Cost Comparison (1000 input + 500 output tokens, 100 requests/day)
GPT-4o
GPT-5 mini
Cost Differences
GPT-5 mini costs less than GPT-4o
Feature Comparison
| Feature | GPT-4o | GPT-5 mini |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | OpenAI | OpenAI |
| Input Price | $2.50/1M tokens | $0.25/1M tokens |
| Output Price | $10.00/1M tokens | $2.00/1M tokens |
| Context Window | 128,000 tokens | 500,000 tokens |
| Max Output | 16,384 tokens | 65,536 tokens |
| Category | flagship | efficient |
| Capabilities | textvisionaudio | textvisioncode |
| Release Date | 5/13/2024 | 8/7/2025 |
GPT-4o vs GPT-5 mini: Which Should You Choose?
Choosing between GPT-4o 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 tokens — 90% cheaper than GPT-4o. Meanwhile, GPT-5 mini offers a significantly larger context window at 500,000 tokens vs 128,000 for GPT-4o.
These models target different tiers: GPT-4o is a flagship model while GPT-5 mini is efficient. This means they're optimized for different workloads. GPT-4o is built for complex tasks that require deeper reasoning, while GPT-5 mini offers better value for routine operations.
Output costs matter too. GPT-4o charges $10.00/1M 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-4o 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-4o (OpenAI)
GPT-5 mini (OpenAI)
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