vs Qwen2.5 72B Instruct.