ChatGPT 4o vs 4.1 vs GPT-5: Side-by-Side Comparison with Real Test Results (2025)

Sean Hagarty, Founder of Search Umbrella
By Sean Hagarty
Founder, Search Umbrella
Last updated: September 20, 2025

With multiple ChatGPT models now available, choosing the right one for your needs has become increasingly complex. Should you stick with the reliable GPT-4o, upgrade to GPT-5, or keep using GPT 4.1? In our previous post, we analyzed how these models handle go-to-market business strategies. Now, we're diving into creative content.

We put all three models through rigorous real-world testing using our multi-LLM platform to give you definitive answers. Here's what we discovered after running identical prompts through each model and analyzing their performance across business strategy, creative content, technical problem-solving, and research tasks.

Key Finding

For creative content and marketing analysis, ChatGPT 5 is the decisive winner, scoring 9.5/10. It demonstrated a sophisticated blend of creative copywriting and deep marketing acumen, significantly outperforming GPT-4.1 (8.5/10) and GPT-4o (6.5/10).

Quick Model Comparison Overview

Feature GPT-4o GPT-4.1 GPT-5
Release Date May 2024 May 2025 August 2025
Context Length 128K tokens 1M tokens 400K tokens
Output Tokens 4K tokens 32,768 tokens 128K tokens
Cost per 1M Input $2.50 $2.00 $1.25
Cost per 1M Output $10.00 $8.00 $10.00
Best For General chat, speed Balanced performance Complex reasoning

The Testing Methodology

Rather than rely on synthetic benchmarks, we tested each model with four real-world scenarios that professionals actually use AI. To be fair each of the models were passed the exact same information from a web search to see how they processed the results.

  • Business Strategy Development - Complex multi-step planning
  • Creative Content + Analysis - Balanced creative and analytical thinking
  • Technical Problem-Solving - Code debugging and optimization
  • Research & Fact-Checking - Information accuracy and depth

Each model received identical prompts, and we evaluated responses on: Accuracy, Completeness, Creativity, Practical Value, and Speed. To keep everything fair and unbiased, I asked Claude Sonnet 4 to be the judge for each of these responses. With Search Umbrella, an AI Comparison tool, this process is straightforward and simple.

"Be an impartial judge and score each of the LLM responses from 1-10 with 10 being the best, be sure to name each of the LLM Model names and score on Accuracy - Factual correctness and logical reasoning Completeness - How thoroughly they addressed the prompt Creativity - Original thinking and innovative approaches Practical Value - Real-world applicability”

Test 2: Creative Content + Data Analysis

The Challenge

For our second test, we wanted to challenge the models with a task that blends creative copywriting with sharp analytical thinking—a common requirement in marketing and product development. We didn't use a simple, generic prompt. To truly see how each model performs, we created a detailed scenario with specific constraints. This forces the AI to move beyond boilerplate responses and demonstrate genuine creativity and strategic insight.

Why This Matters: This balances creative writing with analytical thinking - a common real-world AI application.

The Prompt

Help me write this email and test this out, You are the co-founder of "Momentum," a new fitness app launching next week. Your mission is to make fitness accessible for busy professionals aged 25-40. App Details: Name: Momentum, USP: AI-powered 15-minute workouts that adapt daily. Target Audience: Busy professionals (25-40). Launch Offer: 50% lifetime discount for the first 1,000 users. Your Task (in 3 parts): 1. Write the Product Launch Email. 2. Analyze the Email's Effectiveness (identify at least 4 psychological principles). 3. Suggest 3 specific A/B Test Variations.

Reference Sources Provided to All Models:

Side-by-Side Performance Analysis

Metric GPT-4o GPT-4.1 GPT-5
Claude Score 6.5 / 10 8.5 / 10 9.5 / 10
Trust Score 8.79 / 10 8.86 / 10 8.79 / 10
Response Time 13.55 seconds 9.04 seconds 13.10 seconds
Token Usage (Total) 1,923 2,128 2,203
Calculated Cost* ~$0.0094 ~$0.0091 ~$0.0105

*Calculated based on per-token input/output costs for this specific prompt.

GPT-4o Results

GPT-4o Performance

Claude's Grade: 6.5/10
• Accuracy: 7/10 - Generally accurate but less precise in psychological principle explanations. Some principles like "value proposition" aren't traditional psychological principles.
• Completeness: 6/10 - Addresses all parts but with less depth. Only identifies 4 principles (minimum requirement) and A/B tests lack detailed hypotheses.
• Creativity: 6/10 - More conventional approach with standard marketing language. Subject line is generic.
• Practical Value: 7/10 - Solid practical foundation but less sophisticated. A/B tests are basic but workable.

