o3 Deep Research vs o4-mini Deep Research
o3 Deep Research vs o4-mini Deep Research: o4-mini Deep Research is cheaper for input-heavy usage ($2.00/M vs $10.00/M input tokens), while o3 Deep Research is better for long-context tasks (200,000 tokens).
Direct answer: choose o4-mini Deep Research for lower token spend and choose o3 Deep Research when your workload needs longer context.
Compare input and output token pricing, context windows, and monthly cost estimates on one page so you can pick the cheaper model fast.
Cost Comparison (1000 input + 500 output tokens, 100 requests/day)
o3 Deep Research
o4-mini Deep Research
Cost Differences
o4-mini Deep Research costs less than o3 Deep Research
Quick Recommendation
Winner for direct API pricing: o4-mini Deep Research. At the default workload, o4-mini Deep Research saves about $72.00/month ($876.00/year) versus o3 Deep Research.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | o3 Deep Research | o4-mini Deep Research |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | OpenAI | OpenAI |
| Input Price | $10.00/1M tokens | $2.00/1M tokens |
| Output Price | $40.00/1M tokens | $8.00/1M tokens |
| Context Window | 200,000 tokens | 200,000 tokens |
| Max Output | 32,768 tokens | 32,768 tokens |
| Category | reasoning | reasoning |
| Capabilities | textreasoningvisioncode | textreasoningcode |
| Release Date | 6/26/2025 | 6/26/2025 |
o3 Deep Research vs o4-mini Deep Research: Which Should You Choose?
Choosing between o3 Deep Research 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 — 80% cheaper than o3 Deep Research.
Both models are in the reasoning category, making this a direct head-to-head comparison. At scale — say 10,000 requests per day — the cost difference adds up: o4-mini Deep Research would save you roughly $7,200.00/month compared to o3 Deep Research. For startups and indie developers, that difference can be significant.
Output costs matter too. o3 Deep Research charges $40.00/1M 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: o3 Deep Research 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 o3 Deep Research when:
- • You need more capabilities (vision)
- • You're already using OpenAI's API ecosystem
Choose o4-mini Deep Research when:
- • Budget is a primary concern
- • You're already using OpenAI's API ecosystem
Pros and Caveats at a Glance
o3 Deep Research
- • Input pricing: $10.00/M tokens
- • Output pricing: $40.00/M tokens
- • Context window: 200,000 tokens
- • Max output: 32,768 tokens
Watch out for
- • Higher input cost than o4-mini Deep Research
- • Higher output cost than o4-mini Deep Research
o4-mini Deep Research
- • Input pricing: $2.00/M tokens
- • Output pricing: $8.00/M tokens
- • Context window: 200,000 tokens
- • Max output: 32,768 tokens
Watch out for
- • Trade-offs are minor in this matchup.
Try Different Scenarios
Use the calculator below to see how costs change with different usage patterns
o3 Deep Research (OpenAI)
o4-mini Deep Research (OpenAI)
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Which is cheaper, o3 Deep Research or o4-mini Deep Research?▼
What is the context window difference between o3 Deep Research and o4-mini Deep Research?▼
Which model is better for AI Agent / Agentic Workflows?▼
Which model has better overall pricing for heavy usage?▼
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