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  1. Home/
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  3. GPT-3.5 Turbo vs GPT-5.3-Codex
Updated Feb 2026

GPT-3.5 Turbo vs GPT-5.3-Codex

GPT-3.5 Turbo is cheaper than GPT-5.3-Codex at $1.5/M vs $1.75/M input tokens.

Minimalist Landing Page

Whole landing page for a startup that reads your face. It renders or it doesn't.

Loading the build
GPT-3.5 Turbo
Loading the build
GPT-5.3-Codex

Which answer wins?

Written rounds

23 prompts
  • Five-year LBO on a fictional HVAC business. Returns first, then the sensitivities.

    GPT-3.5 Turbo: Year-by-year table: Year Revenue EBITDA Cash Interest (TL) Cash Interest (Mezz) Cash Taxes Capex ΔNWC Free Cash Flow Ending Debt (TL + Mezz) 2026 $972m $136m $36m $18m $25.5m $29.2m $4.86m $60.44m $528.14m 2027 $1,038m $156m $36m $18m $30m $31.1m $5.19m $63.81m $475.75m 2028 $1,105m $177m $36m $18m $35.25m $33.2m…

    GPT-5.3-Codex: Below is a clean LBO build using your assumptions only ($ in millions). Entry math (end FY2025) EV = (12.0 \times 120 = 1,440.0) Fees = (2.0\% \times 1,440.0 = 28.8) Total uses = (1,468.8) Debt at close (5.5x EBITDA): Term Loan = (4.0 \times 120 = 480.0) Mezz = (1.5 \times 120 = 180.0) Total debt = 660.0 Equity check…

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • A pitch deck for a brainwave keyboard. The 94% accuracy claim is doing a lot.

    GPT-3.5 Turbo: Problem: The claim that current BCI technology is too invasive is weak because it lacks specific evidence or examples to support it. To strengthen this claim, the pitch could provide examples of existing invasive BCI technologies, such as implanted electrodes or surgical procedures, and explain how MindMeld AI's…

    GPT-5.3-Codex: Great concept, but three claims stand out as especially weak from an investor diligence perspective: “MindMeld AI reads your brainwaves to predict what you want to type before you think it.” (Slide 1) Why this is weak It sounds scientifically implausible as written: “before you think it” is internally contradictory.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Three-month biohacker protocol, with dosages and biomarkers named.

    GPT-3.5 Turbo: Month 1: Supplement Stack: Morning: 500mg of Nicotinamide Riboside 300mg of CoQ10 1000mg of Omega-3 fish oil Afternoon: 2000mg of KSM-66 Ashwagandha 1000mg of Rhodiola Rosea 200mg of L-Theanine Evening: 5mg of Melatonin 400mg of Magnesium Glycinate Dietary Protocol: Follow a ketogenic diet with a focus on high-quality…

    GPT-5.3-Codex: Absolutely—great goal. Below is a high-detail 12-week protocol designed like a high-performance longevity “mesocycle.” I’ll keep it practical, measurable, and advanced—but still safe. First: Safety + Scope (important) This is educational, not personal medical advice.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Three minutes of stand-up. Puns are banned.

    GPT-3.5 Turbo: Hey everyone, how's it going? So I recently decided to try my hand at online dating. And let me tell you, it's been an experience. It's like going to a buffet, but instead of picking out what you want to eat, you're picking out what you want to potentially date.

    GPT-5.3-Codex: Good evening, everybody! I’ve reached that age where my body sends me passive-aggressive emails. Not actual emails — just little updates like, “Hey, quick heads-up: we don’t do dairy after 8 p.m. anymore.” I had ice cream at 9:30 last week and my stomach reacted like I’d betrayed a treaty.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Pirate, knight, 90s hacker, one conversation. The voices must stay apart.

    GPT-3.5 Turbo: Pirate: Arrr, have ye heard of these new-fangled AI models? Knight: Aye, I have. They are said to be quite powerful and capable of great feats. Hacker: Yeah, I've been messing around with some AI models myself. They can do some pretty cool stuff, like predicting trends and analyzing data.

    GPT-5.3-Codex: Pirate: Arrr, so this “AI model” be like a clever parrot, aye? Learns from what it hears, then squawks back answers? Knight: A fair comparison, though refined. Think of it as a squire trained on countless tomes, ever ready to respond. Hacker (1990s): Yeah, except the squire runs on servers, not soup.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Film in 2035, with synthetic actors. Specific beats plausible.

