GPT-4.1 vs o3
Pricing verdict: GPT-4.1 vs o3: pricing is a tie at $2.00/M input and $8.00/M output. The real choice is context: o3 is better for long-context tasks (1,000,000 tokens vs 200,000).
Direct answer: pricing is a tie. Choose o3 for the larger 1M context window, or pick GPT-4.1 if 200K is already enough for your workload.
Compare API pricing, input and output token costs, context windows, and monthly estimates on one page so you can pick the right model fast.
Cost Comparison (1000 input + 500 output tokens, 100 requests/day)
GPT-4.1
o3
Cost Differences
Both models cost the same at the default workload.
Quick Recommendation
Direct API pricing is a tie at the default workload: both land around $18.00/month. Pick o3 if you need the larger 1M context window; otherwise choose the model that better fits your workflow.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | GPT-4.1 | o3 |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | OpenAI | OpenAI |
| Input Price | $2.00/1M tokens | $2.00/1M tokens |
| Output Price | $8.00/1M tokens | $8.00/1M tokens |
| Context Window | 200,000 tokens | 1,000,000 tokens |
| Max Output | 32,768 tokens | 131,072 tokens |
| Category | flagship | reasoning |
| Capabilities | textvisioncode | textreasoningvisioncode |
| Release Date | 4/14/2025 | 4/16/2025 |
GPT-4.1 vs o3: Which Should You Choose?
Choosing between GPT-4.1 and o3 depends on your priorities: cost efficiency, context length, or raw capability. Both models cost the same on input and output tokens, so raw price is a tie. Meanwhile, o3 offers a significantly larger context window at 1,000,000 tokens vs 200,000 for GPT-4.1.
These models target different tiers: GPT-4.1 is a flagship model while o3 is reasoning. This means they're optimized for different workloads. GPT-4.1 is built for complex tasks that require deeper reasoning, while o3 offers better value for routine operations.
Output costs matter too. GPT-4.1 charges $8.00/1M output tokens vs $8.00 for o3.
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 when:
- • You're already using OpenAI's API ecosystem
Choose o3 when:
- • You need a larger context window (1,000,000 tokens)
- • You need more capabilities (reasoning)
- • You need longer outputs (up to 131,072 tokens)
- • You're already using OpenAI's API ecosystem
Pros and Caveats at a Glance
GPT-4.1
- • Input pricing: $2.00/M tokens
- • Output pricing: $8.00/M tokens
- • Context window: 200,000 tokens
- • Max output: 32,768 tokens
Watch out for
- • Smaller context window than o3
o3
- • Input pricing: $2.00/M tokens
- • Output pricing: $8.00/M tokens
- • Context window: 1,000,000 tokens
- • Max output: 131,072 tokens
Watch out for
- • Trade-offs are minor in this matchup.
Try Different Scenarios
Use the calculator below to see how costs change with different usage patterns
GPT-4.1 (OpenAI)
o3 (OpenAI)
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