GPT-4o vs GPT-4o Mini
Complete pricing and performance comparison between OpenAI's GPT-4o and OpenAI's GPT-4o Mini.
Quick Verdict
Cheaper
GPT-4o Mini
16.7x cheaper input, 16.7x cheaper output
Larger Context
GPT-4o
128K vs 128K
Higher Quality
GPT-4o
Score: 17 vs 13
Faster
GPT-4o
135 vs 61 tok/s
Pricing Comparison
| Spec | GPT-4o | GPT-4o Mini | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provider | OpenAI | OpenAI | |
| Input / 1M tokens | $2.5 | $0.15 | GPT-4o Mini is 94% more expensive |
| Output / 1M tokens | $10 | $0.6 | GPT-4o Mini is 94% more expensive |
| Context Window | 128K | 128K | Same |
| Max Output | 16K | 16K |
Performance Benchmarks
| Metric | GPT-4o | GPT-4o Mini | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality Index | 17 | 13 | GPT-4o |
| Output Speed | 135 tok/s | 61 tok/s | GPT-4o |
| Time to First Token | 0.53s | 0.58s | GPT-4o |
| Value (Quality/$) | 6.9 | 84.0 | Higher = better value |
Benchmark data from Artificial Analysis. Quality Index is a composite score across reasoning, coding, and knowledge tasks.
Cost at Scale
Estimated cost at different usage levels (3:1 input-to-output token ratio, typical for chat).
| Usage | GPT-4o | GPT-4o Mini | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
Single request 1K in / 300 out | $0.0055 | $0.0003 | GPT-4o Mini saves $0.0052 |
10 requests 10K in / 3K out | $0.055 | $0.0033 | GPT-4o Mini saves $0.052 |
100 requests 100K in / 30K out | $0.550 | $0.033 | GPT-4o Mini saves $0.517 |
1,000 requests 1M in / 300K out | $5.50 | $0.330 | GPT-4o Mini saves $5.17 |
10,000 requests 10M in / 3M out | $55.00 | $3.30 | GPT-4o Mini saves $51.70 |
1M requests/mo 1B in / 300M out | $5500.00 | $330.00 | GPT-4o Mini saves $5170.00 |
Pros & Cons
GPT-4o Strengths
- +Faster output (135 vs 61 tok/s)
- +Higher quality score (17 vs 13)
- +Lower latency (faster first token)
GPT-4o Mini Strengths
- +Cheaper input tokens
- +Cheaper output tokens
When to Use Each Model
Choose GPT-4o for
- →Tasks requiring maximum accuracy and reasoning
- →Real-time applications, chat, or autocomplete
Choose GPT-4o Mini for
- →Budget-conscious projects where cost is the primary factor
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, GPT-4o or GPT-4o Mini?
For input tokens, GPT-4o Mini is 16.7x cheaper at $0.15/1M tokens. For output tokens, GPT-4o Mini is 16.7x cheaper at $0.6/1M tokens. At typical usage (1M input + 300K output), GPT-4o costs $5.50 vs GPT-4o Mini at $0.330.
What's the context window difference?
GPT-4o supports 128K context (128,000 tokens), while GPT-4o Mini supports 128K (128,000 tokens). GPT-4o Mini can handle 1x more context in a single request.
Which model has better benchmarks?
Quality Index: GPT-4o scores 17 vs GPT-4o Mini at 13. Speed: GPT-4o generates 135 tok/s vs GPT-4o Mini at 61 tok/s. Time to first token: GPT-4o at 0.53s vs GPT-4o Mini at 0.58s.
When should I choose GPT-4o over GPT-4o Mini?
Choose GPT-4o when you need: Faster output (135 vs 61 tok/s), Higher quality score (17 vs 13), Lower latency (faster first token). Choose GPT-4o Mini when you need: Cheaper input tokens, Cheaper output tokens.
How much would 10,000 API requests cost?
At 1K input + 300 output tokens per request (typical chat): GPT-4o = $55.00, GPT-4o Mini = $3.30. At 10K input + 1K output per request (longer conversations): GPT-4o = $350.00, GPT-4o Mini = $21.00.