GPT-4o mini vs GPT-4.1 mini
Performance benchmarks + pricing comparison — updated April 2026
GPT-4o mini
OpenAIAffordable small model. Fast and cost-effective for high-volume coding tasks.
| Input | $0.150/M |
| Output | $0.600/M |
| Context | 128K tokens |
| Best For | High-volume tasks, simple coding, cost-sensitive projects |
| Benchmark | 58/100 |
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-4o mini | GPT-4.1 mini | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Score | 58 | 68 | GPT-4.1 Mini leads by 10pts |
| SWE-bench Verified | 50 | 62 | GPT-4.1 Mini leads by 12pts |
| LiveCodeBench | 60 | 70 | GPT-4.1 Mini leads by 10pts |
| HumanEval | 78 | 86 | GPT-4.1 Mini leads by 8pts |
| BigCodeBench | 44 | 54 | GPT-4.1 Mini leads by 10pts |
Cost Comparison by Scenario
Estimated cost per project with 30% cache hit rate. Actual costs may vary based on usage patterns.
| Scenario | GPT-4o mini | GPT-4.1 mini | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Script (1K lines) | $0.02 | $0.06 | GPT-4o mini saves $0.04 (61%) |
| Medium Feature (10K lines) | $0.18 | $0.46 | GPT-4o mini saves $0.28 (60%) |
| Large Project (50K lines) | $0.92 | $2.30 | GPT-4o mini saves $1.38 (60%) |
| Code Review (5K lines) | $0.05 | $0.11 | GPT-4o mini saves $0.06 (57%) |
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-4o mini | 58 | $0.003/pt | Better value |
| GPT-4.1 mini | 68 | $0.022/pt | Higher cost per point |
GPT-4o mini delivers the best value at $0.003 per score point.
Strengths & Weaknesses
GPT-4o mini
- + Very cheap
- + Fast responses
- - Struggles with multi-step reasoning
GPT-4.1 mini
- + Good value
- + Latest architecture
- - Mini variant limitations
Verdict
GPT-4o mini is cheaper at $0.150/M, but GPT-4.1 mini scores higher on benchmarks (68 vs 58).
Choose GPT-4o mini for cost-sensitive projects, GPT-4.1 mini when performance matters most.
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