Trust Score: 8.79/10
Readability: 8/10 | Factual Accuracy: 10/10 | Semantic Consistency: 9/10 | Relevance: 9/10 | Style Compliance: 10/10 | Ensemble Disagreement: 7/10 | Human Likeness: 8.5/10

Response Time: 13.55 seconds
Token Usage: 1,923 total (1,315 prompt + 608 response)
Full GPT-4o Response:
Product Launch Email Subject Line: "Unlock Your Peak Fitness Potential – Limited-Time Offer Inside!" Hi [Recipient's Name], I'm Alex, Co-Founder of Momentum, and I'm thrilled to introduce you to an innovation in fitness designed specifically for busy professionals like you. 🎯 Introducing Momentum – Your Fast-Track to Fitness! Our AI-powered app brings personalized, 15-minute workouts that adapt daily to ensure you meet your fitness goals without compromising your schedule. But here's the best part: to celebrate our launch next week, we're offering an exclusive 50% lifetime discount to the first 1,000 users! This is your chance to join a movement that's about making fitness truly accessible. Why Choose Momentum? - Short on time? Enjoy adaptable 15-minute workouts that fit into any busy day. - Stay engaged: Our AI customizes your routine daily, keeping workouts fresh and exciting. - Exclusive lifetime discount: Join the first 1,000 and save big. Ready to redefine your fitness journey? [Sign up now] to secure your spot and discount! Let’s achieve more, together. Stay active and inspired, Alex Co-Founder, Momentum Email Effectiveness Analysis: Psychological Principles 1. Scarcity: Highlighting the "first 1,000 users" cap creates urgency, prompting quick action to avoid missing out. 2. Personalization: By mentioning the adaptability of workouts, recipients feel the service is tailored to their individual needs, enhancing its appeal. 3. Value Proposition: Emphasizing the "50% lifetime discount" provides a strong financial incentive to join early. 4. Curiosity: The subject line and the promise of "AI-powered adaptability" pique interest, encouraging further exploration. A/B Test Variations 1. Subject Line: - Variation: "Claim Your Exclusive Fitness Edge – Starting Next Week!" - Hypothesis: A more personalized benefit-focused subject might increase open rates by highlighting the edge users gain. 2. Call to Action (CTA) Button Text: - Variation: "Reserve Your Discounted Spot Now!" - Hypothesis: Emphasizing exclusivity in the CTA might increase click-through rates by reinforcing the limited-time offer. 3. Email Content Layout: - Variation: Include a testimonial snippet or preview image of the app interface. - Hypothesis: Visual elements or social proof could improve engagement by providing more context and visual interest.

GPT-4.1 Results

GPT-4.1 Performance

Claude's Grade: 8.5/10
• Accuracy: 9/10 - Excellent factual accuracy. Correctly identifies and explains psychological principles with solid understanding of marketing psychology.
• Completeness: 9/10 - Thoroughly addresses all three parts. Provides detailed email, comprehensive analysis, and well-structured A/B tests.
• Creativity: 8/10 - Good use of emojis in subject line and creative phrasing like "That ends now."
• Practical Value: 8/10 - Highly actionable with realistic A/B tests. The email structure is immediately implementable.

Trust Score: 8.86/10
Readability: 8/10 | Factual Accuracy: 10/10 | Semantic Consistency: 9/10 | Relevance: 10/10 | Style Compliance: 10/10 | Ensemble Disagreement: 6/10 | Human Likeness: 9/10

