GPT-4o mini vs o4-mini Deep Research
Compare OpenAI and OpenAI AI models
Cost Comparison (1000 input + 500 output tokens, 100 requests/day)
GPT-4o mini
o4-mini Deep Research
Cost Differences
o4-mini Deep Research costs more than GPT-4o mini
Feature Comparison
| Feature | GPT-4o mini | o4-mini Deep Research |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | OpenAI | OpenAI |
| Input Price | $0.15/1M tokens | $2.00/1M tokens |
| Output Price | $0.60/1M tokens | $8.00/1M tokens |
| Context Window | 128,000 tokens | 200,000 tokens |
| Max Output | 16,384 tokens | 32,768 tokens |
| Category | efficient | reasoning |
| Capabilities | textvision | textreasoningcode |
| Release Date | 7/18/2024 | 6/26/2025 |
GPT-4o mini vs o4-mini Deep Research: Which Should You Choose?
Choosing between GPT-4o mini and o4-mini 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 tokens — 93% cheaper than o4-mini Deep Research. Meanwhile, o4-mini 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 o4-mini Deep Research is reasoning. This means they're optimized for different workloads. o4-mini 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 $8.00 for o4-mini 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: GPT-4o mini supports vision (image inputs) while o4-mini Deep Research is text-only. If your application needs image understanding, this narrows your choice.
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 o4-mini 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)
o4-mini Deep Research (OpenAI)
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