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Codex Mini vs GPT-5 mini

Compare OpenAI and OpenAI AI models

OpenAI
Codex Mini
vs
OpenAI
GPT-5 mini

Cost Comparison (1000 input + 500 output tokens, 100 requests/day)

Codex Mini

Per Request:$0.004500
Daily:$0.45
Monthly:$13.50
Yearly:$164.25

GPT-5 mini

Per Request:$0.001250
Daily:$0.125
Monthly:$3.75
Yearly:$45.625

Cost Differences

$0.003250
Per Request
$0.325
Daily
$9.75
Monthly
$118.625
Yearly

GPT-5 mini costs less than Codex Mini

Feature Comparison

FeatureCodex MiniGPT-5 mini
ProviderOpenAIOpenAI
Input Price$1.50/1M tokens$0.25/1M tokens
Output Price$6.00/1M tokens$2.00/1M tokens
Context Window200,000 tokens500,000 tokens
Max Output32,768 tokens65,536 tokens
Categoryefficientefficient
Capabilities
textcodereasoning
textvisioncode
Release Date2/2/20268/7/2025

Codex Mini vs GPT-5 mini: Which Should You Choose?

Choosing between Codex Mini and GPT-5 mini depends on your priorities: cost efficiency, context length, or raw capability. GPT-5 mini is the more affordable option at $0.25/1M input tokens83% cheaper than Codex Mini. Meanwhile, GPT-5 mini offers a significantly larger context window at 500,000 tokens vs 200,000 for Codex Mini.

Both models are in the efficient category, making this a direct head-to-head comparison. At scale — say 10,000 requests per day — the cost difference adds up: GPT-5 mini would save you roughly $975.00/month compared to Codex Mini. For startups and indie developers, that difference can be significant.

Output costs matter too. Codex Mini charges $6.00/1M output tokens vs $2.00 for GPT-5 mini. For generation-heavy workloads (content creation, code generation, summarization), output pricing often dominates your bill. GPT-5 mini has the edge here at $2.00/1M output tokens.

Multimodal capabilities: GPT-5 mini 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:

  • • You're already using OpenAI's API ecosystem
  • • You're running high-volume, latency-sensitive workloads

Choose GPT-5 mini when:

  • • Budget is a primary concern
  • • You need a larger context window (500,000 tokens)
  • • You need longer outputs (up to 65,536 tokens)
  • • You're already using OpenAI's API ecosystem
  • • You're running high-volume, latency-sensitive workloads

Try Different Scenarios

Use the calculator below to see how costs change with different usage patterns

Codex Mini (OpenAI)

GPT-5 mini (OpenAI)

Start using Codex Mini today

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Start using GPT-5 mini today

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, Codex Mini or GPT-5 mini?
GPT-5 mini is cheaper for input tokens at $0.25 per million tokens vs $1.50 for Codex Mini — that's 83% savings on input costs.
What is the context window difference between Codex Mini and GPT-5 mini?
Codex Mini supports 200,000 tokens while GPT-5 mini supports 500,000 tokens — a difference of 300,000 tokens in favor of GPT-5 mini.
Which model is better for AI Chatbot?
Both models support text. For ai chatbot, GPT-5 mini is the lower-cost option, while GPT-5 mini offers a larger context window (500,000 vs 200,000 tokens). Choose GPT-5 mini for budget sensitivity or GPT-5 mini for longer context tasks.
Which model has better overall pricing for heavy usage?
At 100 requests/day with 1,000 input and 500 output tokens each, Codex Mini costs about $13.50/month and GPT-5 mini costs about $3.75/month. Overall, GPT-5 mini has lower combined input + output rates ($0.25 in, $2.00 out) vs Codex Mini.

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