GPT-5 Mini vs o3
Complete pricing and performance comparison between OpenAI's GPT-5 Mini and OpenAI's o3.
Quick Verdict
Cheaper
GPT-5 Mini
8.0x cheaper input, 4.0x cheaper output
Larger Context
GPT-5 Mini
400K vs 200K
Higher Quality
GPT-5 Mini
Score: 41 vs 38
Faster
GPT-5 Mini
82 vs 79 tok/s
Pricing Comparison
| Spec | GPT-5 Mini | o3 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provider | OpenAI | OpenAI | |
| Input / 1M tokens | $0.25 | $2 | GPT-5 Mini is 88% more expensive |
| Output / 1M tokens | $2 | $8 | GPT-5 Mini is 75% more expensive |
| Context Window | 400K | 200K | 2x difference |
| Max Output | 16K | 100K |
Performance Benchmarks
| Metric | GPT-5 Mini | o3 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality Index | 41 | 38 | GPT-5 Mini |
| Output Speed | 82 tok/s | 79 tok/s | GPT-5 Mini |
| Time to First Token | 99.18s | 10.83s | o3 |
| Value (Quality/$) | 164.8 | 19.2 | 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-5 Mini | o3 | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
Single request 1K in / 300 out | $0.0008 | $0.0044 | GPT-5 Mini saves $0.0035 |
10 requests 10K in / 3K out | $0.0085 | $0.044 | GPT-5 Mini saves $0.035 |
100 requests 100K in / 30K out | $0.085 | $0.440 | GPT-5 Mini saves $0.355 |
1,000 requests 1M in / 300K out | $0.850 | $4.40 | GPT-5 Mini saves $3.55 |
10,000 requests 10M in / 3M out | $8.50 | $44.00 | GPT-5 Mini saves $35.50 |
1M requests/mo 1B in / 300M out | $850.00 | $4400.00 | GPT-5 Mini saves $3550.00 |
Pros & Cons
GPT-5 Mini Strengths
- +Cheaper input tokens
- +Cheaper output tokens
- +Larger context window (400K vs 200K)
- +Faster output (82 vs 79 tok/s)
- +Higher quality score (41 vs 38)
o3 Strengths
- +Higher max output tokens
- +Lower latency (faster first token)
When to Use Each Model
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
- →Real-time applications, chat, or autocomplete
Choose o3 for
- →Generating long-form content or detailed code
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, GPT-5 Mini or o3?
For input tokens, GPT-5 Mini is 8.0x cheaper at $0.25/1M tokens. For output tokens, GPT-5 Mini is 4.0x cheaper at $2/1M tokens. At typical usage (1M input + 300K output), GPT-5 Mini costs $0.850 vs o3 at $4.40.
What's the context window difference?
GPT-5 Mini supports 400K context (400,000 tokens), while o3 supports 200K (200,000 tokens). GPT-5 Mini can handle 2x more context in a single request.
Which model has better benchmarks?
Quality Index: GPT-5 Mini scores 41 vs o3 at 38. Speed: GPT-5 Mini generates 82 tok/s vs o3 at 79 tok/s. Time to first token: GPT-5 Mini at 99.18s vs o3 at 10.83s.
When should I choose GPT-5 Mini over o3?
Choose GPT-5 Mini when you need: Cheaper input tokens, Cheaper output tokens, Larger context window (400K vs 200K), Faster output (82 vs 79 tok/s), Higher quality score (41 vs 38). Choose o3 when you need: Higher max output tokens, Lower latency (faster first token).
How much would 10,000 API requests cost?
At 1K input + 300 output tokens per request (typical chat): GPT-5 Mini = $8.50, o3 = $44.00. At 10K input + 1K output per request (longer conversations): GPT-5 Mini = $45.00, o3 = $280.00.