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LLM Toolkit

Model comparison

GPT-5 mini vs GPT-4o mini

Verified pricing, context windows and real-workload costs for both models — computed from official provider rates as of 2026-08-26.

Cheaper input

GPT-4o mini

$0.15 /1M in

Cheaper output

GPT-4o mini

$0.60 /1M out

Bigger context

GPT-5 mini

400K tokens

Head to head

Spec GPT-5 mini GPT-4o mini
Input / 1M tokens $0.25 $0.15
Cached input / 1M $0.025 $0.075
Output / 1M tokens $2.00 $0.60
Context window 400K 128K
Provider OpenAI OpenAI
Price verified 2026-08-26 2026-08-26

Monthly cost at three real workloads

Workload GPT-5 mini GPT-4o mini Winner
Side-project chatbot 30K req · 2,000 in / 500 out · 40% cached $39.60/mo $16.20/mo GPT-4o mini
Coding agent 500K req · 12,000 in / 1,500 out · 70% cached $2,055/mo $1,035/mo GPT-4o mini
Bulk extraction 2,000K req · 800 in / 120 out · 20% cached $808.00/mo $360.00/mo GPT-4o mini

Computed from list prices verified 2026-08-26. Cache savings blend normal and cached input rates by the hit rate; models without published cached rates use the base input price. Adjust every parameter yourself on the API Cost Calculator.

Pick GPT-5 mini if…

  • You prefer its $0.25 input rate for read-heavy workloads.
  • You need the larger 400K context window.
  • You run repeat-context workloads — cached input at $0.025 per 1M is the better deal.

Pick GPT-4o mini if…

  • You generate long outputs — $0.60 per 1M output vs $2.00 adds up fast.
  • Its 128K window covers your typical request with headroom.
  • You want cheaper total spend at your exact volumes — verify with the calculator above.

Frequently asked questions

Is GPT-5 mini cheaper than GPT-4o mini?

GPT-4o mini is cheaper on input at $0.15 per 1M tokens vs $0.25 — input pricing is 1.7× more expensive. On output, GPT-4o mini wins at $0.60 vs $2.00. At a balanced workload (100K requests, 2K in / 500 out), GPT-4o mini runs $60.00/mo vs $150.00/mo — a 2.5× difference.

GPT-5 mini vs GPT-4o mini: which has the bigger context window?

GPT-5 mini, with 400K tokens vs 128K — 3.1× more room. Filling GPT-5 mini's window once costs $0.100 at list price, vs $0.019 for the smaller window.

Should I switch from GPT-5 mini to GPT-4o mini?

Switch if your bottleneck matches GPT-4o mini's strengths: its 128K context fits your documents and cheaper output tokens ($0.60 vs $2.00). Stay on GPT-5 mini if your workload already fits its limits. Test both with your real token counts before committing.

Keep comparing

Or measure your real usage with the AI Token Counter and browse all rates on the Pricing Comparison.