GPT-5 Mini vs o4 Mini
Complete pricing and performance comparison between OpenAI's GPT-5 Mini and OpenAI's o4 Mini.
Quick Verdict
Cheaper
GPT-5 Mini
4.4x cheaper input, 2.2x cheaper output
Larger Context
GPT-5 Mini
400K vs 200K
Higher Quality
GPT-5 Mini
Score: 41 vs 33
Faster
o4 Mini
140 vs 82 tok/s
Pricing Comparison
| Spec | GPT-5 Mini | o4 Mini | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provider | OpenAI | OpenAI | |
| Input / 1M tokens | $0.25 | $1.1 | GPT-5 Mini is 77% more expensive |
| Output / 1M tokens | $2 | $4.4 | GPT-5 Mini is 55% more expensive |
| Context Window | 400K | 200K | 2x difference |
| Max Output | 16K | 100K |
Performance Benchmarks
| Metric | GPT-5 Mini | o4 Mini | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality Index | 41 | 33 | GPT-5 Mini |
| Output Speed | 82 tok/s | 140 tok/s | o4 Mini |
| Time to First Token | 99.18s | 32.98s | o4 Mini |
| Value (Quality/$) | 164.8 | 30.1 | 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 | o4 Mini | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
Single request 1K in / 300 out | $0.0008 | $0.0024 | GPT-5 Mini saves $0.0016 |
10 requests 10K in / 3K out | $0.0085 | $0.024 | GPT-5 Mini saves $0.016 |
100 requests 100K in / 30K out | $0.085 | $0.242 | GPT-5 Mini saves $0.157 |
1,000 requests 1M in / 300K out | $0.850 | $2.42 | GPT-5 Mini saves $1.57 |
10,000 requests 10M in / 3M out | $8.50 | $24.20 | GPT-5 Mini saves $15.70 |
1M requests/mo 1B in / 300M out | $850.00 | $2420.00 | GPT-5 Mini saves $1570.00 |
Pros & Cons
GPT-5 Mini Strengths
- +Cheaper input tokens
- +Cheaper output tokens
- +Larger context window (400K vs 200K)
- +Higher quality score (41 vs 33)
o4 Mini Strengths
- +Higher max output tokens
- +Faster output (140 vs 82 tok/s)
- +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
Choose o4 Mini for
- →Generating long-form content or detailed code
- →Real-time applications, chat, or autocomplete
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, GPT-5 Mini or o4 Mini?
For input tokens, GPT-5 Mini is 4.4x cheaper at $0.25/1M tokens. For output tokens, GPT-5 Mini is 2.2x cheaper at $2/1M tokens. At typical usage (1M input + 300K output), GPT-5 Mini costs $0.850 vs o4 Mini at $2.42.
What's the context window difference?
GPT-5 Mini supports 400K context (400,000 tokens), while o4 Mini 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 o4 Mini at 33. Speed: GPT-5 Mini generates 82 tok/s vs o4 Mini at 140 tok/s. Time to first token: GPT-5 Mini at 99.18s vs o4 Mini at 32.98s.
When should I choose GPT-5 Mini over o4 Mini?
Choose GPT-5 Mini when you need: Cheaper input tokens, Cheaper output tokens, Larger context window (400K vs 200K), Higher quality score (41 vs 33). Choose o4 Mini when you need: Higher max output tokens, Faster output (140 vs 82 tok/s), 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, o4 Mini = $24.20. At 10K input + 1K output per request (longer conversations): GPT-5 Mini = $45.00, o4 Mini = $154.00.