GPT-5 Mini vs GPT-4.1 Mini
Side-by-side comparison of pricing and capabilities
Input Price Comparison
| Attribute | GPT-5 Mini | GPT-4.1 Mini |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | OpenAI | OpenAI |
| Input Price | $0.25 /1M tokens | $0.4 /1M tokens |
| Output Price | $2 /1M tokens | $1.6 /1M tokens |
| Cached Input | $0.025 /1M tokens | $0.100 /1M tokens |
| Context Window | 400K | 1.0M |
| Type | chat | chat |
| Status | current | current |
Capability Comparison
| Capability | GPT-5 Mini | GPT-4.1 Mini |
|---|---|---|
| coding | ||
| multilingual |
Which should you choose?
Budget-conscious: GPT-5 Mini is 38% cheaper on input tokens ($0.25 vs $0.4 per 1M tokens).
Context-heavy tasks: GPT-4.1 Mini offers a larger context window (1.0M vs 400K), making it better for long documents or conversations.
Capability fit: GPT-5 Mini supports 2 capabilities (coding, multilingual), while GPT-4.1 Mini supports 2 (coding, multilingual).
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper: GPT-5 Mini or GPT-4.1 Mini?
GPT-5 Mini costs $0.25/1M input vs GPT-4.1 Mini at $0.4/1M input. GPT-5 Mini is 38% cheaper on input tokens.
How do output prices compare between GPT-5 Mini and GPT-4.1 Mini?
GPT-5 Mini output: $2/1M, GPT-4.1 Mini output: $1.6/1M. GPT-4.1 Mini is more economical for generation-heavy workloads.
What is GPT-5 Mini best used for?
GPT-5 Mini is best for budget-conscious applications, high-volume chatbots, and tasks where cost efficiency is the primary concern.
What is GPT-4.1 Mini best used for?
GPT-4.1 Mini is suited for complex reasoning, analysis, and tasks that benefit from its coding and multilingual capabilities.