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Head-to-head comparison

GPT-4o (2024-08-06) vs gpt-oss-120b

GPT-4o (2024-08-06) (OpenAI) and gpt-oss-120b (OpenAI) compared on the ModelCap Index, API price, context window, provider availability, weight access and every public benchmark board they share. Figures are the same ones shown on the live rankings; nothing here is a hidden score.

Snapshot as of 24 October 2026

As of 24 October 2026, gpt-oss-120b holds the stronger ModelCap Index position (#163 vs #195); gpt-oss-120b is 16.7× cheaper per output token ($0.60/1M vs $10.00/1M); gpt-oss-120b offers the longer context window (131K vs 128K tokens); and gpt-oss-120b ships open weights.

Which should you choose?

Choose GPT-4o (2024-08-06) if…

  • ModelCap publishes no field on which GPT-4o (2024-08-06) leads gpt-oss-120b for this pair.

Choose gpt-oss-120b if…

  • you want the stronger overall ModelCap Index position — #163 against #195 (39.4 vs 36.2 points).
  • API cost matters — $0.60/1M output tokens against $10.00/1M, about 16.7× cheaper.
  • your workload is prompt-heavy — input tokens cost $0.15/1M against $2.50/1M.
  • you need the longer context window — 131K tokens against 128K.
  • you want to self-host: gpt-oss-120b ships open weights while GPT-4o (2024-08-06) is no linked weights.
  • you want provider choice — 22 listed API providers against 2.
  • Arena text is your yardstick — 1352 against 1336.
  • Arena coding is your yardstick — 1389 against 1360.
  • you want the more recently listed model — gpt-oss-120b was listed 5 August 2025, GPT-4o (2024-08-06) 6 August 2024.

GPT-4o (2024-08-06) vs gpt-oss-120b: specs, pricing and context

Specification comparison of GPT-4o (2024-08-06) and gpt-oss-120b
FieldGPT-4o (2024-08-06)OpenAIgpt-oss-120bOpenAI
ModelCap Index position#195#163
Index score36.239.4
EvidenceMeasuredMeasured
Input price / 1M tokens$2.50$0.15
Output price / 1M tokens$10.00$0.60
Context window128K tokens131K tokens
Declared route output cap16K66K
API providers listed222
Weight accessNo linked weightsOpen weights
Input modalitiesText, Image, FileText
First listed6 August 20245 August 2025
PublisherOpenAIOpenAI

Evidence: 2 public benchmark observations across 2 boards · 2 public benchmark observations across 2 boards. Prices are the lowest listed API offer per million tokens observed on the OpenRouter catalogue.

Benchmark scores: GPT-4o (2024-08-06) vs gpt-oss-120b

Public benchmark boards where GPT-4o (2024-08-06) or gpt-oss-120b has a published result
BoardGPT-4o (2024-08-06)gpt-oss-120bLeads
Arena textArena (LMArena)13361331–1340Not reported13521347–1356Not reportedgpt-oss-120b
Arena codingArena (LMArena)13601352–136713891382–1397gpt-oss-120b
SWE-benchSWE-bench (Princeton / SWE-agent team)—26.0%Only one result
AA Intelligence IndexArtificial Analysis—11.6HighOnly one result
AA Terminal-Bench 2.1Artificial Analysis—26.2%HighOnly one result
AA τ²-Bench TelecomArtificial Analysis—65.8%HighOnly one result
AA Humanity's Last ExamArtificial Analysis—19.6%HighOnly one result

Scores are the sources' own published figures for each model's best evaluated configuration; ModelCap never re-runs a benchmark.

Want a different pairing? Open the interactive comparison tool to swap either model for any current ranked language model.

GPT-4o (2024-08-06) vs gpt-oss-120b: common questions

Is GPT-4o (2024-08-06) better than gpt-oss-120b?

gpt-oss-120b ranks higher on the ModelCap Index as of 24 October 2026: #163 against #195. That is a capability ranking built from public benchmark evidence with published uncertainty; whether it is "better" for you also depends on price, context and where you can run it. Their published uncertainty intervals overlap, so the rank difference alone does not establish a reliable capability advantage for your workload.

Is GPT-4o (2024-08-06) cheaper than gpt-oss-120b?

gpt-oss-120b is cheaper on output tokens: $0.60/1M against $10.00/1M. Input tokens are $2.50/1M for GPT-4o (2024-08-06) and $0.15/1M for gpt-oss-120b. Prices are the lowest listed API offer ModelCap observed, in USD per million tokens. For 1,000 requests with 2,000 input and 500 output tokens each (2M input + 0.5M output), the listed-rate estimate is $10.00 for GPT-4o (2024-08-06) versus $0.60 for gpt-oss-120b. gpt-oss-120b costs 94.0% less in this scenario. This excludes caching, batch discounts, prompt-length tiers, tool charges and retries; verify the selected endpoint before budgeting.

Which has the bigger context window, GPT-4o (2024-08-06) or gpt-oss-120b?

gpt-oss-120b has the larger context window: 131K tokens against 128K. OpenRouter catalogue or provider-endpoint declaration. Limits can vary by provider and prompt length; a model-wide maximum has not been independently verified.

Which is better for coding, GPT-4o (2024-08-06) or gpt-oss-120b?

Arena coding: GPT-4o (2024-08-06) 1360, gpt-oss-120b 1389 — gpt-oss-120b leads.

Are GPT-4o (2024-08-06) and gpt-oss-120b open-weight models?

GPT-4o (2024-08-06): No linked weights. gpt-oss-120b: Open weights. Open weights mean the checkpoint can be downloaded and self-hosted under its licence. A missing weight link does not identify every API or chat product that offers a model.

Where can I run GPT-4o (2024-08-06) and gpt-oss-120b?

ModelCap currently lists 2 API providers for GPT-4o (2024-08-06) and 22 for gpt-oss-120b, from the OpenRouter catalogue snapshot the site serves; each model page lists the providers and their prices.

How current is this GPT-4o (2024-08-06) vs gpt-oss-120b comparison?

Every figure and ModelCap Index position comes from the same published snapshot dated 24 October 2026. Publication and page updates happen separately; use the snapshot date shown on the page.

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