GPT-4 vs Qwen Turbo
Performance benchmarks + pricing comparison — updated April 2026
GPT-4
OpenAIOriginal GPT-4. Most expensive OpenAI model, largely superseded by newer options.
| Input | $30.00/M |
| Output | $60.00/M |
| Context | 8K tokens |
| Best For | Legacy applications requiring GPT-4 specifically |
| Benchmark | 68/100 |
Qwen Turbo
QwenFastest and cheapest Qwen model. Good for high-volume tasks.
| Input | $0.080/M |
| Output | $0.240/M |
| Context | 1M tokens |
| Best For | High-volume tasks, simple coding |
| Benchmark | 42/100 |
Benchmark Performance Comparison
Third-party benchmark scores — higher is better. Data sourced from SWE-bench, LiveCodeBench, HumanEval, and BigCodeBench.
| Benchmark | GPT-4 | Qwen Turbo | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Score | 68 | 42 | GPT-4 leads by 26pts |
| SWE-bench Verified | 60 | 35 | GPT-4 leads by 25pts |
| LiveCodeBench | 70 | 44 | GPT-4 leads by 26pts |
| HumanEval | 86 | 65 | GPT-4 leads by 21pts |
| BigCodeBench | 54 | 28 | GPT-4 leads by 26pts |
Cost Comparison by Scenario
Estimated cost per project with 30% cache hit rate. Actual costs may vary based on usage patterns.
| Scenario | GPT-4 | Qwen Turbo | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Script (1K lines) | $2.85 | $0.01 | Qwen Turbo saves $2.84 (100%) |
| Medium Feature (10K lines) | $22.50 | $0.08 | Qwen Turbo saves $22.42 (100%) |
| Large Project (50K lines) | $112.50 | $0.38 | Qwen Turbo saves $112.12 (100%) |
| Code Review (5K lines) | $6.75 | $0.02 | Qwen Turbo saves $6.73 (100%) |
Value Analysis (Price per Benchmark Score Point)
Lower is better — how much you pay for each point of benchmark performance.
| Model | Overall Score | Price per Score Point | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| GPT-4 | 68 | $0.441/pt | Higher cost per point |
| Qwen Turbo | 42 | $0.002/pt | Better value |
Qwen Turbo delivers the best value at $0.002 per score point.
Strengths & Weaknesses
GPT-4
- + Original breakthrough model
- - Two generations behind
- - Expensive
Qwen Turbo
- + Cheapest option
- + Fast
- - Basic coding only
Verdict
Qwen Turbo is cheaper at $0.080/M, but GPT-4 scores higher on benchmarks (68 vs 42).
Choose Qwen Turbo for cost-sensitive projects, GPT-4 when performance matters most.
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