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Cohere Embed v3vsCohere Embed v4

Cohere vs Cohere — Side-by-side model comparison

Cohere Embed v4 leads 2/5 categories

Head-to-Head Comparison

MetricCohere Embed v3Cohere Embed v4
Provider
Arena Rank
Context Window
512 tokens
128K
Input Pricing
$0.10/1M tokens/1M tokens
$0.12/1M tokens
Output Pricing
N/A (embeddings)/1M tokens
$0.12/1M tokens
Parameters
Undisclosed
Undisclosed
Open Source
No
No
Best For
Search, RAG, semantic similarity, clustering
Semantic search, RAG embeddings, document retrieval
Release Date
Nov 2, 2023
Mar 1, 2025

Cohere Embed v3

Cohere Embed v3 is one of the leading text embedding models, supporting over 100 languages with state-of-the-art retrieval performance. It produces dense vector representations of text that power semantic search, RAG pipelines, and classification systems. The model offers specialized embedding types for search queries vs documents, optimizing retrieval accuracy for enterprise applications.

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Cohere Embed v4

Cohere Embed v4 is Cohere's latest embedding model supporting multimodal inputs for the first time — processing both text and images into unified vector representations. It generates high-quality embeddings for semantic search, RAG pipelines, and clustering applications. The model supports 100+ languages and produces compact, efficient embeddings that work well with vector databases. It represents a significant upgrade over text-only embedding models for building modern search and retrieval systems.

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Key Differences: Cohere Embed v3 vs Cohere Embed v4

1

Cohere Embed v4 supports a larger context window (128K), allowing it to process longer documents in a single request.

C

When to use Cohere Embed v3

  • +Budget is a concern and you need cost efficiency
  • +Your use case involves search, rag, semantic similarity, clustering
View full Cohere Embed v3 specs →
C

When to use Cohere Embed v4

  • +Quality matters more than cost
  • +You need to process long documents (128K context)
  • +Your use case involves semantic search, rag embeddings, document retrieval
View full Cohere Embed v4 specs →

The Verdict

Cohere Embed v4 wins our head-to-head comparison with 2 out of 5 category wins. It's the stronger choice for semantic search, rag embeddings, document retrieval, though Cohere Embed v3 holds an edge in search, rag, semantic similarity, clustering. If cost is your primary concern, Cohere Embed v3 offers better value.

Last compared: March 2026 · Data sourced from public benchmarks and official pricing pages

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Cohere Embed v3 or Cohere Embed v4?
In our head-to-head comparison, Cohere Embed v4 leads in 2 out of 5 categories (arena rank, context window, input pricing, output pricing, and parameters). Cohere Embed v4 excels at semantic search, rag embeddings, document retrieval, while Cohere Embed v3 is better suited for search, rag, semantic similarity, clustering. The best choice depends on your specific requirements, budget, and use case.
How does Cohere Embed v3 pricing compare to Cohere Embed v4?
Cohere Embed v3 charges $0.10/1M tokens per 1M input tokens and N/A (embeddings) per 1M output tokens. Cohere Embed v4 charges $0.12 per 1M input tokens and $0.12 per 1M output tokens. Cohere Embed v3 is the more affordable option. For high-volume production workloads, the pricing difference can significantly impact total cost of ownership.
What is the context window difference between Cohere Embed v3 and Cohere Embed v4?
Cohere Embed v3 supports a 512 tokens token context window, while Cohere Embed v4 supports 128K tokens. Cohere Embed v4 can process longer documents, codebases, and conversations in a single request. Context window size matters most for tasks involving long documents, large codebases, or extended conversations.
Can I use Cohere Embed v3 or Cohere Embed v4 for free?
Cohere Embed v3 is a paid API model starting at $0.10/1M tokens per 1M input tokens. Cohere Embed v4 is a paid API model starting at $0.12 per 1M input tokens.
Which model has better benchmarks, Cohere Embed v3 or Cohere Embed v4?
Cohere Embed v3's arena rank is not yet available, while Cohere Embed v4's rank is not yet available. Note that benchmarks don't capture every use case — we recommend testing both models on your specific tasks.
Is Cohere Embed v3 or Cohere Embed v4 better for coding?
Cohere Embed v3's primary strength is search, rag, semantic similarity, clustering. Cohere Embed v4's primary strength is semantic search, rag embeddings, document retrieval. For coding specifically, arena rank and code-specific benchmarks are the best indicators of performance.