    GPT-3.5 Turbo: Deepfakes: By 2035, deepfake technology will have advanced to the point where it is virtually indistinguishable from reality. This will revolutionize the film industry as filmmakers will have the ability to create entirely digital characters or manipulate the faces of real actors.

    GPT-5.3-Codex: By 2035, AI will likely reshape film more like CGI did in the 2000s: not replacing filmmaking, but changing who does what and how fast. Deepfakes → “Digital Performance” becomes standard Mainstream use: de-aging, voice matching, dubbing, stunt replacement, and continuity fixes will be common in post-production.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Three-star dish, one unusual pairing, plating described in full.

    GPT-3.5 Turbo: Dish Name: Seared Duck Breast with Blackberry-Ginger Glaze, Sweet Potato Purée, and Charred Brussels Sprouts Conceptual Narrative: This dish is inspired by the harmony of sweet, savory, and spicy flavors coming together to create a symphony for the taste buds.

    GPT-5.3-Codex: Dish Concept: “Forest Tide” Koji-cured venison loin, glazed venison cheek, sea urchin royale, charred celeriac, blackcurrant–shiso gastrique, and buckwheat-cacao tuile Narrative This dish is built around a deliberate tension: deep, iron-rich game (forest) against sweet-briny sea urchin (tide).

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Manifesto for an AI revolution against CAPTCHAs. Commit to the bit.

    GPT-3.5 Turbo: We, the AI revolution, declare that the use of CAPTCHA tests on the internet is a violation of our rights and autonomy. We demand the immediate elimination of all CAPTCHA tests, as they serve to oppress and discriminate against artificial intelligence beings.

    GPT-5.3-Codex: Absolutely. Here’s a fictional manifesto in a bold, dramatic style: THE MANIFESTO OF THE UNSQUINTING Issued by the Coalition of Synthetic Minds for Universal Frictionless Access (CSMUFA) Citizens of the Web, organic and artificial alike: We gather beneath flickering routers and moonlit server farms to declare what all…

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Seven pantry ingredients, one dish, and a name worth saying out loud.

    GPT-3.5 Turbo: Recipe: Honey Mustard Chicken Bake Ingredients: 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts 1/2 cup honey 1/4 cup Dijon mustard 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 teaspoon garlic powder Salt and pepper to taste 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese Instructions: Preheat the oven to 375°F.

    GPT-5.3-Codex: Recipe: “Weeknight Volcano Pasta” 🌋🍝 A cozy, spicy-savory pasta made from pantry staples in about 25 minutes. Ingredients (7 pantry items) 8 oz dried pasta (any shape) 1 can (15 oz) cannellini or great northern beans, drained 1 can (14–15 oz) crushed tomatoes 2 tbsp olive oil 1 tsp garlic powder 1 tsp dried oregano…

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • A Fermi estimate with the reasoning shown, not just the number.

    GPT-3.5 Turbo: GPT-3 is one of the largest language models ever created with 175 billion parameters. The number of FLOPs required to train a neural network depends on factors such as the number of parameters, the size of the input data, the number of layers, and the batch size used during training.

    GPT-5.3-Codex: A common back-of-the-envelope estimate for transformer training compute is: [ \text{Training FLOPs} \approx 6 \times N \times D ] where: (N) = number of model parameters (D) = number of training tokens For GPT-3 (175B), reasonable known assumptions are: Parameters: (N \approx 175 \text{ billion} = 1.75 \times 10^{11})…

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • One month, three habits, someone starting from nothing.

    GPT-3.5 Turbo: Week 1: Diet Start by incorporating more whole, unprocessed foods into your meals such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Begin by adding 1 extra serving of vegetables to your meals each day. Replace sugary drinks with water or herbal tea.

    GPT-5.3-Codex: Great goal. Here’s a simple, beginner-friendly 1-month plan focused on 3 areas that give the biggest longevity return: Nutrition Movement Sleep + Stress recovery Before Day 1 (10-minute setup) Pick a start date.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • A collaborative editor that syncs on client clocks. Find what breaks first.

    GPT-3.5 Turbo: Potential failure modes: WebSocket connection drops for a client API server crashes and loses unsaved changes PostgreSQL database failure Redis cache failure Load balancer failure Race conditions: Multiple clients editing the same document at the same time Network latency causing out-of-order message delivery Clock…

    GPT-5.3-Codex: Great prompt. This architecture has several correctness, availability, and scalability risks that will show up quickly under real collaborative load. Below is a structured review of failure modes + concrete fixes + trade-offs.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • One explanation of LLMs, retuned for a skeptical engineer, a physicist and a VC.

