audio model comparison
GPT-4o Transcribe vs GPT Transcribe
GPT-4o Transcribe and GPT Transcribe are both current audio models, from OpenAI. GPT Transcribe is 25% cheaper per audio minute than GPT-4o Transcribe, $0.0045 vs $0.006. On Artificial Analysis AA-WER v2, GPT-4o Transcribe scores 3.96 % WER and GPT Transcribe 3.31 % WER (Artificial Analysis, measured October 13, 2026).
Data verified October 13, 2026 · Dataset 2026-10-13
Side by side
Standard-tier prices in effect today. The better value in each row is highlighted.
| Fact | GPT-4o Transcribe | GPT Transcribe |
|---|---|---|
| Price per audio minute | $0.006 | $0.0045 (better) |
| Artificial Analysis AA-WER v2 | 3.96 % WER (#6 of 6) | 3.31 % WER (#5 of 6) (better) |
| Provider | OpenAI | OpenAI |
| Release date | March 20, 2025 | July 28, 2026 |
| Access | API only | API only |
| Context window | 16,000 tokens | Not reported |
| Max output | 2,000 tokens | Not reported |
| Input | text, audio | audio, text |
| Output | text | text |
When to choose each
GPT-4o Transcribe
Best for
- Speech transcription
Watch out for
- OpenAI announced its deprecation on 2026-08-26 and recommends GPT Transcribe, which costs $0.0045 per minute against about $0.006 here
GPT Transcribe
Best for
- Transcribing recorded audio files
Watch out for
- Live microphone audio goes to a separate model, gpt-live-transcribe, at $0.017 per minute
- OpenAI's model page does not mention speaker diarization
GPT-4o Transcribe vs GPT Transcribe FAQ
Which is cheaper, GPT-4o Transcribe or GPT Transcribe?
GPT Transcribe is 25% cheaper per audio minute than GPT-4o Transcribe, $0.0045 vs $0.006.
Which scores higher on independent benchmarks, GPT-4o Transcribe or GPT Transcribe?
GPT Transcribe leads on Artificial Analysis AA-WER v2, 3.31 % WER to 3.96 % WER. Scores are independent evaluations, not either vendor's launch figures.
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- Gemini 3.8 Live vs GPT-4o Transcribe
- Gemini 3.8 Live vs GPT Transcribe
- GPT-4o Transcribe vs Grok Voice Transcribe 2.0
Production evaluation
Choosing between GPT-4o Transcribe and GPT Transcribe?
Public benchmarks narrow the shortlist. We run both on your own tasks, data and cost limits, then build the routing and review controls to run the winner in production.
- A head-to-head evaluation on your real workload
- Routing between models by cost and difficulty