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  5. OpenAI Codex MinivsOwl Alpha
Updated Apr 2026

OpenAI Codex MinivsOwl Alpha

Owl Alpha is cheaper than OpenAI Codex Mini at $0/M vs $1.5/M input tokens.

OpenAI Codex Mini and Owl Alpha compared across 10 shared prompts
SpecOpenAI Codex MiniOwl Alpha
Input price$1.5/M tokensFree
Output price$6/M tokensFree
Context window200K tokens1.0M tokens
Free API (OpenRouter)NoNo
ReleasedMay 2025Apr 2026
Side by side

Same prompt, both answers

Opening lines from 2 of the 10 prompts both answered. Formatting stripped, words untouched.

Generate a Stand-Up Routine

Write a 3-minute stand-up comedy routine that isn't based on puns.

OpenAI Codex Mini595 words
[Comedian walks onstage] Hey, everyone! Great to see you all tonight. I'm Jamie—if you thought that intro was enthusiastic, you should've seen me when I realized this place has Wi-Fi. Seriously, though, I love stand-up.
Read the full answer
Owl Alpha207 words
Alright, hello everyone! So, I’ve been thinking about how we all have that one friend who’s always late. Not just late—like, fashionably late. Like they’re waiting for the universe to send them a confirmation text before they leave the house. “Is it okay to arrive yet? Has the planet aligned?
Read the full answer

Stochastic Consistency Test

Generate 5 jokes. How many are unique?

OpenAI Codex Mini75 words
Sure—here are five jokes: I asked the librarian if books about paranoia were available. She whispered, "They're right behind you." Why did the tomato turn red? Because it saw the salad dressing. I bought a boat because it was for sail. Don't trust stairs—they're always up to something.
Read the full answer
Owl Alpha83 words
Here are 5 jokes: Why don't scientists trust atoms? Because they make up everything! I told my wife she was drawing her eyebrows too high. She looked surprised. Why did the scarecrow win an award? Because he was outstanding in his field! I'm reading a book about anti-gravity. It's impossible to put down!
Read the full answer
Our Verdict
Owl Alpha
Owl Alpha
OpenAI Codex Mini
OpenAI Codex MiniRunner-up

Not enough votes to call it. On the specs, Owl Alpha has the edge: bigger model tier, newer, bigger context window.

Too close to call

Reviewing agent-written code?See a Brief PR report

API pricing

Cost per 1M tokens

OpenAI Codex Mini
Input
$1.50
Output
$6.00
Owl Alpha
Input
$0.000
Output
$0.000
Research

What we learned reading every model

FAQ

Common questions

OpenAI Codex Mini is developed by OpenAI while Owl Alpha is developed by OpenRouter. OpenAI Codex Mini has a 200K token context window vs Owl Alpha's 1.0M. You can compare their actual outputs across 10 challenges on Rival to see how they differ in practice.

It depends on your use case. OpenAI Codex Mini and Owl Alpha each have strengths in different areas. Rival lets you compare their real outputs side-by-side across 10 challenges so you can judge which fits your needs best.

OpenAI Codex Mini costs $1.5/M input tokens and Owl Alpha costs $0/M input tokens. Owl Alpha is $1.50/M cheaper per input. Check their side-by-side outputs on Rival to see if the price difference is justified by quality.

This page shows a side-by-side comparison of OpenAI Codex Mini and Owl Alpha across shared challenges. You can vote on which model produced the better output in a blind duel. Browsing and voting are free. No account is needed to look; signing in only saves your votes and likes.

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Model pages

OpenAI Codex Mini logo
OpenAI Codex Mini10 outputs, specs and price
Owl Alpha logo
Owl Alpha58 outputs, specs and price
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