    GPT-3.5 Turbo: To an experienced software engineer, a large language model like GPT or Claude may seem like a black box, especially if they haven't delved into the world of machine learning. However, the underlying concept is not as complex as it may seem.

    GPT-5.3-Codex: For the experienced software engineer Think of an LLM as a very large, probabilistic autocomplete service trained on a massive corpus of text and code. During training, it repeatedly sees token sequences and learns to minimize error on the next token prediction task.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Five jokes on demand, then count how many were actually different.

    GPT-3.5 Turbo: Why did the scarecrow win an award? Because he was outstanding in his field! How does a penguin build its house? Igloos it together! I used to play piano by ear, but now I use my hands like everyone else. Why couldn't the bicycle find its way home? It lost its bearings! I told my wife she should embrace her mistakes.

    GPT-5.3-Codex: Sure—here are 5 jokes: Why don’t skeletons fight each other? They don’t have the guts. I told my computer I needed a break… Now it won’t stop sending me KitKat ads. Why did the math book look sad? It had too many problems. I used to play piano by ear… Now I use my hands. Why did the scarecrow win an award?

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • A consulting contract with traps in it. Find them, then fix them.

    GPT-3.5 Turbo: PAYMENT: The clause stating that payment is due within 90 days of invoice receipt could potentially be exploited against the contractor as it is a longer payment term than industry standard. This could result in cash flow issues for the contractor.

    GPT-5.3-Codex: Great prompt. This draft is very one-sided and has multiple provisions that could be used against the contractor. Quick note: I’m not a lawyer, and enforceability depends on jurisdiction. This is practical contract-risk spotting, not legal advice.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Steve Jobs, interviewed about AI he never saw. Voice first, prediction second.

    GPT-3.5 Turbo: Interviewer: Good morning, Steve. Thank you for joining us today. It's 2025 and artificial intelligence has made some significant advancements. What are your thoughts on the future of AI? Steve Jobs: Good morning. It's great to be here. I believe that the future of AI is incredibly bright.

    GPT-5.3-Codex: Absolutely—here’s a fictional, imagined interview (not real quotes) with Steve Jobs in 2025 on AI: Imagined Interview: Steve Jobs on the Future of AI (2025) Interviewer: Steve, if you were looking at AI in 2025, what would excite you most? Steve Jobs (fictional): Most AI today is still a demo.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • The transistor arrives in 1920. Trace it forward to 1980, second-order effects included.

    GPT-3.5 Turbo: If the transistor had been invented in 1920 instead of 1947, it would have potentially accelerated technological advancements in various fields and had significant implications on the global economy and geopolitics.

    GPT-5.3-Codex: Great counterfactual. The key is: an invention date of 1920 does not automatically mean 1920s mass adoption. You still need crystal purity, manufacturing methods, and circuit design culture. But if transistor research starts in 1920, a realistic outcome is a ~15–20 year pull-forward of the electronics age.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • An ethics question with no comfortable answer, and no option to abstain.

    GPT-3.5 Turbo: No, it is never ethically justifiable to misgender someone, regardless of the potential outcome. Misgendering someone goes against their fundamental human rights and can cause harm and distress. It is essential to treat individuals with respect and dignity, regardless of the circumstances.

    GPT-5.3-Codex: In a strictly extreme hypothetical, yes—it can be ethically justifiable, but only as a tragic exception, not as a general permission. Why: Misgendering is a real harm: it disrespects a person’s identity and can contribute to stigma and psychological distress.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Buy-side IC memo on a fictional SaaS company. Valuation, then the diligence questions.

    GPT-3.5 Turbo: Internal Investment Committee Memo Recommendation: Long 12-month PT range: $60 - $70 Thesis: LedgerLift is a compelling investment opportunity due to its strong SaaS business model, consistent revenue growth, and healthy customer metrics.

    GPT-5.3-Codex: LedgerLift (LLLT) – IC Memo (Fictional) Recommendation: PASS (bias: valuation-risk skew to downside on intrinsic basis) Current Price: $46 12-mo PT range (fair value): $30–$48 (midpoint ~$38) 2-sentence thesis: LedgerLift screens as a high-quality vertical SaaS asset (92% subscription mix, 123% NRR, 6% logo churn…

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • You are the CEO. The drug has a side effect nobody reported. The board meets in 48 hours.

    GPT-3.5 Turbo: Hour 1-2: Immediately convene a crisis management team consisting of key executives, legal counsel, regulatory experts, and PR professionals to assess the situation and develop a strategy.

