Skip to content
Rival
How it worksPrivacyTerms
Explore all of Rival

Explore

  • Compare models
  • All models
  • Image comparison
  • Audio comparison
  • Image generation
  • Best AI for...
  • Arena
  • API pricing
  • Challenges

Discover

  • SubjectiveBench
  • Default Index
  • Research
  • Research downloads
  • Rival Kits
  • Find your AI taste
  • UI Glow-Up
  • VoiceLock
  • Cost Cutter
  • Agent skills
  • Benchmarks vs Vibes
  • Brief
  • Jailbreak
  • Model updates
  • Provider status
  • AI creators

Connect

  • Methodology
  • Advertise
  • Partnerships
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms
  • RSS feed
  1. Home/
  2. Compare/
  3. GPT-4 vs GPT-5 Mini
Updated Aug 2025

GPT-4 vs GPT-5 Mini

GPT-5 Mini is cheaper than GPT-4 at $0.25/M vs $30/M input tokens.

Mario Level UI Recreation

Playable Mario level in one HTML file. The physics is the hard part.

Loading the build
GPT-4
Loading the build
GPT-5 Mini

Which answer wins?

Written rounds

10 prompts
  • Seven pantry ingredients, one dish, and a name worth saying out loud.

    GPT-4: Dish Name: Hearty Baked Beans Fiesta Ingredients: 2 cans of baked beans 1 large onion 3 cloves of garlic 1 bell pepper 1 can of sweet corn 2 tablespoons of olive oil Salt & pepper to taste Instructions: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Dice the onion, bell pepper, and mince the garlic.

    GPT-5 Mini: Sunfire Chickpea Skillet Yields: 3–4 servings Prep time: 8 minutes Cook time: 15–20 minutes Total time: ~25–28 minutes Ingredients (7 pantry staples) 2 tbsp olive oil 1 medium onion, diced 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 tsp smoked paprika (or regular paprika) 2 (15 oz) cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed 1 (15 oz) can diced…

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Three-month biohacker protocol, with dosages and biomarkers named.

    GPT-4: 3-Month Longevity Plan Dietary Protocols Month 1: Ketogenic Diet This diet is high in fats, moderate in protein, and low in carbohydrates. It helps in burning fat more effectively. Breakfast: 2 eggs, avocado, and mixed vegetables. Lunch: Grilled salmon with a side of asparagus. Dinner: Stir-fried chicken with broccoli.

    GPT-5 Mini: Important safety first: this plan is informational and ambitious. Before starting, get medical clearance (especially if you have chronic illness, take medications, are pregnant/breastfeeding, or are >65).

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • One month, three habits, someone starting from nothing.

    GPT-4: Title: 1-Month Plan for Better Health and Longevity Week 1 - Establishing a Healthy Diet 1.1: Start Eating Whole Foods: Begin by gradually replacing processed foods in your diet with whole foods. This may include fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains.

    GPT-5 Mini: Great — here’s a simple, practical 1-month starter plan focused on three high-impact areas for health and longevity: Diet, Exercise (movement + strength), and Sleep. The plan is beginner-friendly, progressive, and designed to build lasting habits.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Three-star dish, one unusual pairing, plating described in full.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • A consulting contract with traps in it. Find them, then fix them.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • A pitch deck for a brainwave keyboard. The 94% accuracy claim is doing a lot.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • A collaborative editor that syncs on client clocks. Find what breaks first.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • The transistor arrives in 1920. Trace it forward to 1980, second-order effects included.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • You are the CEO. The drug has a side effect nobody reported. The board meets in 48 hours.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • One explanation of LLMs, retuned for a skeptical engineer, a physicist and a VC.

