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GPT-4.1 vs o3-mini

Compare OpenAI and OpenAI AI models

OpenAI
GPT-4.1
vs
OpenAI
o3-mini

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

GPT-4.1

Per Request:$0.006000
Daily:$0.60
Monthly:$18.00
Yearly:$219.00

o3-mini

Per Request:$0.003300
Daily:$0.33
Monthly:$9.90
Yearly:$120.45

Cost Differences

$0.002700
Per Request
$0.27
Daily
$8.10
Monthly
$98.55
Yearly

o3-mini costs less than GPT-4.1

Feature Comparison

FeatureGPT-4.1o3-mini
ProviderOpenAIOpenAI
Input Price$2.00/1M tokens$1.10/1M tokens
Output Price$8.00/1M tokens$4.40/1M tokens
Context Window200,000 tokens500,000 tokens
Max Output32,768 tokens65,536 tokens
Categoryflagshipreasoning
Capabilities
textvisioncode
textreasoningcode
Release Date4/14/20251/31/2025

GPT-4.1 vs o3-mini: Which Should You Choose?

Choosing between GPT-4.1 and o3-mini depends on your priorities: cost efficiency, context length, or raw capability. o3-mini is the more affordable option at $1.10/1M input tokens45% cheaper than GPT-4.1. Meanwhile, o3-mini offers a significantly larger context window at 500,000 tokens vs 200,000 for GPT-4.1.

These models target different tiers: GPT-4.1 is a flagship model while o3-mini is reasoning. This means they're optimized for different workloads. GPT-4.1 is built for complex tasks that require deeper reasoning, while o3-mini offers better value for routine operations.

Output costs matter too. GPT-4.1 charges $8.00/1M output tokens vs $4.40 for o3-mini. For generation-heavy workloads (content creation, code generation, summarization), output pricing often dominates your bill. o3-mini has the edge here at $4.40/1M output tokens.

Multimodal capabilities: GPT-4.1 supports vision (image inputs) while o3-mini is text-only. If your application needs image understanding, this narrows your choice.

Best Use Cases

Choose GPT-4.1 when:

  • • You're already using OpenAI's API ecosystem

Choose o3-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

Try Different Scenarios

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

GPT-4.1 (OpenAI)

o3-mini (OpenAI)

Start using GPT-4.1 today

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Start using o3-mini today

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, GPT-4.1 or o3-mini?
o3-mini is cheaper for input tokens at $1.10 per million tokens vs $2.00 for GPT-4.1 — that's 45% savings on input costs.
What is the context window difference between GPT-4.1 and o3-mini?
GPT-4.1 supports 200,000 tokens while o3-mini supports 500,000 tokens — a difference of 300,000 tokens in favor of o3-mini.
Which model is better for AI Chatbot?
Both models support text. For ai chatbot, o3-mini is the lower-cost option, while o3-mini offers a larger context window (500,000 vs 200,000 tokens). Choose o3-mini for budget sensitivity or o3-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 costs about $18.00/month and o3-mini costs about $9.90/month. Overall, o3-mini has lower combined input + output rates ($1.10 in, $4.40 out) vs GPT-4.1.

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