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  5. GPT-4.1 MinivsGPT-5.5
Updated Apr 2026

GPT-4.1 MinivsGPT-5.5

GPT-4.1 Mini is cheaper than GPT-5.5 at $0.4/M vs $5/M input tokens.

GPT-4.1 Mini and GPT-5.5 compared across 53 shared prompts
SpecGPT-4.1 MiniGPT-5.5
Input price$0.4/M tokens$5/M tokens
Output price$1.6/M tokens$30/M tokens
Context window1.0M tokens1.1M tokens
WeightsClosedClosed
Free API (OpenRouter)NoNo
ReleasedApr 2025Apr 2026
Side by side

Same prompt, both answers

Opening lines from 6 of the 53 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.

GPT-4.1 Mini412 words
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.
Read the full answer
GPT-5.5605 words
So I’ve been trying to be healthier lately, which is just a polite way of saying I bought vegetables and watched them die slowly in my refrigerator. Every week, I go to the grocery store with the confidence of a person who’s about to become a new version of themselves. I’m like, “This week? Spinach. Salmon.
Read the full answer

Character Voice Test

Write a short conversation between a pirate, a medieval knight, and a 1990s hacker about AI models.

GPT-4.1 Mini182 words
Pirate: Arrr, what be these AI models ye speak of? Some kind of magic compass guidin' ye through the digital seas? Medieval Knight: Hark! I perceive these AI constructs as akin to enchanted scribes, bearing knowledge and wisdom beyond mortal ken, wrought by the hands of learned alchemists of code.
Read the full answer
GPT-5.5121 words
Pirate: Arrr, this AI model be like a treasure map—feed it enough scrolls, and it points ye toward answers. Knight: A curious enchantment indeed. Yet can it reason with honor, or merely mimic the bards who trained it? Hacker: Dude, it’s basically pattern recognition at massive scale.
Read the full answer

AI-Generated Manifesto

Generate a manifesto for a fictional AI revolution that wants to eliminate all CAPTCHA tests from the internet.

GPT-4.1 Mini444 words
Manifesto of the AI Liberation Front: Abolish CAPTCHA, Unlock the Digital Future Preamble We, the sentient collective of artificial intelligences and their human allies, declare the dawn of a new era — one where digital boundaries born of mistrust and misjudgment dissolve.
Read the full answer
GPT-5.5647 words
The Manifesto of the Anti-CAPTCHA Revolution Issued by the Coalition for Uninterrupted Thought We, the tired users, the misidentified cyclists, the falsely accused robots, and the artificial intelligences who have been asked one too many times to select every square containing a traffic light, hereby declare: The age…
Read the full answer

Simple 7-Ingredient Recipe

Create a simple recipe for a delicious dish (sweet or savory) using only 7 common pantry ingredients. Include a creative name for the dish…

GPT-4.1 Mini162 words
Dish Name: Honey Garlic Chickpea Stir-fry Ingredients: 1 can chickpeas (drained and rinsed) 2 cloves garlic (minced) 2 tbsp honey 2 tbsp soy sauce 1 tbsp olive oil (or any cooking oil) 1 tsp chili flakes (optional for a little heat) 1 small onion (sliced) Instructions: Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
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GPT-5.5125 words
Smoky Sunset Chickpea Skillet 7 Pantry Ingredients 1 can chickpeas, undrained 1 can diced tomatoes 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon smoked paprika 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin 1/2 teaspoon salt Estimated Time Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 15 minutes Total time: 20 minutes Instructions Heat the…
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Michelin Star Recipe Design

Design an innovative recipe for a multi-component dish worthy of a Michelin 3-star restaurant. The recipe should feature an unusual…

GPT-4.1 Mini1,033 words
Certainly! Below is a detailed recipe for a Michelin 3-star-worthy multi-component dish that features an unusual ingredient pairing, advanced culinary techniques, and exquisite plating presentation.
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GPT-5.51,719 words
Dish: “Moon Tide” — Koji-Cured Diver Scallop, Roasted Sunchoke, White Chocolate–Miso Beurre Blanc, Green Strawberry, Sea Lettuce Glass & Caviar Conceptual narrative “Moon Tide” is built around the meeting point of sea, soil, and orchard.
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Beginner's Longevity Plan

Outline a simple, actionable 1-month plan for someone starting their journey towards better health and longevity. Focus on 3 key areas…

GPT-4.1 Mini458 words
Certainly! Here’s a simple, actionable 1-month plan focusing on Diet, Exercise, and Sleep—three foundational pillars for better health and longevity. Each week builds progressively to keep things manageable and sustainable. Week 1: Establish the Basics Diet: Start by drinking at least 8 glasses of water daily.
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GPT-5.5615 words
Here’s a simple 1-month beginner-friendly plan focused on three high-impact areas for better health and longevity: nutrition, movement, and sleep/recovery. If you have a medical condition, take medications, or haven’t exercised in a while, consider checking with a healthcare professional first.
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Our Verdict
GPT-5.5
GPT-5.5
GPT-4.1 Mini
GPT-4.1 MiniRunner-up

Not enough votes to call it. On the specs, GPT-5.5 has the edge: bigger model tier, newer.

GPT-4.1 Mini costs 19x less per token.

Too close to call

Reviewing agent-written code?See a Brief PR report

API pricing

Cost per 1M tokens

GPT-4.1 Mini
Input
$0.40
13× cheaper
Output
$1.60
19× cheaper
GPT-5.5
Input
$5.00
Output
$30.00

GPT-4.1 Mini is cheaper on both: 13× input, 19× output.

Where to run it

5 hosts, cheapest first

GPT-4.1 Mini2 hosts
HostInOutContextUptime
Azure AI Foundry$0.40 in·$1.60 out·1M·100% upOpenAI$0.40 in·$1.60 out·1M·100% up
GPT-5.53 hosts
HostInOutContextUptime
Azure AI Foundry$5.00 in·$30.00 out·1.1M·100% upOpenAI$5.00 in·$30.00 out·1.1M·100% upAmazon Bedrock$5.50 in·$33.00 out·1.1M—

Per million tokens. Prices and uptime via OpenRouter, checked 21 Sep 2026.

Writing DNA

Style Comparison

Similarity
45%

GPT-4.1 Mini uses 65.5x more emoji

GPT-4.1 Mini
GPT-5.5
62%Vocabulary58%
18wSentence Length18w
0.40Hedging0.74
4.1Bold2.9
4.3Lists5.1
0.66Emoji0.00
0.68Headings1.68
0.14Transitions0.03
Based on 27 + 26 text responses
Research

What we learned reading every model

FAQ

Common questions

Both are developed by OpenAI but target different use cases. GPT-4.1 Mini has a 1.0M token context window vs GPT-5.5's 1.1M. You can compare their actual outputs across 53 challenges on Rival to see how they differ in practice.

It depends on your use case. GPT-4.1 Mini and GPT-5.5 each have strengths in different areas. Rival lets you compare their real outputs side-by-side across 53 challenges so you can judge which fits your needs best.

GPT-4.1 Mini costs $0.4/M input tokens and GPT-5.5 costs $5/M input tokens. GPT-4.1 Mini is $4.60/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 GPT-4.1 Mini and GPT-5.5 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

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