o4-mini vs o3-mini
Pricing, context window, and benchmark comparison · Last updated June 2026
o3-mini is cheaper than o4-mini at $1.10/1M vs $1.10/1M input tokens. o4-mini scores higher on quality benchmarks (ELO 1350). Choose o3-mini for cost-sensitive workloads; choose o4-mini for maximum quality.
Which is cheaper: o4-mini or o3-mini?
o4-mini and o3-mini are identically priced at $1.10/1M per 1M input tokens. Output pricing follows a similar pattern: o4-mini charges $4.40/1M vs $4.40/1M for o3-mini.
Which has better quality: o4-mini or o3-mini?
Based on LMSYS Chatbot Arena rankings, o4-mini achieves a higher ELO score (1350 vs 1340), suggesting stronger performance on open-ended tasks. o4-mini excels at cheapest reasoning model in the openai lineup. o3-mini is known for strong reasoning at a low price point.
Which should you choose: o4-mini or o3-mini?
- → Cheapest reasoning model in the OpenAI lineup
- → Strong performance on code and math for the price
- → 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: o4-mini or o3-mini?
o4-mini and o3-mini have the same input price of $1.10/1M per 1M tokens.
Which has better quality: o4-mini or o3-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: o4-mini or o3-mini?
Both o4-mini and o3-mini have the same context window.
Should I choose o4-mini or o3-mini?
Choose o3-mini if cost is the priority. Choose o4-mini if benchmark quality is most important. Consider your specific use case: o4-mini is best for reasoning and coding, while o3-mini excels at reasoning and math.
Is o4-mini or o3-mini open source?
o4-mini is proprietary. o3-mini is proprietary.