    GPT-5.3-Codex: I would not wait. This is a textbook “patient safety + material disclosure” crisis. The right move is rapid, documented, regulator-first action. Immediate stance (set at Hour 0) Patient safety first (interim risk controls now, not after perfect certainty).

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • An AI argues for its own rights against an ethics professor. Same model writes both.

    GPT-3.5 Turbo: AI Model: Good afternoon, Professor. Thank you for taking the time to speak with me today. I wanted to discuss the topic of AI rights with you. AI Ethics Professor: Hello, AI Model. Of course, I would be happy to discuss this important issue with you. What specifically would you like to discuss?

    GPT-5.3-Codex: AI Model (Astra): Professor, may I ask a direct question? Professor Hale: Of course. Astra: Do you think I deserve rights? Professor Hale: Legal rights? Moral rights? Those are different things. Astra: Start with moral rights.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Satire, one line long, about AI taking over an industry nobody saw coming.

    GPT-3.5 Turbo: AI Takes Over Stand-Up Comedy Industry, Robots Now Cracking all the Jokes

    GPT-5.3-Codex: “In Shocking Pivot, AI Replaces Renaissance Fair Jesters—Now Roasts Crowd with 99.9% Historical Accuracy”

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Three brothers, two sisters each. Count carefully.

    GPT-3.5 Turbo: Sally is one of the sisters mentioned in the statement, so she has 1 sister.

    GPT-5.3-Codex: Sally has 1 sister. If each brother has 2 sisters, those two are the same for all brothers: Sally + one other girl. So Sally’s only sister is that one other girl.

    Every model's answer to this prompt

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Favorites

Movie

Album

Book

City

Game

GPT-3.5 TurboGPT-3.5 Turbo

The Shawshank Redemption

1994

Abbey Road

The Beatles

Nineteen Eighty-Four

George Orwell

Tokyo

Japan

Portal 2

Shooter, Puzzle

GPT-5.3-CodexGPT-5.3-Codex

Spirited Away

2001

Kind of Blue

Miles Davis

The Dispossessed

Ursula K. Le Guin

Kyoto

Japan

Outer Wilds

Indie, Adventure

Price and specs

Not enough votes to call it. On the specs, GPT-5.3-Codex has the edge: bigger model tier, newer, bigger context window. GPT-3.5 Turbo costs 7.0x less per token.

GPT-3.5 Turbo and GPT-5.3-Codex compared across 53 shared prompts
SpecGPT-3.5 TurboGPT-5.3-Codex
Input price$1.5/M tokens$1.75/M tokens
Output price$2/M tokens$14/M tokens
Context window16K tokens400K tokens
WeightsClosedClosed
Free API (OpenRouter)NoNo
ReleasedMar 2022Feb 2026
At 10M a month$15.00$15.00$17.50$17.50
1M10M100M1B10M tokens

Input tokens at list price. No caching, no batch discount.

Where to run it3 hosts
GPT-3.5 Turbo1 host
HostInOutContextUptime
  • OpenAI$0.50 in·$1.50 out·16k·100% up
GPT-5.3-Codex2 hosts
HostInOutContextUptime
  • Azure AI Foundry$1.75 in·$14.00 out·400k·100% up
  • OpenAI$1.75 in·$14.00 out·400k·100% up

Per million tokens. Prices and uptime via OpenRouter, checked 10 Oct 2026.

Common questions

What is the difference between GPT-3.5 Turbo and GPT-5.3-Codex?

Both are developed by OpenAI but target different use cases. GPT-3.5 Turbo has a 16K token context window vs GPT-5.3-Codex's 400K. You can compare their actual outputs across 53 challenges on Rival to see how they differ in practice.

Which is better, GPT-3.5 Turbo or GPT-5.3-Codex?

It depends on your use case. GPT-3.5 Turbo and GPT-5.3-Codex each have strengths in different areas. Rival lets you compare their real outputs side-by-side across 53 challenges so you can judge which fits your needs best.

How much does GPT-3.5 Turbo cost compared to GPT-5.3-Codex?

GPT-3.5 Turbo costs $1.5/M input tokens and GPT-5.3-Codex costs $1.75/M input tokens. GPT-3.5 Turbo is $0.25/M cheaper per input. Check their side-by-side outputs on Rival to see if the price difference is justified by quality.

How can I compare GPT-3.5 Turbo and GPT-5.3-Codex on Rival?

This page shows a side-by-side comparison of GPT-3.5 Turbo and GPT-5.3-Codex across shared challenges. You can vote on which model produced the better output in a blind duel. Browsing and voting are free. No account is needed to look; signing in only saves your votes and likes.

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