GPT-4.1 vs GPT-5 mini
A complete head-to-head: pricing, context window, benchmarks, modality coverage, and openness, with a programmatic verdict synthesized from the underlying data.
Updated
GPT-4.1 specs · GPT-5 mini specs- PriceGPT-5 mini
GPT-5 mini is roughly 4.0× cheaper on output tokens ($2.00 vs $8.00 per 1M).
- Context windowGPT-4.1
GPT-4.1 accepts 1M tokens vs 400K, 2.5× the room for long documents and codebases.
- BenchmarksTie
No directly comparable public benchmarks are available for both models, check the spec sheets for individual scores.
- ModalitiesGPT-5 mini
GPT-5 mini supports 3 modalities (text, vision, audio) vs 2 for GPT-4.1.
- OpennessTie
Both are closed-weight, API-only.
On balance GPT-5 mini edges ahead, winning 2 of 5 categories against GPT-4.1's 1. GPT-5 mini is roughly 4.0× cheaper on output tokens ($2.00 vs $8.00 per 1M). GPT-4.1 accepts 1M tokens vs 400K, 2.5× the room for long documents and codebases.
No directly comparable public benchmarks are available for both models, check the spec sheets for individual scores. They differ in modality coverage, GPT-4.1 handles text, vision while GPT-5 mini handles text, vision, audio, which can be the deciding factor before you even look at benchmarks. Both are closed-weight, API-only.
GPT-5 mini is the newer of the two, released 4 months after GPT-4.1, which usually means a more recent knowledge cutoff and updated safety post-training. GPT-4.1 is usually picked for long context and rag workloads, while GPT-5 mini sees more deployments in code completion and customer support. If pricing matters more than every last benchmark point, run the numbers in the calculator below before committing.
Side-by-side specs
| Spec | GPT-4.1 | GPT-5 mini |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | OpenAI | OpenAI |
| Released | Apr 2025 | Aug 2025 |
| Modalities | text, vision | text, vision, audio |
| Context window | 1M tokens | 400K tokens |
| Max output | 32.8K tokens | 128K tokens |
| Input · 1M | $2.00 / 1M tokens | $0.25 / 1M tokens |
| Output · 1M | $8.00 / 1M tokens | $2.00 / 1M tokens |
| Knowledge cutoff | 2024-06 | 2024-09 |
| Open weights | No | No |
| API available | Yes | Yes |
Pricing at scale
What you'd actually pay at typical workloads. Numbers come from each model's published per-million-token rates.
- Light usage, 100k in / 50k out per day$18.00 vs $3.75
- Heavy usage, 1M in / 500k out per day$180 vs $37.50
- RAG workload, 5M in / 200k out per day$348 vs $49.50
Light usage, 100k in / 50k out per day: $18.00 vs $3.75 per month, model B comes out ahead. Heavy usage, 1M in / 500k out per day: $180 vs $37.50 per month, model B comes out ahead. RAG workload, 5M in / 200k out per day: $348 vs $49.50 per month, model B comes out ahead.
Estimated spend for the listed models at your usage. Numbers are derived from each model's published per-million-token rates.
- GPT-4.1$0.600
- GPT-5 mini$0.125
Benchmarks compared
Only sourced numbers. Where a benchmark is missing for one model we show the available value rather than fabricating the other.
- MMLU86.2
- HumanEval90.6
GPT-4.1 fits when…
- 1M-token context window, strong for long-doc workloads
- Mature SDK and tooling integrations
- Reliable JSON-mode and function-calling
- Long-context tasks, handles 1M tokens vs 400K for GPT-5 mini.
GPT-5 mini fits when…
- Excellent price-quality ratio for production workloads
- Fast first-token latency
- Same tool-use API surface as flagship
- Cost-sensitive workloads, 4.0× cheaper than GPT-4.1 on output tokens.
- Multimodal needs covering audio.
Consider GPT-5.5
OpenAI's mid-cycle GPT-5 refresh, improved reasoning, tool use, and multimodal grounding over the 2025 launch.
Frequently asked
Is GPT-4.1 or GPT-5 mini cheaper?
GPT-5 mini is cheaper at $2.00 / 1M tokens per million output tokens, vs $8.00 / 1M tokens for GPT-4.1.Which has the larger context window?
GPT-4.1 accepts 1M tokens vs 400K for GPT-5 mini.Is GPT-4.1 or GPT-5 mini better for coding?
Both GPT-4.1 and GPT-5 mini are competitive on coding benchmarks. See each model's individual spec page for HumanEval and SWE-bench scores where published. For an opinionated pick, consult our Best LLM for Coding ranking.Are either of these models open source?
Neither model ships open weights, both are accessible only via their respective providers' APIs.When were GPT-4.1 and GPT-5 mini released?
GPT-4.1 was released by OpenAI on 2025-04-14. GPT-5 mini was released by OpenAI on 2025-08-07.
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