AI model comparison

GPT-4.1 vs GPT-4.1 Mini

Side by side comparison of GPT-4.1 and GPT-4.1 Mini on pricing, benchmark scores, context window, and more.

GPT-4.1 is a flagship large language model optimized for advanced instruction following, real-world software engineering, and long-context reasoning.

Input / 1M
$2
Output / 1M
$8
Context
1.05M

GPT-4.1 Mini is a mid-sized model delivering performance competitive with GPT-4o at substantially lower latency and cost.

Input / 1M
$0.40
Output / 1M
$1.60
Context
1.05M

Comparing image generators? Compare image models

At a glance

Quick verdict

How the two models stack up on the things people ask about most.

Lower price

openai logo

GPT-4.1 Mini

5.0x cheaper for a typical chat

Higher intelligence score

openai logo

GPT-4.1

12.7 vs 10.2 on Artificial Analysis

Larger context window

Tie

1.05M vs 1.05M tokens

Newer release

openai logo

GPT-4.1

Released April 14, 2025

Benchmarks

Benchmark scores

Independent scores from Artificial Analysis. Higher is better.

Intelligence index

openai logoGPT-4.112.7
openai logoGPT-4.1 Mini10.2

Coding index

openai logoGPT-4.1Not available
openai logoGPT-4.1 Mini20.2

Agentic index

openai logoGPT-4.1Not available
openai logoGPT-4.1 MiniNot available

Pricing

GPT-4.1 vs GPT-4.1 Mini API pricing

Per-token API rates. Cheaper option highlighted.

Metricopenai logoGPT-4.1openai logoGPT-4.1 Mini
Input tokensPer 1M tokens$2$0.40
Output tokensPer 1M tokens$8$1.60
Cached input (read)Per 1M tokens$0.50$0.10
Cache writePer 1M tokensNot availableNot available
Web searchPer request$0.01$0.01

What it costs in practice

Estimated cost per 1,000 requests at standard rates. Coding and long-document figures also show the cost when the input is already cached.

Chat message

2K in, 500 out

openai logoGPT-4.1$8
openai logoGPT-4.1 Mini$1.60

Coding task

30K in, 4K out

openai logoGPT-4.1$92$47 cached
openai logoGPT-4.1 Mini$18.40$9.40 cached

Long document summary

150K in, 2K out

openai logoGPT-4.1$316$91 cached
openai logoGPT-4.1 Mini$63.20$18.20 cached

Specs

Context window and capabilities

How much each model can read, how much it can write, and what it accepts as input.

Metricopenai logoGPT-4.1openai logoGPT-4.1 Mini
Context window1.05M tokens1.05M tokens
Max output33K tokens33K tokens
Input typesFile, Image, TextFile, Image, Text
Output typesTextText
Reasoning effort levelsNot availableNot available
Default reasoning effortNot availableNot available
Release dateApril 14, 2025April 14, 2025

Features

Supported features

API features available for each model.

Metricopenai logoGPT-4.1openai logoGPT-4.1 Mini
Tool callingSupportedSupported
Structured outputsSupportedSupported
JSON modeSupportedSupported
ReasoningNot supportedNot supported
TemperatureSupportedSupported
Stop sequencesNot supportedNot supported
Deterministic seedSupportedSupported
Verbosity controlNot supportedNot supported

Our take

GPT-4.1 Mini is 5.0x cheaper for a typical chat. GPT-4.1 scores higher on the Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index (12.7 vs 10.2). The right pick depends on your workload, so the quickest way to settle it is to send the same prompt to both and compare.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is GPT-4.1 or GPT-4.1 Mini cheaper?

GPT-4.1 Mini is cheaper for a typical chat (2K input tokens and 500 output tokens). GPT-4.1 Mini costs $0.40 per 1M input tokens and $1.60 per 1M output tokens, while GPT-4.1 costs $2 per 1M input tokens and $8 per 1M output tokens.

Which has a bigger context window, GPT-4.1 or GPT-4.1 Mini?

GPT-4.1 supports up to 1.05M tokens of context, compared with 1.05M for GPT-4.1 Mini.

Is GPT-4.1 smarter than GPT-4.1 Mini?

On the Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index, GPT-4.1 scores 12.7 and GPT-4.1 Mini scores 10.2, putting GPT-4.1 ahead. Benchmarks don't capture everything, so the best test is running your own prompts through both.

Can I use GPT-4.1 and GPT-4.1 Mini at the same time?

Yes. Shortcut Chat sends one prompt to multiple models at once, so you can see GPT-4.1 and GPT-4.1 Mini answer side by side and keep the better response.

openai logoopenai logo

Why choose? Ask both.

Send one prompt to GPT-4.1 and GPT-4.1 Mini at the same time. Compare the answers side by side and keep the best one.