Cost Comparison (1000 input + 500 output tokens, 100 requests/day)
Codex Mini
GPT-4.1
Cost Differences
GPT-4.1 costs more than Codex Mini
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Codex Mini | GPT-4.1 |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | OpenAI | OpenAI |
| Input Price | $1.50/1M tokens | $2.00/1M tokens |
| Output Price | $6.00/1M tokens | $8.00/1M tokens |
| Context Window | 200,000 tokens | 200,000 tokens |
| Max Output | 32,768 tokens | 32,768 tokens |
| Category | efficient | flagship |
| Capabilities | textcodereasoning | textvisioncode |
| Release Date | 2/2/2026 | 4/14/2025 |
Codex Mini vs GPT-4.1: Which Should You Choose?
Choosing between Codex Mini and GPT-4.1 depends on your priorities: cost efficiency, context length, or raw capability. Codex Mini is the more affordable option at $1.50/1M input tokens — 25% cheaper than GPT-4.1.
These models target different tiers: Codex Mini is a efficient model while GPT-4.1 is flagship. This means they're optimized for different workloads. GPT-4.1 targets more demanding workloads, while Codex Mini provides a cost-effective option for everyday tasks.
Output costs matter too. Codex Mini charges $6.00/1M output tokens vs $8.00 for GPT-4.1. For generation-heavy workloads (content creation, code generation, summarization), output pricing often dominates your bill. Codex Mini has the edge here at $6.00/1M output tokens.
Multimodal capabilities: GPT-4.1 supports vision (image inputs) while Codex Mini is text-only. If your application needs image understanding, this narrows your choice.
Best Use Cases
Choose Codex Mini when:
- • Budget is a primary concern
- • You're already using OpenAI's API ecosystem
- • You're running high-volume, latency-sensitive workloads
Choose GPT-4.1 when:
- • You're already using OpenAI's API ecosystem
Try Different Scenarios
Use the calculator below to see how costs change with different usage patterns
Codex Mini (OpenAI)
GPT-4.1 (OpenAI)
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