LightweightMicrosoft

Phi-4

Phi-4 is Microsoft's lightweight language model designed for efficient text generation with a 16K token context window.

Context 16K
Tier Lightweight
Input from
$0.065 / 1M tokens
across 2 providers
Compare Prices

API Pricing

Cheapest on OpenRouter — 4% below avg
ProviderInput / 1MOutput / 1MSpeedTTFTUpdated
OpenRouter logo
OpenRouter
$0.065$0.14016.7 t/s359ms4/14/2026
Deep Infra logo
Deep Infra
$0.070$0.14016.7 t/s359ms4/4/2026

Prices updated daily. Last check: 4/14/2026

Model Details

General

Creator
Microsoft
Family
Phi
Tier
Lightweight
Context Window
16K
Modalities
Text

Capabilities

Tool Calling
No
Open Source
No

Strengths & Limitations

  • Fast inference speed at 17.24 output tokens per second
  • Quick response initiation with 354ms time to first token
  • Lightweight architecture for efficient deployment
  • 16K token context window supports moderate-length conversations
  • Part of Microsoft's established Phi model family
  • Optimized for text generation tasks
  • No tool calling or function execution support
  • Text-only modality - no image or multimodal input
  • Proprietary model with no open source access
  • Smaller context window than flagship models
  • Limited to lightweight tier capabilities

Key Features

•16,384 token context window
•Text input and output processing
•Streaming response generation
•Microsoft Azure integration
•Lightweight model architecture
•Fast inference optimization

About Phi-4

Phi-4 is Microsoft's lightweight language model in the Phi family, positioned as an efficient option for text-based applications. As a lightweight tier model, it offers a balance between capability and computational efficiency compared to larger flagship models in Microsoft's lineup. The model supports text-only input and output with a 16,384 token context window. Phi-4 delivers 17.24 output tokens per second with a time to first token of 354 milliseconds according to Artificial Analysis benchmarks. The model does not include tool calling capabilities and is available as a proprietary offering rather than open source. Phi-4 serves applications where computational efficiency is prioritized alongside reasonable language understanding capabilities. It competes with other lightweight models in scenarios requiring faster inference speeds and lower resource consumption than flagship alternatives.

Common Use Cases

Phi-4 is suited for applications requiring efficient text processing where speed and resource efficiency are priorities over maximum capability. This includes chatbots with moderate complexity requirements, content generation for blogs or marketing copy, text summarization of shorter documents, and educational applications where quick responses enhance user experience. The model's lightweight nature makes it appropriate for scenarios with high-volume requests or resource-constrained environments where deploying larger flagship models would be impractical or costly.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Phi-4 cost per million tokens?

Phi-4 pricing varies by provider and pricing type. Check the pricing table above for current rates across all providers offering this model.

What is Phi-4 best used for?

Phi-4 excels at efficient text generation tasks including chatbots, content creation, and text summarization where fast response times and resource efficiency are important. Its lightweight design makes it suitable for high-volume applications or environments with computational constraints.

Does Phi-4 support tool calling or multimodal input?

No, Phi-4 is a text-only model that does not support tool calling, function execution, or multimodal inputs like images. It is focused on efficient text processing and generation tasks.