GPT-4.1 mini vs o4-mini Deep Research

Compare OpenAI and OpenAI AI models

OpenAI

GPT-4.1 mini

OpenAI

o4-mini Deep Research

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

GPT-4.1 mini

Per Request:$0.001200

Daily:$0.12

Monthly:$3.60

Yearly:$43.80

o4-mini Deep Research

Per Request:$0.006000

Daily:$0.60

Monthly:$18.00

Yearly:$219.00

Cost Differences

+$0.004800

Per Request

+$0.48

Daily

+$14.40

Monthly

+$175.20

Yearly

o4-mini Deep Research costs more than GPT-4.1 mini

Feature Comparison

Feature	GPT-4.1 mini	o4-mini Deep Research
Provider	OpenAI	OpenAI
Input Price	$0.40/1M tokens	$2.00/1M tokens
Output Price	$1.60/1M tokens	$8.00/1M tokens
Context Window	200,000 tokens	200,000 tokens
Max Output	16,384 tokens	32,768 tokens
Category	efficient	reasoning
Capabilities	textvisioncode	textreasoningcode
Release Date	4/14/2025	6/26/2025

GPT-4.1 mini vs o4-mini Deep Research: Which Should You Choose?

Choosing between GPT-4.1 mini and o4-mini Deep Research 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 — 80% cheaper than o4-mini Deep Research.

These models target different tiers: GPT-4.1 mini is a efficient model while o4-mini Deep Research is reasoning. This means they're optimized for different workloads. o4-mini Deep Research targets more demanding workloads, while GPT-4.1 mini provides a cost-effective option for everyday tasks.

Output costs matter too. GPT-4.1 mini charges $1.60/1M output tokens vs $8.00 for o4-mini Deep Research. 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: GPT-4.1 mini supports vision (image inputs) while o4-mini Deep Research is text-only. If your application needs image understanding, this narrows your choice.

Best Use Cases

Choose GPT-4.1 mini when:

• Budget is a primary concern
• You're already using OpenAI's API ecosystem
• You're running high-volume, latency-sensitive workloads

Choose o4-mini Deep Research when:

• You need longer outputs (up to 32,768 tokens)
• You're already using OpenAI's API ecosystem

Try Different Scenarios

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

GPT-4.1 mini (OpenAI)

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o4-mini Deep Research (OpenAI)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, GPT-4.1 mini or o4-mini Deep Research?▼

GPT-4.1 mini is cheaper for input tokens at $0.40 per million tokens vs $2.00 for o4-mini Deep Research — that's 80% savings on input costs.

What is the context window difference between GPT-4.1 mini and o4-mini Deep Research?▼

GPT-4.1 mini supports 200,000 tokens while o4-mini Deep Research supports 200,000 tokens — a difference of 0 tokens in favor of GPT-4.1 mini.

Which model is better for AI Chatbot?▼

Both models support text. For ai chatbot, GPT-4.1 mini is the lower-cost option, while GPT-4.1 mini offers a larger context window (200,000 vs 200,000 tokens). Choose GPT-4.1 mini for budget sensitivity or GPT-4.1 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, GPT-4.1 mini costs about $3.60/month and o4-mini Deep Research costs about $18.00/month. Overall, GPT-4.1 mini has lower combined input + output rates ($0.40 in, $1.60 out) vs o4-mini Deep Research.