Skip to main content

GPT-4 Turbo vs GPT-5 mini

Compare OpenAI and OpenAI AI models

OpenAI
GPT-4 Turbo
vs
OpenAI
GPT-5 mini

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

GPT-4 Turbo

Per Request:$0.025
Daily:$2.50
Monthly:$75.00
Yearly:$912.50

GPT-5 mini

Per Request:$0.001250
Daily:$0.125
Monthly:$3.75
Yearly:$45.625

Cost Differences

$0.02375
Per Request
$2.375
Daily
$71.25
Monthly
$866.875
Yearly

GPT-5 mini costs less than GPT-4 Turbo

Feature Comparison

FeatureGPT-4 TurboGPT-5 mini
ProviderOpenAIOpenAI
Input Price$10.00/1M tokens$0.25/1M tokens
Output Price$30.00/1M tokens$2.00/1M tokens
Context Window128,000 tokens500,000 tokens
Max Output4,096 tokens65,536 tokens
Categoryflagshipefficient
Capabilities
textvisioncode
textvisioncode
Release Date4/9/20248/7/2025

GPT-4 Turbo vs GPT-5 mini: Which Should You Choose?

Choosing between GPT-4 Turbo and GPT-5 mini depends on your priorities: cost efficiency, context length, or raw capability. GPT-5 mini is the more affordable option at $0.25/1M input tokens98% cheaper than GPT-4 Turbo. Meanwhile, GPT-5 mini offers a significantly larger context window at 500,000 tokens vs 128,000 for GPT-4 Turbo.

These models target different tiers: GPT-4 Turbo is a flagship model while GPT-5 mini is efficient. This means they're optimized for different workloads. GPT-4 Turbo is built for complex tasks that require deeper reasoning, while GPT-5 mini offers better value for routine operations.

Output costs matter too. GPT-4 Turbo charges $30.00/1M 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-5 mini has the edge here at $2.00/1M 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 Turbo when:

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

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 Turbo (OpenAI)

GPT-5 mini (OpenAI)

Start using GPT-4 Turbo today

Sign Up for OpenAI

Start using GPT-5 mini today

Sign Up for OpenAI

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, GPT-4 Turbo or GPT-5 mini?
GPT-5 mini is cheaper for input tokens at $0.25 per million tokens vs $10.00 for GPT-4 Turbo — that's 98% savings on input costs.
What is the context window difference between GPT-4 Turbo and GPT-5 mini?
GPT-4 Turbo supports 128,000 tokens while GPT-5 mini supports 500,000 tokens — a difference of 372,000 tokens in favor of GPT-5 mini.
Which model is better for AI Chatbot?
Both models support text. For ai chatbot, GPT-5 mini is the lower-cost option, while GPT-5 mini offers a larger context window (500,000 vs 128,000 tokens). Choose GPT-5 mini for budget sensitivity or GPT-5 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 Turbo costs about $75.00/month and GPT-5 mini costs about $3.75/month. Overall, GPT-5 mini has lower combined input + output rates ($0.25 in, $2.00 out) vs GPT-4 Turbo.

Related Comparisons

Related Articles