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Cohere Embed v4vsCohere Embed v3

Cohere vs Cohere — Side-by-side model comparison

Cohere Embed v4 leads 2/5 categories

Head-to-Head Comparison

MetricCohere Embed v4Cohere Embed v3
Provider
Arena Rank
Context Window
128K
512 tokens
Input Pricing
$0.12/1M tokens
$0.10/1M tokens/1M tokens
Output Pricing
$0.12/1M tokens
N/A (embeddings)/1M tokens
Parameters
Undisclosed
Undisclosed
Open Source
No
No
Best For
Semantic search, RAG embeddings, document retrieval
Search, RAG, semantic similarity, clustering
Release Date
Mar 1, 2025
Nov 2, 2023

Cohere Embed v4

Cohere Embed v4, developed by Cohere, is the first multimodal embedding model in Cohere's lineup, processing both text and images into unified 128K-context vector representations. The model generates embeddings for semantic search, RAG pipelines, document retrieval, and visual search applications. Supporting 100+ languages, Embed v4 produces compact, efficient vectors optimized for modern vector databases. Its multimodal capability enables searching across mixed document types containing both text and visual elements. Priced at $0.12 per million tokens, it offers affordable embedding generation for production applications. The model represents a significant upgrade over text-only Embed v3, enabling unified search across document types. It is particularly valuable for enterprises with heterogeneous content including PDFs, presentations, and image-heavy documents that require combined text and visual understanding.

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Cohere Embed v3

Cohere Embed v3, developed by Cohere, is an embedding model with a 512-token input limit designed for semantic search, retrieval-augmented generation, and clustering applications. The model generates dense vector representations of text that capture semantic meaning, enabling similarity-based search across document collections. Embed v3 supports 100+ languages and produces compact embeddings optimized for vector database storage and retrieval. It outperforms previous generations on the MTEB benchmark across multiple retrieval and classification tasks. Priced at $0.10 per million tokens, it offers cost-effective embedding generation for production search pipelines. The model serves as the foundation for enterprise search systems, recommendation engines, and RAG architectures. Embed v3 remains widely deployed despite the release of v4, due to its mature ecosystem of integrations and proven production reliability.

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Key Differences: Cohere Embed v4 vs Cohere Embed v3

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 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 →
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 →

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: April 2026 · Data sourced from public benchmarks and official pricing pages

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Cohere Embed v4 or Cohere Embed v3?
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 v4 pricing compare to Cohere Embed v3?
Cohere Embed v4 charges $0.12 per 1M input tokens and $0.12 per 1M output tokens. Cohere Embed v3 charges $0.10/1M tokens per 1M input tokens and N/A (embeddings) 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 v4 and Cohere Embed v3?
Cohere Embed v4 supports a 128K token context window, while Cohere Embed v3 supports 512 tokens 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 v4 or Cohere Embed v3 for free?
Cohere Embed v4 is a paid API model starting at $0.12 per 1M input tokens. Cohere Embed v3 is a paid API model starting at $0.10/1M tokens per 1M input tokens.
Which model has better benchmarks, Cohere Embed v4 or Cohere Embed v3?
Cohere Embed v4's arena rank is not yet available, while Cohere Embed v3'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 v4 or Cohere Embed v3 better for coding?
Cohere Embed v4's primary strength is semantic search, rag embeddings, document retrieval. Cohere Embed v3's primary strength is search, rag, semantic similarity, clustering. For coding specifically, arena rank and code-specific benchmarks are the best indicators of performance.