LLM Toolkit Model comparison
GPT-5 vs GPT-5 mini
Verified pricing, context windows and real-workload costs for both models — computed from official provider rates as of 2026-08-25.
Cheaper input
GPT-5 mini
$0.25 /1M in
Cheaper output
GPT-5 mini
$2.00 /1M out
Bigger context
GPT-5
400K tokens
Head to head
| Spec | GPT-5 | GPT-5 mini |
|---|---|---|
| Input / 1M tokens | $1.25 | $0.25 |
| Cached input / 1M | $0.13 | $0.025 |
| Output / 1M tokens | $10.00 | $2.00 |
| Context window | 400K | 400K |
| Provider | OpenAI | OpenAI |
| Price verified | 2026-08-25 | 2026-08-25 |
Monthly cost at three real workloads
| Workload | GPT-5 | GPT-5 mini | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Side-project chatbot 30K req · 2,000 in / 500 out · 40% cached | $198.00/mo | $39.60/mo | GPT-5 mini |
| Coding agent 500K req · 12,000 in / 1,500 out · 70% cached | $10,275/mo | $2,055/mo | GPT-5 mini |
| Bulk extraction 2,000K req · 800 in / 120 out · 20% cached | $4,040/mo | $808.00/mo | GPT-5 mini |
Computed from list prices verified 2026-08-25. 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 if…
- You prefer its $1.25 input rate for read-heavy workloads.
- You need the larger 400K context window.
- You value its provider ecosystem and tooling.
Pick GPT-5 mini if…
- You generate long outputs — $2.00 per 1M output vs $10.00 adds up fast.
- Its 400K 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 cheaper than GPT-5 mini?
GPT-5 mini is cheaper on input at $0.25 per 1M tokens vs $1.25 — input pricing is 5.0× more expensive. On output, GPT-5 mini wins at $2.00 vs $10.00. At a balanced workload (100K requests, 2K in / 500 out), GPT-5 mini runs $150.00/mo vs $750.00/mo — a 5.0× difference.
GPT-5 vs GPT-5 mini: which has the bigger context window?
GPT-5, with 400K tokens vs 400K — 1.0× more room. Filling GPT-5's window once costs $0.500 at list price, vs $0.100 for the smaller window.
Should I switch from GPT-5 to GPT-5 mini?
Switch if your bottleneck matches GPT-5 mini's strengths: its 400K context fits your documents and cheaper output tokens ($2.00 vs $10.00). Stay on GPT-5 if your workload already fits its limits. Test both with your real token counts before committing.
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Or measure your real usage with the AI Token Counter and browse all rates on the Pricing Comparison.