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GPT-4o mini vs o3 Deep Research

Compare OpenAI and OpenAI AI models

OpenAI
GPT-4o mini
vs
OpenAI
o3 Deep Research

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

GPT-4o mini

Per Request:$0.000450
Daily:$0.045
Monthly:$1.35
Yearly:$16.425

o3 Deep Research

Per Request:$0.03
Daily:$3.00
Monthly:$90.00
Yearly:$1,095.00

Cost Differences

+$0.02955
Per Request
+$2.955
Daily
+$88.65
Monthly
+$1,078.575
Yearly

o3 Deep Research costs more than GPT-4o mini

Feature Comparison

FeatureGPT-4o minio3 Deep Research
ProviderOpenAIOpenAI
Input Price$0.15/1M tokens$10.00/1M tokens
Output Price$0.60/1M tokens$40.00/1M tokens
Context Window128,000 tokens200,000 tokens
Max Output16,384 tokens32,768 tokens
Categoryefficientreasoning
Capabilities
textvision
textreasoningvisioncode
Release Date7/18/20246/26/2025

GPT-4o mini vs o3 Deep Research: Which Should You Choose?

Choosing between GPT-4o mini and o3 Deep Research depends on your priorities: cost efficiency, context length, or raw capability. GPT-4o mini is the more affordable option at $0.15/1M input tokens99% cheaper than o3 Deep Research. Meanwhile, o3 Deep Research offers a significantly larger context window at 200,000 tokens vs 128,000 for GPT-4o mini.

These models target different tiers: GPT-4o mini is a efficient model while o3 Deep Research is reasoning. This means they're optimized for different workloads. o3 Deep Research 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 $40.00 for o3 Deep Research. 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 o3 Deep Research when:

  • • You need a larger context window (200,000 tokens)
  • • You need more capabilities (reasoning, code)
  • • You need longer outputs (up to 32,768 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)

o3 Deep Research (OpenAI)

Start using GPT-4o mini today

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Start using o3 Deep Research today

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, GPT-4o mini or o3 Deep Research?
GPT-4o mini is cheaper for input tokens at $0.15 per million tokens vs $10.00 for o3 Deep Research — that's 99% savings on input costs.
What is the context window difference between GPT-4o mini and o3 Deep Research?
GPT-4o mini supports 128,000 tokens while o3 Deep Research supports 200,000 tokens — a difference of 72,000 tokens in favor of o3 Deep Research.
Which model is better for AI Chatbot?
Both models support text. For ai chatbot, GPT-4o mini is the lower-cost option, while o3 Deep Research offers a larger context window (200,000 vs 128,000 tokens). Choose GPT-4o mini for budget sensitivity or o3 Deep Research 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-4o mini costs about $1.35/month and o3 Deep Research costs about $90.00/month. Overall, GPT-4o mini has lower combined input + output rates ($0.15 in, $0.60 out) vs o3 Deep Research.

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