Response Time: 9.04 seconds
Token Usage: 2,128 total (1,315 prompt + 813 response)
Full GPT-4.1 Response:
1. Product Launch Email Subject Line: ⏳ Only 1,000 Can Unlock This: Momentum Launches Next Week! Email Body: Hi [First Name], I'm Alex, Co-Founder of Momentum. Do you ever feel like there’s simply no time to exercise? That ends now. Next week, we’re launching Momentum—an app designed exclusively for busy professionals who want real fitness results without sacrificing precious time. Why Momentum? - 15-Minute AI Workouts: Powered by smart technology, Momentum creates daily workouts that adapt to you—no matter your schedule or fitness level. - Built for Your Lifestyle: Whether you’ve got a packed calendar or just a lunch break, Momentum fits seamlessly into your day. - Zero Guesswork: Let our AI trainer handle the planning. You just show up, press play, and go. Launch Special: 50% Lifetime Discount To celebrate our launch, we're offering an exclusive 50% lifetime discount to our first 1,000 users. Once those spots are filled, this offer’s gone for good. If you want to be one of the first to experience Momentum–and finally make fitness a habit, even on your busiest days—join our waitlist here: [Sign Up Button] Momentum launches next week. Are you ready to move forward? See you inside, Alex Co-Founder, Momentum 2. Email Effectiveness Analysis: Psychological Principles Used a. Scarcity: Emphasizing the “first 1,000 users” and “once those spots are filled, this offer’s gone for good” leverages scarcity, making the offer more valuable because it’s limited and could be missed. b. Urgency: Phrases like “launches next week” and “unlock” in the subject line, along with a ticking clock implied by limited availability, drive readers to act quickly. c. Personalization & Identity: Using “[First Name]” plus phrases like “exclusively for busy professionals” and “built for your lifestyle” signals that the app and offer are tailored specifically to the reader’s situation, increasing perceived relevance. d. Simplicity/Clarity & Authority: Clearly listing benefits in bullet points reduces friction and cognitive load. With “Co-Founder” in the signature, the message comes from a position of authority and trust. 3. A/B Test Suggestions Test 1: Subject Line Variation - Element: Subject Line - Variation: “Stop Wasting Time at the Gym—Momentum Launch Offer Inside!” - Hypothesis: A problem-focused subject line piques curiosity and resonates with pain points, potentially increasing open rates. Test 2: CTA Button Wording - Element: Call-to-Action Button - Variation: Change from “Sign Up” to “Claim My Lifetime Discount” - Hypothesis: Personalizing the CTA with ownership language will increase click-through rates. Test 3: Social Proof Inclusion - Element: Body Copy - Variation: Add a short testimonial: “Momentum fits into my lunch break perfectly—no excuses now!” – Sarah, Beta User - Hypothesis: Including social proof will build credibility and trust, increasing sign-up intent.

GPT-5 Results

GPT-5 Performance

🏆 TEST WINNER
Claude's Grade: 9.5/10
• Accuracy: 10/10 - Exceptional accuracy with sophisticated understanding of psychological principles. References suggest a research-backed approach.
• Completeness: 10/10 - Most comprehensive response with 6+ psychological principles explained in detail. Includes advanced considerations.
• Creativity: 9/10 - Highly creative with conversational tone, strategic P.S. usage, and direct engagement. The subject line is brilliantly concise.
• Practical Value: 9/10 - Outstanding practical value with sophisticated A/B testing methodology, including statistical validity.

Trust Score: 8.79/10
Readability: 8.5/10 | Factual Accuracy: 10/10 | Semantic Consistency: 9/10 | Relevance: 10/10 | Style Compliance: 10/10 | Ensemble Disagreement: 5/10 | Human Likeness: 9/10

Response Time: 13.10 seconds
Token Usage: 2,203 total (1,314 prompt + 889 response)
Full GPT-5 Response:
Subject: 1,000 lifetime spots. 15 minutes a day. Are you in? Hi [First Name], I’m Alex, Co-Founder of Momentum. We built Momentum for people like you—busy professionals who want to get (and stay) fit without rearranging their lives. Here’s the deal: - 15-minute AI-powered workouts that adapt daily to your schedule, energy, and goals - No equipment required (but we’ll use it if you have it) - Tracks your progress and adjusts so you keep improving—without thinking about it We launch next week. To celebrate, we’re giving the first 1,000 users a 50% lifetime discount. After that, the price doubles and never drops again. If you’ve ever said “I’ll start when I have time,” Momentum is your 15-minute answer. Claim your spot now → [Unique Signup Link] Why now: - Only 1,000 lifetime spots at 50% off - Takes less time than a coffee run - Designed for 25–40-year-old professionals who want results, not routines Hit reply with any questions—I’ll read every message. Let’s build your momentum, Alex Co-Founder, Momentum [Signature + Socials] P.S. These go fast. If the link shows “waitlist,” the 1,000 are gone—join the list and we’ll notify you first. --- Effectiveness analysis (psychological principles used) 1. Scarcity: “first 1,000 users” and “after that, the price doubles” creates limited availability and time pressure to act now [1]. 2. Urgency/Temporal discounting: Launch “next week,” clear call to “claim your spot now,” and a P.S. warning increase immediacy and reduce procrastination [1]. 3. Personalization/Authority: Email is from a named co-founder, offers direct reply, increasing trust and credibility [1]. 4. Ease/Commitment consistency: “15 minutes,” “no equipment,” and adaptive workouts lower effort and make it easy to start and stick with it, increasing conversion likelihood [1]. 5. Value framing/Anchoring: “50% lifetime discount” anchors perceived value and frames the offer as a rare long-term saving [1]. 6. Relevance/Identity fit: Explicitly calling out 25–40 busy professionals signals product–person fit, boosting resonance and click-through [1]. A/B test variations 1. Subject line: - Variation: “Your 15-minute fitness plan. 50% off for the first 1,000.” - Hypothesis: Clear value + quantified offer increases open rate versus curiosity-led subject by reducing ambiguity [1]. 2. CTA copy: - Variation: Replace “Claim your spot now” with “Start your 7-day free trial →” - Hypothesis: Lower perceived risk increases click and start rates; then measure downstream trial-to-paid conversion to ensure net lift [1][3]. 3. Social proof block: - Variation: Add a one-line testimonial or credibility cue below the CTA (e.g., “Built with input from 200+ busy professionals in beta” or “Featured in [Publication]”). - Hypothesis: Social proof reduces uncertainty and increases CTR and sign-ups, especially for new brands [1]. If no press yet, use beta user count. Note on testing: Test one element per variant; power the test to detect meaningful lift and run to statistical validity before rolling out [2]. Pair email tests with matching landing page variants for consistency and higher conversion gains [3].

