GPT-4.1 mini vs GPT-5 mini
Compare OpenAI and OpenAI AI models
Cost Comparison (1000 input + 500 output tokens, 100 requests/day)
GPT-4.1 mini
GPT-5 mini
Cost Differences
GPT-5 mini costs more than GPT-4.1 mini
Feature Comparison
| Feature | GPT-4.1 mini | GPT-5 mini |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | OpenAI | OpenAI |
| Input Price | $0.40/1M tokens | $0.25/1M tokens |
| Output Price | $1.60/1M tokens | $2.00/1M tokens |
| Context Window | 200,000 tokens | 500,000 tokens |
| Max Output | 16,384 tokens | 65,536 tokens |
| Category | efficient | efficient |
| Capabilities | textvisioncode | textvisioncode |
| Release Date | 4/14/2025 | 8/7/2025 |
GPT-4.1 mini vs GPT-5 mini: Which Should You Choose?
Choosing between GPT-4.1 mini and GPT-5 mini depends on your priorities: cost efficiency, context length, or raw capability. GPT-4.1 mini is the more affordable option at $0.40/1M input tokens. Meanwhile, GPT-5 mini offers a significantly larger context window at 500,000 tokens vs 200,000 for GPT-4.1 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-4.1 mini would save you roughly $15.00/month compared to GPT-5 mini. For startups and indie developers, that difference can be significant.
Output costs matter too. GPT-4.1 mini charges $1.60/1M 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-4.1 mini has the edge here at $1.60/1M output tokens.
Multimodal capabilities: Both models support vision (image understanding), so you can send images alongside text prompts with either option.
Best Use Cases
Choose GPT-4.1 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
GPT-4.1 mini (OpenAI)
GPT-5 mini (OpenAI)
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