Cost Comparison (1000 input + 500 output tokens, 100 requests/day)
GPT-4o mini
GPT-5
Cost Differences
GPT-5 costs more than GPT-4o mini
Feature Comparison
| Feature | GPT-4o mini | GPT-5 |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | OpenAI | OpenAI |
| Input Price | $0.15/1M tokens | $1.25/1M tokens |
| Output Price | $0.60/1M tokens | $10.00/1M tokens |
| Context Window | 128,000 tokens | 1,000,000 tokens |
| Max Output | 16,384 tokens | 131,072 tokens |
| Category | efficient | flagship |
| Capabilities | textvision | textvisionaudiocode |
| Release Date | 7/18/2024 | 8/7/2025 |
GPT-4o mini vs GPT-5: Which Should You Choose?
Choosing between GPT-4o mini and GPT-5 depends on your priorities: cost efficiency, context length, or raw capability. GPT-4o mini is the more affordable option at $0.15/1M input tokens — 88% cheaper than GPT-5. Meanwhile, GPT-5 offers a significantly larger context window at 1,000,000 tokens vs 128,000 for GPT-4o mini.
These models target different tiers: GPT-4o mini is a efficient model while GPT-5 is flagship. This means they're optimized for different workloads. GPT-5 targets more demanding workloads, while GPT-4o mini provides a cost-effective option for everyday tasks.
Output costs matter too. GPT-4o mini charges $0.60/1M output tokens vs $10.00 for GPT-5. For generation-heavy workloads (content creation, code generation, summarization), output pricing often dominates your bill. GPT-4o mini has the edge here at $0.60/1M 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-4o mini when:
- • Budget is a primary concern
- • You're already using OpenAI's API ecosystem
- • You're running high-volume, latency-sensitive workloads
Choose GPT-5 when:
- • You need a larger context window (1,000,000 tokens)
- • You need more capabilities (audio, code)
- • 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-4o mini (OpenAI)
GPT-5 (OpenAI)
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