Cost Comparison (1000 input + 500 output tokens, 100 requests/day)
GPT-5
GPT-5 mini
Cost Differences
GPT-5 mini costs less than GPT-5
Feature Comparison
| Feature | GPT-5 | GPT-5 mini |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | OpenAI | OpenAI |
| Input Price | $1.25/1M tokens | $0.25/1M tokens |
| Output Price | $10.00/1M tokens | $2.00/1M tokens |
| Context Window | 1,000,000 tokens | 500,000 tokens |
| Max Output | 131,072 tokens | 65,536 tokens |
| Category | flagship | efficient |
| Capabilities | textvisionaudiocode | textvisioncode |
| Release Date | 8/7/2025 | 8/7/2025 |
GPT-5 vs GPT-5 mini: Which Should You Choose?
Choosing between GPT-5 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 — 80% cheaper than GPT-5. Meanwhile, GPT-5 offers a significantly larger context window at 1,000,000 tokens vs 500,000 for GPT-5 mini.
These models target different tiers: GPT-5 is a flagship model while GPT-5 mini is efficient. This means they're optimized for different workloads. GPT-5 is built for complex tasks that require deeper reasoning, while GPT-5 mini offers better value for routine operations.
Output costs matter too. GPT-5 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-5 when:
- • You need a larger context window (1,000,000 tokens)
- • You need more capabilities (audio)
- • You need longer outputs (up to 131,072 tokens)
- • You're already using OpenAI's API ecosystem
Choose GPT-5 mini when:
- • Budget is a primary concern
- • 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-5 (OpenAI)
GPT-5 mini (OpenAI)
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