o3 vs o3-mini
Pricing, context window, and benchmark comparison · Last updated June 2026
o3-mini is cheaper than o3 at $1.10/1M vs $2.00/1M input tokens — a 1.8x cost difference. o3 scores higher on quality benchmarks (ELO 1395). Choose o3-mini for cost-sensitive workloads; choose o3 for maximum quality.
Which is cheaper: o3 or o3-mini?
o3-mini is the cheaper option at $1.10/1M per 1M input tokens, compared to $2.00/1M for o3. That is a 1.8x cost difference on input tokens. Output pricing follows a similar pattern: o3 charges $8.00/1M vs $4.40/1M for o3-mini.
Which has better quality: o3 or o3-mini?
Based on LMSYS Chatbot Arena rankings, o3 achieves a higher ELO score (1395 vs 1340), suggesting stronger performance on open-ended tasks. o3 excels at top-tier reasoning on math, science, and agentic tasks. o3-mini is known for strong reasoning at a low price point.
Which should you choose: o3 or o3-mini?
- → Top-tier reasoning on math, science, and agentic tasks
- → 87% cheaper than original o1 at the same capability tier
- → 200K context window
- → Strong reasoning at a low price point
- → 200K context window
- → Three effort levels (low/medium/high) for cost control
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper: o3 or o3-mini?
o3-mini is cheaper at $1.10/1M per 1M input tokens, making it 1.8x more affordable.
Which has better quality: o3 or o3-mini?
o3 scores higher on the LMSYS Chatbot Arena with an ELO of 1395, suggesting better overall quality for most tasks.
Which has a larger context window: o3 or o3-mini?
Both o3 and o3-mini have the same context window.
Should I choose o3 or o3-mini?
Choose o3-mini if cost is the priority. Choose o3 if benchmark quality is most important. Consider your specific use case: o3 is best for reasoning and math, while o3-mini excels at reasoning and math.
Is o3 or o3-mini open source?
o3 is proprietary. o3-mini is proprietary.