GPT-4 vs GPT-4.1 mini
Performance benchmarks + pricing comparison — updated April 2026
GPT-4
OpenAIOriginal GPT-4. Most expensive OpenAI model, largely superseded by newer options.
| Input | $30.00/M |
| Output | $60.00/M |
| Context | 8K tokens |
| Best For | Legacy applications requiring GPT-4 specifically |
| Benchmark | 68/100 |
GPT-4.1 mini
OpenAICost-optimized GPT-4.1 variant. Strong coding capability at budget pricing, replacing GPT-4o mini for many use cases.
| Input | $0.400/M |
| Output | $1.60/M |
| Context | 128K tokens |
| Best For | High-volume coding, cost-sensitive projects, automation |
| Benchmark | 68/100 |
Benchmark Performance Comparison
Third-party benchmark scores — higher is better. Data sourced from SWE-bench, LiveCodeBench, HumanEval, and BigCodeBench.
| Benchmark | GPT-4 | GPT-4.1 mini | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Score | 68 | 68 | GPT-4 leads by 0pts |
| SWE-bench Verified | 60 | 62 | GPT-4.1 Mini leads by 2pts |
| LiveCodeBench | 70 | 70 | GPT-4 leads by 0pts |
| HumanEval | 86 | 86 | GPT-4 leads by 0pts |
| BigCodeBench | 54 | 54 | GPT-4 leads by 0pts |
Cost Comparison by Scenario
Estimated cost per project with 30% cache hit rate. Actual costs may vary based on usage patterns.
| Scenario | GPT-4 | GPT-4.1 mini | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Script (1K lines) | $2.85 | $0.06 | GPT-4.1 mini saves $2.79 (98%) |
| Medium Feature (10K lines) | $22.50 | $0.46 | GPT-4.1 mini saves $22.04 (98%) |
| Large Project (50K lines) | $112.50 | $2.30 | GPT-4.1 mini saves $110.20 (98%) |
| Code Review (5K lines) | $6.75 | $0.11 | GPT-4.1 mini saves $6.64 (98%) |
Value Analysis (Price per Benchmark Score Point)
Lower is better — how much you pay for each point of benchmark performance.
| Model | Overall Score | Price per Score Point | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| GPT-4 | 68 | $0.441/pt | Higher cost per point |
| GPT-4.1 mini | 68 | $0.022/pt | Better value |
GPT-4.1 mini delivers the best value at $0.022 per score point.
Strengths & Weaknesses
GPT-4
- + Original breakthrough model
- - Two generations behind
- - Expensive
GPT-4.1 mini
- + Good value
- + Latest architecture
- - Mini variant limitations
Verdict
GPT-4.1 mini is cheaper at $0.400/M, but GPT-4 scores higher on benchmarks (68 vs 68).
Choose GPT-4.1 mini for cost-sensitive projects, GPT-4 when performance matters most.
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