GPT-4.1 vs o4-mini

Compare OpenAI and OpenAI AI models

OpenAI

GPT-4.1

OpenAI

o4-mini

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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

o4-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

o4-mini costs less than GPT-4.1

Feature Comparison

Feature	GPT-4.1	o4-mini
Provider	OpenAI	OpenAI
Input Price	$2.00/1M tokens	$1.10/1M tokens
Output Price	$8.00/1M tokens	$4.40/1M tokens
Context Window	200,000 tokens	2,000,000 tokens
Max Output	32,768 tokens	131,072 tokens
Category	flagship	reasoning
Capabilities	textvisioncode	textreasoningcode
Release Date	4/14/2025	4/16/2025

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

Choosing between GPT-4.1 and o4-mini depends on your priorities: cost efficiency, context length, or raw capability. o4-mini is the more affordable option at $1.10/1M input tokens — 45% cheaper than GPT-4.1. Meanwhile, o4-mini offers a significantly larger context window at 2,000,000 tokens vs 200,000 for GPT-4.1.

These models target different tiers: GPT-4.1 is a flagship model while o4-mini is reasoning. This means they're optimized for different workloads. GPT-4.1 is built for complex tasks that require deeper reasoning, while o4-mini offers better value for routine operations.

Output costs matter too. GPT-4.1 charges $8.00/1M output tokens vs $4.40 for o4-mini. For generation-heavy workloads (content creation, code generation, summarization), output pricing often dominates your bill. o4-mini has the edge here at $4.40/1M output tokens.

Multimodal capabilities: GPT-4.1 supports vision (image inputs) while o4-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 o4-mini when:

• Budget is a primary concern
• You need a larger context window (2,000,000 tokens)
• You need longer outputs (up to 131,072 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)

Cost Calculator

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o4-mini (OpenAI)

Cost Calculator

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

o4-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 o4-mini?▼

GPT-4.1 supports 200,000 tokens while o4-mini supports 2,000,000 tokens — a difference of 1,800,000 tokens in favor of o4-mini.

Which model is better for AI Chatbot?▼

Both models support text. For ai chatbot, o4-mini is the lower-cost option, while o4-mini offers a larger context window (2,000,000 vs 200,000 tokens). Choose o4-mini for budget sensitivity or o4-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 o4-mini costs about $9.90/month. Overall, o4-mini has lower combined input + output rates ($1.10 in, $4.40 out) vs GPT-4.1.