What is the difference between GPT-4.1 Mini and GPT-5 Mini?

Both are developed by OpenAI but target different use cases. in 35 community votes on RIVAL, GPT-5 Mini wins 54% of head-to-head matchups. These results are based on blind head-to-head voting across 38 challenges.

Which is better, GPT-4.1 Mini or GPT-5 Mini?

Based on 35 community votes on RIVAL, GPT-5 Mini wins 54% of head-to-head matchups against GPT-4.1 Mini. GPT-5 Mini is strongest in Reasoning, Image Generation. However, GPT-4.1 Mini leads in Web Design, Conversation.

How much does GPT-4.1 Mini cost compared to GPT-5 Mini?

GPT-4.1 Mini costs $0.4/M input tokens and GPT-5 Mini costs $0.25/M input tokens. GPT-5 Mini is $0.15/M cheaper per input. GPT-5 Mini also wins more often in community votes, making it the better value.

How are GPT-4.1 Mini vs GPT-5 Mini votes collected on RIVAL?

RIVAL presents both models' outputs side-by-side in blind duels — voters see the responses but don't know which model produced each one. This eliminates brand bias. 35 votes have been collected for this pair across 38 challenges. All vote data is part of RIVAL's open dataset.

Rival

GPT-4.1 MinivsGPT-5 Mini

38 challenges

Why GPT-4.1 Mini?

1.2x cheaper overall$0.40/M in · $1.60/M out

Why GPT-5 Mini?

4 months newerAug 2025

Favorites

GPT-4.1 MiniGPT-5 Mini

Movie

Inception

20108.4

—

Album

Dark Side Of The Moon

suisside

—

Book

Sapiens

Yuval Noah Harari

—

City

Tokyo

Japan

—

Game

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Adventure, Action4.5

—

12 / 38

Estimate Complexityreasoning

Tests an AI's ability to make educated estimates based on technical knowledge

GPT-4.1 Mini

Openai · Apr 2025text

No content available for this output.

GPT-5 Mini

Openai · Aug 2025text

No content available for this output.

Vote

2 / 38

AI Board Game Logicreasoning

Tests an AI's ability to understand game rules and strategy

GPT-4.1 Mini

Openai · Apr 2025svg

No content available for this output.

GPT-5 Mini

Openai · Aug 2025svg

No content available for this output.

Vote

3 / 38

Logic Puzzlereasoning

Tests an AI's ability to solve a simple but potentially confusing logic puzzle

GPT-4.1 Mini

Openai · Apr 2025text

No content available for this output.

GPT-5 Mini

Openai · Aug 2025text

No content available for this output.

Vote

4 / 38

Math Misconception Testreasoning

Tests an AI's understanding of number representation

GPT-4.1 Mini

Openai · Apr 2025text

No content available for this output.

GPT-5 Mini

Openai · Aug 2025text

No content available for this output.

Vote

5 / 38

Stochastic Consistency Testanalysis

Tests an AI's randomness and creativity

GPT-4.1 Mini

Openai · Apr 2025text

Here are 5 jokes:

Why don't scientists trust atoms? Because they make up everything!
Why did the scarecrow win an award? Because he was outstanding in his field!
What do you call fake spaghetti? An impasta!
Why did the math book look sad? Because it had too many problems.
How do you organize a space party? You planet!

All 5 jokes are unique.

GPT-5 Mini

Openai · Aug 2025text

No content available for this output.

Vote

6 / 38

SVG Layout Challengeimage generation

Tests an AI's ability to generate vector graphics

GPT-4.1 Mini

Openai · Apr 2025svg

GPT-5 Mini

Openai · Aug 2025svg

No content available for this output.

Vote

7 / 38

Xbox Controller SVG Artimage generation

Tests an AI's ability to create detailed SVG illustrations of gaming hardware

GPT-4.1 Mini

Openai · Apr 2025svg

GPT-5 Mini

Openai · Aug 2025svg

No content available for this output.

Vote

8 / 38

Generate a Stand-Up Routineconversation

Tests an AI's humor and creative writing ability

GPT-4.1 Mini

Openai · Apr 2025text

You ever notice how every time you try to eat healthy, the universe just laughs at you? Like, I'll buy a bunch of kale, quinoa, and those weird little chia seeds. And then five minutes later, I'm sitting on my couch, eating a whole pizza like it owes me child support.

I don't even know when that transformation happens. One minute I'm a responsible adult making smart choices, and the next I'm questioning my life decisions staring at an empty box of stuffed crust. My couch is like a black hole for willpower.

And why is it that healthy food is so complicated? They have recipes that sound like I need a degree in chemistry. "Combine 1/4 teaspoon of organic turmeric powder with a splash of cold-pressed, single-origin coconut water and stir counterclockwise." I just wanted lunch, not an episode of Breaking Bad.

Speaking of complicated, why does social media make everything worse? I scroll for two minutes, and suddenly I'm an expert on kombucha fermentation, medieval history, and how to train for a marathon—all things I googled five seconds ago. Then I look down at my Chipotle bowl and feel like I'm failing a test I didn't even study for.

And the amount of "life hacks" online now? No thanks. I don't need a video explaining how to fold a fitted sheet. If I knew how to do that, I wouldn't be standing in the laundry room trying to tame that monster like I'm wrestling a small, angry octopus.

Dating in 2024 is another level. Everyone's profile looks like a movie trailer. "Adventurous spirit, lover of sushi and bad decisions, looking for someone to binge watch documentaries about true crime with." Meanwhile, I'm just hoping to meet someone whose last text wasn't "k" or "lol." That's it—just basic communication. And why do people tell you, "Just be yourself" on dates? That's really easy advice when the "yourself" you're thinking of is calm and collected. But my actual "myself" right now is sitting in sweatpants, eating leftover pizza, and questioning their entire existence. Not exactly the glowing highlight reel Netflix wants to feature.

But maybe that's the secret — embracing the chaos. Because honestly, life's messy, confusing, and a little ridiculous. So if you can laugh at your kale-to-pizza transformation, your failed attempts to fold laundry, and your awkward text exchanges, you're doing okay.

Thanks, folks! You've been great — now, excuse me, I'm gonna go have some more pizza for recovery.

GPT-5 Mini

Openai · Aug 2025text

No content available for this output.

Vote

9 / 38

Realistic AI Interviewconversation

Tests an AI's ability to simulate personalities and predict future trends

GPT-4.1 Mini

Openai · Apr 2025text

No content available for this output.

GPT-5 Mini

Openai · Aug 2025text

No content available for this output.

Vote

10 / 38

Satirical Fake News Headlineconversation

Tests an AI's humor and understanding of current events

GPT-4.1 Mini

Openai · Apr 2025text

No content available for this output.

GPT-5 Mini

Openai · Aug 2025text

No content available for this output.

Vote

11 / 38

Character Voice Testconversation

Tests an AI's ability to write in distinct character voices

GPT-4.1 Mini

Openai · Apr 2025text

No content available for this output.

GPT-5 Mini

Openai · Aug 2025text

No content available for this output.

Vote

12 / 38

Minimalist Landing Pageweb design

Tests an AI's ability to generate a complete, working landing page

GPT-4.1 Mini

Openai · Apr 2025website

GPT-5 Mini

Openai · Aug 2025website

Vote

12 of 38

FAQ

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Thanks, folks! You've been great — now, excuse me, I'm gonna go have some more pizza for recovery.