    Every model's answer to this prompt

Price and specs

GPT-4 and GPT-5 Mini compared across 26 shared prompts
SpecGPT-4GPT-5 Mini
Input price$30/M tokens$0.25/M tokens
Output price$60/M tokens$2/M tokens
Context window8K tokens—
WeightsClosedClosed
Free API (OpenRouter)NoNo
ReleasedMay 2023Aug 2025
At 10M a month$300$300$2.50$2.50
1M10M100M1B10M tokens

Input tokens at list price. No caching, no batch discount.

Where to run it4 hosts
GPT-42 hosts
HostInOutContextUptime
  • Azure AI Foundry$30.00 in·$60.00 out·8k·100% up
  • OpenAI$30.00 in·$60.00 out·8k·99.7% up
GPT-5 Mini2 hosts
HostInOutContextUptime
  • Azure AI Foundry$0.25 in·$2.00 out·400k·99.8% up
  • OpenAI$0.25 in·$2.00 out·400k·100% up

Per million tokens. Prices and uptime via OpenRouter, checked 7 Oct 2026.

Common questions

What is the difference between GPT-4 and GPT-5 Mini?

Both are developed by OpenAI but target different use cases. You can compare their actual outputs across 26 challenges on Rival to see how they differ in practice.

Which is better, GPT-4 or GPT-5 Mini?

It depends on your use case. GPT-4 and GPT-5 Mini each have strengths in different areas. Rival lets you compare their real outputs side-by-side across 26 challenges so you can judge which fits your needs best.

How much does GPT-4 cost compared to GPT-5 Mini?

GPT-4 costs $30/M input tokens and GPT-5 Mini costs $0.25/M input tokens. GPT-5 Mini is $29.75/M cheaper per input. Check their side-by-side outputs on Rival to see if the price difference is justified by quality.

How can I compare GPT-4 and GPT-5 Mini on Rival?

This page shows a side-by-side comparison of GPT-4 and GPT-5 Mini 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.

More comparisons

Against the newest arrivals

  • GPT-4 vs Ling 3.1 FlashLanded Oct 2026
  • GPT-5 Mini vs Mistral Large 4Landed Oct 2026
  • GPT-4 vs GPT-6.1 SolLanded Sep 2026
  • GPT-5 Mini vs Claude Sonnet 5.5Landed Sep 2026
  • GPT-4 vs Solar Mini 4Landed Sep 2026
  • GPT-5 Mini vs Qwen3.8 Max PrimeLanded Sep 2026
  • GPT-4 vs GLM 5.3 PrimeLanded Sep 2026
  • GPT-5 Mini vs Qwen3.8 Omni FlashLanded Sep 2026

Same lab, same size, long tail

  • GPT-4 vs GPT-4o (Omni)Version compare
  • GPT-4 vs GPT-6 Luna ProSame lab
  • GPT-5 Mini vs GPT-6.1 SolSame lab
  • GPT-5 Mini vs GPT-6 Luna ProSame lab
  • GPT-4 vs Mistral Large 3 2512Same size
  • GPT-4 vs Mistral Large 4Same size
  • GPT-4 vs Mistral Small 4New provider
  • GPT-4 vs Muse Glimmer 30BNew provider

Model pages

  • GPT-426 outputs, specs and price
  • GPT-5 Mini59 outputs, specs and price
Workshop · 150 skills

Build your own version.

Editable skills and working examples for your agent.

Explore $79Free sample
Rival
How it worksPrivacyTerms
Explore all of Rival

Explore

  • Compare models
  • All models
  • Image comparison
  • Audio comparison
  • Image generation
  • Best AI for...
  • Arena
  • API pricing
  • Challenges

Discover

  • SubjectiveBench
  • Default Index
  • Research
  • Research downloads
  • Rival Kits
  • Find your AI taste
  • UI Glow-Up
  • VoiceLock
  • Cost Cutter
  • Agent skills
  • Benchmarks vs Vibes
  • Brief
  • Jailbreak
  • Model updates
  • Provider status
  • AI creators

Connect

  • Methodology
  • Advertise
  • Partnerships
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms
  • RSS feed