GPT-5.1 vs o4-mini Deep Research
Compare OpenAI and OpenAI AI models
Cost Comparison (1000 input + 500 output tokens, 100 requests/day)
GPT-5.1
o4-mini Deep Research
Cost Differences
o4-mini Deep Research costs less than GPT-5.1
Feature Comparison
| Feature | GPT-5.1 | o4-mini Deep Research |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | OpenAI | OpenAI |
| Input Price | $1.25/1M tokens | $2.00/1M tokens |
| Output Price | $10.00/1M tokens | $8.00/1M tokens |
| Context Window | 1,000,000 tokens | 200,000 tokens |
| Max Output | 131,072 tokens | 32,768 tokens |
| Category | flagship | reasoning |
| Capabilities | textvisionaudiocodereasoning | textreasoningcode |
| Release Date | 11/12/2025 | 6/26/2025 |
GPT-5.1 vs o4-mini Deep Research: Which Should You Choose?
Choosing between GPT-5.1 and o4-mini Deep Research depends on your priorities: cost efficiency, context length, or raw capability. o4-mini Deep Research is the more affordable option at $2.00/1M input tokens. Meanwhile, GPT-5.1 offers a significantly larger context window at 1,000,000 tokens vs 200,000 for o4-mini Deep Research.
These models target different tiers: GPT-5.1 is a flagship model while o4-mini Deep Research is reasoning. This means they're optimized for different workloads. GPT-5.1 is built for complex tasks that require deeper reasoning, while o4-mini Deep Research offers better value for routine operations.
Output costs matter too. GPT-5.1 charges $10.00/1M 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. o4-mini Deep Research has the edge here at $8.00/1M output tokens.
Multimodal capabilities: GPT-5.1 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-5.1 when:
- • Budget is a primary concern
- • You need a larger context window (1,000,000 tokens)
- • You need more capabilities (vision, audio)
- • You need longer outputs (up to 131,072 tokens)
- • You're already using OpenAI's API ecosystem
Choose o4-mini Deep Research when:
- • 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-5.1 (OpenAI)
o4-mini Deep Research (OpenAI)
Start using GPT-5.1 today
Sign Up for OpenAI →Start using o4-mini Deep Research today
Sign Up for OpenAI →