A legacy model only worth using if your pipeline depends on the text completion API.
42
Coding
48
Writing
28
Research
0
Images
58
Value
5
Long Context
Use this when
Legacy completion API workflows, structured text generation, and simple instruction-following tasks where the chat format is not required.
Skip this if
Avoid if you need multi-turn conversations, long document processing, strong reasoning, or are building any new application — modern alternatives offer far better quality at comparable cost.
Completion API support makes it uniquely suitable for legacy integrations and fine-tuning pipelines
Low latency for short, structured outputs like classifications or templated text
Cheaper than GPT-4o Mini for simple, high-volume completion tasks
Reliable instruction-following for well-defined, narrow tasks
Weaknesses
Tiny 4,095-token context window severely limits document processing and long conversations
Significantly behind modern models like GPT-4o Mini, Claude Haiku 3.5, and Gemini Flash on reasoning and nuanced writing
No native chat format support; unsuitable for multi-turn conversation applications
Monthly cost estimate
See what OpenAI: GPT-3.5 Turbo Instruct actually costs at your usage level
Input tokens / month1M
10k50M
Output tokens / month500k
10k25M
Input cost
$1.50
Output cost
$1.00
Total / month
$2.50
Based on OpenAI: GPT-3.5 Turbo Instruct API pricing: $1.5/1M input · $2/1M output. Real costs vary by provider discounts and caching. Check the provider for exact current rates.
Price History
OpenAI: GPT-3.5 Turbo Instruct pricing over time
→0% since Mar 27
2 data points · tracked daily since Mar 27, 2026
Ready to try it?
Start using OpenAI: GPT-3.5 Turbo Instruct
Legacy completion API workflows, structured text generation, and simple instruction-following tasks where the chat format is not required.. Start free — no card required.
GPT-3.5 Turbo is OpenAI's legacy fast and affordable chat model, optimized for dialogue and straightforward text tasks at low cost. It was the backbone of early ChatGPT and remains a go-to for high-volume, cost-sensitive deployments.
Verdict
A once-dominant budget model now outclassed by cheaper, smarter alternatives like GPT-4o mini.
Quality score
35%
Pricing
$0.50/1M in
$1.50/1M out
Speed
Very fast
Best for high-volume, low-complexity tasks like chatbots, classification, summarization, and simple q&a where cost matters more than cutting-edge quality.
Context
16k tokens
GPT-3.5 Turbo is still available via OpenAI API and supports fine-tuning, which keeps it relevant for teams with existing trained models. However, OpenAI has deprioritized its development in favor of the GPT-4o family. Not multimodal — text only.
BudgetLegacyFastHigh-volumeChatbot
Best for
High-volume, low-complexity tasks like chatbots, classification, summarization, and simple Q&A where cost matters more than cutting-edge quality.
OpenAI: GPT-3.5 Turbo Instruct is best for legacy completion api workflows, structured text generation, and simple instruction-following tasks where the chat format is not required.. It is a strong fit when that workflow matters more than the tradeoffs around balanced pricing and very fast speed.
When should I avoid OpenAI: GPT-3.5 Turbo Instruct?
Avoid if you need multi-turn conversations, long document processing, strong reasoning, or are building any new application — modern alternatives offer far better quality at comparable cost.
What is a cheaper alternative to OpenAI: GPT-3.5 Turbo Instruct?
Meta: Llama 3.1 8B Instruct is the lower-cost option to compare first when you want a similar workflow fit with less token spend.
What is a faster alternative to OpenAI: GPT-3.5 Turbo Instruct?
GPT-4o Mini is the better pick when response time matters more than maximum depth or premium quality.
Newsletter
Get notified when OpenAI: GPT-3.5 Turbo Instruct pricing changes
We track pricing daily. When this model drops or spikes, you'll know first.
No spam. Useful updates only. Affiliate disclosures always clearly labeled.
