GPT-4o vs GPT-5 Mini
Complete pricing and performance comparison between OpenAI's GPT-4o and OpenAI's GPT-5 Mini.
Quick Verdict
Cheaper
GPT-5 Mini
10.0x cheaper input, 5.0x cheaper output
Larger Context
GPT-5 Mini
400K vs 128K
Higher Quality
GPT-5 Mini
Score: 41 vs 17
Faster
GPT-4o
135 vs 82 tok/s
Pricing Comparison
| Spec | GPT-4o | GPT-5 Mini | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provider | OpenAI | OpenAI | |
| Input / 1M tokens | $2.5 | $0.25 | GPT-5 Mini is 90% more expensive |
| Output / 1M tokens | $10 | $2 | GPT-5 Mini is 80% more expensive |
| Context Window | 128K | 400K | 3x difference |
| Max Output | 16K | 16K |
Performance Benchmarks
| Metric | GPT-4o | GPT-5 Mini | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality Index | 17 | 41 | GPT-5 Mini |
| Output Speed | 135 tok/s | 82 tok/s | GPT-4o |
| Time to First Token | 0.53s | 99.18s | GPT-4o |
| Value (Quality/$) | 6.9 | 164.8 | 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-5 Mini | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
Single request 1K in / 300 out | $0.0055 | $0.0008 | GPT-5 Mini saves $0.0046 |
10 requests 10K in / 3K out | $0.055 | $0.0085 | GPT-5 Mini saves $0.046 |
100 requests 100K in / 30K out | $0.550 | $0.085 | GPT-5 Mini saves $0.465 |
1,000 requests 1M in / 300K out | $5.50 | $0.850 | GPT-5 Mini saves $4.65 |
10,000 requests 10M in / 3M out | $55.00 | $8.50 | GPT-5 Mini saves $46.50 |
1M requests/mo 1B in / 300M out | $5500.00 | $850.00 | GPT-5 Mini saves $4650.00 |
Pros & Cons
GPT-4o Strengths
- +Faster output (135 vs 82 tok/s)
- +Lower latency (faster first token)
GPT-5 Mini Strengths
- +Cheaper input tokens
- +Cheaper output tokens
- +Larger context window (400K vs 128K)
- +Higher quality score (41 vs 17)
When to Use Each Model
Choose GPT-4o for
- →Real-time applications, chat, or autocomplete
Choose GPT-5 Mini for
- →Budget-conscious projects where cost is the primary factor
- →Long documents, large codebases, or multi-turn conversations
- →Tasks requiring maximum accuracy and reasoning
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, GPT-4o or GPT-5 Mini?
For input tokens, GPT-5 Mini is 10.0x cheaper at $0.25/1M tokens. For output tokens, GPT-5 Mini is 5.0x cheaper at $2/1M tokens. At typical usage (1M input + 300K output), GPT-4o costs $5.50 vs GPT-5 Mini at $0.850.
What's the context window difference?
GPT-4o supports 128K context (128,000 tokens), while GPT-5 Mini supports 400K (400,000 tokens). GPT-5 Mini can handle 3x more context in a single request.
Which model has better benchmarks?
Quality Index: GPT-4o scores 17 vs GPT-5 Mini at 41. Speed: GPT-4o generates 135 tok/s vs GPT-5 Mini at 82 tok/s. Time to first token: GPT-4o at 0.53s vs GPT-5 Mini at 99.18s.
When should I choose GPT-4o over GPT-5 Mini?
Choose GPT-4o when you need: Faster output (135 vs 82 tok/s), Lower latency (faster first token). Choose GPT-5 Mini when you need: Cheaper input tokens, Cheaper output tokens, Larger context window (400K vs 128K), Higher quality score (41 vs 17).
How much would 10,000 API requests cost?
At 1K input + 300 output tokens per request (typical chat): GPT-4o = $55.00, GPT-5 Mini = $8.50. At 10K input + 1K output per request (longer conversations): GPT-4o = $350.00, GPT-5 Mini = $45.00.