# OpenAI vs Cohere

> OpenAI brings frontier models and hosted agent tools; Cohere brings retrieval models and private deployment for regulated buyers.

Canonical: https://www.subconscious.dev/compare/openai-vs-cohere · By The Subconscious Team · Updated September 30, 2026

## How they compare

OpenAI and Cohere sell to different priorities. OpenAI's lineup runs from GPT-6 Astra at $10 in and $50 out down to GPT-5.6 Luna at $0.20 in and $1.20 out, all with a 1.05M context window, and GPT-6 Astra posts frontier results on computer use and coding. Cohere's Command A lists at $2.50 in and $10 out with a 256K window, Command R7B costs $0.0375 in, and Command A+ has a 128K window with prices that are not published. Cohere itself notes Command A+ trails the latest open models on agentic coding, so for raw capability OpenAI leads clearly. OpenAI also bundles web search, file search, code execution and MCP in the Responses API.

Cohere wins on retrieval and control. Embed 4 covers text, images and PDFs with 128K context, and Rerank 4 prices per search, a mature stack that can sit in front of any generator, OpenAI's included. Cohere supports private VPC and fully on-prem deployment with fine-tuning inside that environment, plus open Apache 2.0 weights for Command A+. OpenAI is closed apart from gpt-oss and reaches customers through its API, Azure OpenAI and Bedrock. For a regulated bank that needs models inside its own network, Cohere fits. For customer-facing assistants or tool-heavy agents, OpenAI does.

## What each one does

### OpenAI

OpenAI runs the most widely adopted closed-model API. Its September 2026 lineup has GPT-6 Astra at the top for computer use, coding and long agentic runs, priced at $10 in and $50 out per million tokens. Below it sits the GPT-5.6 family: Sol for hard professional work, Terra as the balanced default, and Luna for high-volume jobs at $0.20 in and $1.20 out. All of them carry a 1.05M token context window with up to 128K output.

### Cohere

Cohere is a Toronto-based lab that sells models and platforms to banks, governments and large enterprises rather than consumers. Its generative line is the Command family. Command A+, released May 20, 2026, is a 218B-parameter mixture-of-experts model with 25B active, published under Apache 2.0 with a 128K context window, and it combines reasoning, vision, translation and tool use in one set of weights. Command A has a 256K window and lists at $2.50 in and $10 out per million tokens, while Command R7B costs $0.0375 in. June 2026 added North Mini Code, a 30B Apache 2.0 coding model, and the lineup also includes Aya multilingual models and Transcribe for speech.

## Which is best, and when

### Choose OpenAI for

- Frontier coding and computer use on GPT-6 Astra
- Hosted agent tools through the Responses API
- Contexts past 256K, up to 1.05M

### Choose Cohere for

- Running models fully on-prem or in a private VPC
- Rerank and multimodal embeddings for search
- Open Apache 2.0 weights to self-host

## At a glance

| Attribute | OpenAI | Cohere |
|---|---|---|
| Model access | Closed, plus open gpt-oss | Closed, plus open Command A+ |
| Flagship models | GPT-6 Astra, GPT-5.6 Sol, Terra, Luna | Command A+, Command A, Embed 4, Rerank 4 |
| Speed | Fast mode: up to 2.5x at 2x price | 375 tok/s on Command A+ W4A4, per Cohere |
| Price | $0.20–$10 in, $1.20–$50 out per 1M | $0.0375–$2.50 in, $0.15–$10 out per 1M |
| Customization | N/A | Enterprise fine-tuning, incl. private |
| Deployment | API, Azure OpenAI, Bedrock | API, Bedrock, Azure, OCI, VPC, on-prem |
| Long context | 1.05M; 2x input past 272K | 256K on Command A; 128K on A+ |

## FAQ

### What is the difference between OpenAI and Cohere?

OpenAI brings frontier models and hosted agent tools; Cohere brings retrieval models and private deployment for regulated buyers.

### When should I choose OpenAI over Cohere?

Frontier coding and computer use on GPT-6 Astra; Hosted agent tools through the Responses API; Contexts past 256K, up to 1.05M.

### When should I choose Cohere over OpenAI?

Running models fully on-prem or in a private VPC; Rerank and multimodal embeddings for search; Open Apache 2.0 weights to self-host.

### Is OpenAI or Cohere cheaper?

OpenAI: $0.20–$10 in, $1.20–$50 out per 1M. Cohere: $0.0375–$2.50 in, $0.15–$10 out per 1M. The cheaper choice depends on the model and workload.

### Which has more context, OpenAI or Cohere?

OpenAI: 1.05M; 2x input past 272K. Cohere: 256K on Command A; 128K on A+.

## Running long-horizon agents?

If your agents run past 200K tokens, compare both against Subconscious: [Subconscious vs OpenAI](https://www.subconscious.dev/compare/subconscious-vs-openai.md), [Subconscious vs Cohere](https://www.subconscious.dev/compare/subconscious-vs-cohere.md).

Full profiles: [OpenAI](https://www.subconscious.dev/providers/openai.md), [Cohere](https://www.subconscious.dev/providers/cohere.md).