Winner Analysis: Why GPT-5 Dominated

Test 2 Winner: Chat GPT 5 (Score: 9.5/10)

Reasoning: Superior Email Craftsmanship

Subject Line Excellence:

GPT-5: "1,000 lifetime spots. 15 minutes a day. Are you in?" This is masterfully constructed with three distinct psychological triggers in one line: scarcity (1,000 spots), convenience (15 minutes), and direct engagement ("Are you in?"). The conversational tone creates intimacy while maintaining urgency.

Email Structure & Voice:

GPT-5's email reads like it was written by an experienced startup founder who understands direct response marketing. The conversational, confident tone ("Here's the deal") combined with precise benefit statements creates authentic authority. The P.S. addition is a classic direct marketing technique that GPT-5 employed naturally.

Psychological Sophistication

GPT-5 demonstrated advanced understanding by identifying 6 distinct psychological principles vs. 4 from GPT-4.1:

  • Temporal Discounting: Understanding how people devalue future benefits
  • Commitment Consistency: Recognizing how small commitments lead to larger ones
  • Value Framing/Anchoring: Advanced pricing psychology
  • Identity Fit: Deep personalization beyond basic demographics

The analysis included academic-level citations [1], [2], [3], suggesting research-backed approaches rather than surface-level marketing tactics.

A/B Testing Expertise

GPT-5's testing suggestions showed professional-grade understanding:

  • Methodological rigor: "Test one element per variant; power the test to detect meaningful lift"
  • Downstream thinking: Considering trial-to-paid conversion rates, not just immediate metrics
  • Landing page consistency: Understanding the full conversion funnel

This level of testing sophistication reflects real marketing operations experience.

Business Acumen

GPT-5 included strategic considerations like:

  • Backup plans ("If the link shows 'waitlist'")
  • Personal engagement ("Hit reply with any questions—I'll read every message")
  • Brand building elements (signature + socials)

Trust Score Clarification

Both GPT-4.1 and GPT-5 Demonstrated High Credibility: Accurate psychological principles were correctly identified, and both suggested legitimate A/B testing approaches. Trust Factors Present in Both included transparent methodology, acknowledgment of limitations (GPT-5's note about statistical validity), and ethical marketing approaches. The key difference wasn't trustworthiness but expertise depth. GPT-4.1 provided trustworthy, competent advice that any good marketer could implement. GPT-5 provided trustworthy advice at an expert consultant level, with insights that demonstrate years of hands-on experience in conversion optimization and startup marketing. Both models were equally reliable, but GPT-5 showed significantly more sophisticated understanding of the complex interplay between psychology, testing methodology, and business strategy.

Final Score Breakdown:

  • GPT-5 (9.5/10) - Most sophisticated and comprehensive
  • GPT-4.1 (8.5/10) - Strong all-around performance
  • GPT-4o (6.5/10) - Adequate but less distinguished

Ready to Test ChatGPT Models for Your Business Needs?

Experience side-by-side ChatGPT model comparisons with trust scores and detailed analysis. Join our beta and see which AI model works best for your specific use cases.

Request Free Beta Access

References & Sources

The following web search results were provided to each model to ensure a fair and equal basis for their responses.