o4-mini Pricing
OpenAI · Faster, cheaper reasoning model. Best for everyday math, coding, and logic tasks
Save up to 70% on o4-mini API cost
Same model, same quality — pay less per token than the official API. Pay-as-you-go, no credit card required.
Other OpenAI Models
GPT-5.5GPT-5.4GPT-4.1GPT-4.1 MiniGPT-4.1 NanoGPT-4oGPT-4o Minio3o3-proGPT-4 TurboText Embedding 3 LargeSora 1o4-mini Pricing Context
Pricing position within OpenAI
o4-mini sits in the middle of OpenAI's pricing at $1.10/1M input — 64% below the lineup average ($0.10 cheapest, $20.00 most expensive). 5 siblings cost less, 6 cost more. This mid-tier positioning makes it a sensible default when you're unsure which variant to pick.
When o4-mini is worth the cost
o4-mini is deployed for problems that need structured thinking — math derivations, logic puzzles, scientific analysis, and multi-step research synthesis. The reasoning chain adds latency, so reserve it for tasks where a standard chat model produces shallow or incorrect answers. For routine Q&A and summarization, a cheaper sibling model is more cost-effective.
Cost vs sibling models
What makes o4-mini different from sibling models: compared to GPT-5.5 ($3.90/1M more expensive, 256K vs 200K context (larger)); GPT-5.4 ($1.40/1M more expensive, 256K vs 200K context (larger)); GPT-4.1 ($0.90/1M more expensive, 1M vs 200K context (larger)). Choose o4-mini when step-by-step reasoning matters more than speed.
Real-world cost scenarios
Real-world deployments: math problem solving, scientific research synthesis, multi-step logical analysis, and structured decision support systems. o4-mini excels where standard chat models produce shallow answers — the reasoning chain catches edge cases that faster models miss.