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GPT-5.4 nano vs o4-mini

Pricing, context window, and benchmark comparison · Last updated April 2026

Quick Verdict

GPT-5.4 nano is cheaper than o4-mini at $0.20/1M/1M vs $1.10/1M/1M input tokens — a 5.5x cost difference. o4-mini scores higher on quality benchmarks (ELO 1350). Choose GPT-5.4 nano for cost-sensitive workloads; choose o4-mini for maximum quality.

Detailed Comparison

MetricGPT-5.4 nanoo4-mini
Input Price / 1M tokens$0.20/1MCheaper$1.10/1M
Output Price / 1M tokens$1.25/1MCheaper$4.40/1M
Context Window272KLarger200K
ELO Score (LMSYS)12801350Smarter
Open Source
Free Tier
Release Date2026-032025-04

Which is cheaper: GPT-5.4 nano or o4-mini?

GPT-5.4 nano is the cheaper option at $0.20/1M per 1M input tokens, compared to $1.10/1M for o4-mini. That is a 5.5x cost difference on input tokens. Output pricing follows a similar pattern: GPT-5.4 nano charges $1.25/1M/1M vs $4.40/1M/1M for o4-mini.

Which has better quality: GPT-5.4 nano or o4-mini?

Based on LMSYS Chatbot Arena rankings, o4-mini achieves a higher ELO score (1350 vs 1280), suggesting stronger performance on open-ended tasks. GPT-5.4 nano excels at cheapest openai model — $0.20/1m input. o4-mini is known for cheapest reasoning model in the openai lineup.

Which should you choose: GPT-5.4 nano or o4-mini?

Choose GPT-5.4 nano if:
  • Cheapest OpenAI model — $0.20/1M input
  • Good at classification, routing, and extraction
  • 272K context window even at low price
Choose o4-mini if:
  • Cheapest reasoning model in the OpenAI lineup
  • Strong performance on code and math for the price
  • 200K context window

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper: GPT-5.4 nano or o4-mini?

GPT-5.4 nano is cheaper at $0.20/1M per 1M input tokens, making it 5.5x more affordable.

Which has better quality: GPT-5.4 nano or o4-mini?

o4-mini scores higher on the LMSYS Chatbot Arena with an ELO of 1350, suggesting better overall quality for most tasks.

Which has a larger context window: GPT-5.4 nano or o4-mini?

GPT-5.4 nano has a larger context window at 272K tokens.

Should I choose GPT-5.4 nano or o4-mini?

Choose GPT-5.4 nano if cost is the priority. Choose o4-mini if benchmark quality is most important. Consider your specific use case: GPT-5.4 nano is best for low-cost and fast-response, while o4-mini excels at reasoning and coding.

Is GPT-5.4 nano or o4-mini open source?

GPT-5.4 nano is proprietary. o4-mini is proprietary.

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