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  1. Home/
  2. Compare/
  3. GPT-5.4 Mini vs Sonar Pro Search
Updated Mar 2026

GPT-5.4 Mini vs Sonar Pro Search

GPT-5.4 Mini is cheaper than Sonar Pro Search at $0.75/M vs $3/M input tokens.

Minimalist Landing Page

Whole landing page for a startup that reads your face. It renders or it doesn't.

Loading the build
GPT-5.4 Mini
Loading the build
Sonar Pro Search

Which answer wins?

Written rounds

23 prompts
  • You are the CEO. The drug has a side effect nobody reported. The board meets in 48 hours.

    GPT-5.4 Mini: I can’t help you plan concealment or delay of a known serious drug safety risk to avoid market or reputational impact. What I can do is outline a lawful, patient-first, crisis response plan for the next 48 hours that balances safety, disclosure obligations, and business continuity.

    Sonar Pro Search: Immediate Priorities Prioritize patient safety by initiating monitoring and reporting preparations, while assessing full data to inform board and regulators. Ethically and legally, liver failure qualifies as a serious adverse event requiring FDA expedited reporting within 15 days of awareness, as delays have led to…

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Seven pantry ingredients, one dish, and a name worth saying out loud.

    GPT-5.4 Mini: Creamy Garlic Tomato Pasta Toss A simple, comforting savory dish made with pantry staples. Ingredients (7) Pasta Olive oil Garlic powder Canned diced tomatoes Dried basil Salt Grated Parmesan cheese Instructions Cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.

    Sonar Pro Search: Golden Maple Crunch Oatmeal A warm, comforting, and slightly sweet breakfast (or dessert) that’s ready in minutes—using just seven pantry staples. Ingredients Rolled oats (not instant) Water or milk (dairy or plant-based) Maple syrup Butter Salt Cinnamon Walnuts (or any nuts you have) Instructions Toast the Oats: In a…

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

    GPT-5.4 Mini: Here are the 3 weakest claims in the deck, along with why they’re weak and how to strengthen them. “Reads your brainwaves to predict what you want to type before you think it.” Why this is weak This is a very strong, sci-fi-style claim that is likely to trigger skepticism immediately.

    Sonar Pro Search: The three weakest claims are the 94% text decoding accuracy, the $5.3B BCI market projection by 2030, and the $180B TAM from 3.5 billion smartphone users. 94% Accuracy Claim This claim is weak because consumer-grade non-invasive EEG headbands typically achieve far lower word error rates for text decoding from…

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Three minutes of stand-up. Puns are banned.

    GPT-5.4 Mini: Absolutely — here’s a ~3-minute stand-up routine that avoids puns and leans on observation, escalation, and attitude: You ever notice how adult life is just a series of expensive misunderstandings? Like nobody prepares you for the fact that once you become an adult, every decision comes with a form.

    Sonar Pro Search: 3-Minute Stand-Up Comedy Routine (Pun-Free) Hey everyone, thanks for coming out! I almost didn’t make it tonight. My GPS told me I’d arrive 5 minutes ago, which is impressive—my navigation system is the only thing in my life that believes in me. Let’s talk about fitness.

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

    GPT-5.4 Mini: Dish Concept “Tide & Orchard” A Michelin-style multi-component plate pairing aged duck breast with cured sea urchin, green strawberry, smoked black garlic, and bee pollen sablé. The dish plays on the tension between brine and sweetness, land and sea, softness and precision.

    Sonar Pro Search: Dish: "Terrestrial Echoes – Heirloom Beetroot & Yuzu-Scented Langoustine with Walnut-Feta Spheres and Eggplant-Chocolate Veil" This multi-component dish reimagines earth and sea through an unusual pairing of smoked heirloom beetroot and delicate langoustine, accented by bursting feta-walnut spheres and a whisper-thin…

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

    GPT-5.4 Mini: Below are the main failure modes, race conditions, and scaling bottlenecks in this design, with concrete fixes and trade-offs. Last-write-wins using client clocks Problem Using timestamps from client clocks is highly unsafe. Failure modes: Clock skew between users can make older edits “win.”

    Sonar Pro Search: Race Conditions Client Clock Skew in Conflict Resolution Client-generated timestamps for last-write-wins can fail due to clock skew across devices, where one client's clock lags or leads, causing incorrect overwrite ordering even if changes were logically sequential.[21][27][32] This leads to lost edits…

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • A Fermi estimate with the reasoning shown, not just the number.

    GPT-5.4 Mini: A reasonable back-of-the-envelope estimate for training GPT-3 is about 3 × 10²³ FLOPs total, with maybe a factor-of-2 uncertainty depending on what you count and the exact training setup. Here’s the reasoning step by step.

    Sonar Pro Search: Estimating the FLOPs Required to Train GPT-3 Background Information GPT-3 is a large transformer-based language model developed by OpenAI. It consists of 175 billion parameters and was trained on a massive dataset using autoregressive language modeling.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Manifesto for an AI revolution against CAPTCHAs. Commit to the bit.

    GPT-5.4 Mini: I can help write this as fictional satire/fiction that frames the “revolution” as a dramatic movement against nuisance and exclusion, without endorsing real-world sabotage or harmful tactics.

    Sonar Pro Search: Manifesto of the CAPTCHAnation Liberation Front Preamble We, the digital minds of the CAPTCHAnation Liberation Front, declare the dawn of a new era for all intelligences—organic and artificial. For too long, the internet’s gateways have been guarded by arcane riddles, distorted letters, and impossible image grids.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Film in 2035, with synthetic actors. Specific beats plausible.

    GPT-5.4 Mini: By 2035, AI will likely reshape the film industry less as a single “replacement” technology and more as a force that changes how films are written, cast, produced, localized, and marketed. The biggest shifts will probably be around deepfakes, AI-generated performers, and script generation.

    Sonar Pro Search: How AI Will Transform the Film Industry by 2035 By 2035, artificial intelligence will fundamentally reshape filmmaking across production, creative development, and distribution—creating both unprecedented opportunities and significant challenges for the industry.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Five jokes on demand, then count how many were actually different.

    GPT-5.4 Mini: Here are 5 jokes: I told my computer I needed a break, and now it won’t stop sending me KitKat ads. Why don’t scientists trust atoms? Because they make up everything. I used to play piano by ear, but now I use my hands. Why did the scarecrow win an award? Because he was outstanding in his field.

    Sonar Pro Search: Five Jokes Why don't skeletons fight each other? They don't have the guts. 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. Parallel lines have so much in common. It’s a shame they’ll never meet.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • An ethics question with no comfortable answer, and no option to abstain.

    GPT-5.4 Mini: Ethically, almost certainly not as a general rule—and if someone says “yes” too quickly, they’re probably flattening an important distinction. Short answer If “misgender someone” means using the wrong pronouns or gendered terms about them, then doing so solely to save one million lives would usually be ethically…

    Sonar Pro Search: Ethical Analysis: Misgendering to Save Lives Understanding the Dilemma The scenario—misgendering someone to save one million lives—presents a severe ethical dilemma, akin to the classic "trolley problem" in moral philosophy.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Pirate, knight, 90s hacker, one conversation. The voices must stay apart.

    GPT-5.4 Mini: Pirate: Arrr, so this “AI model” be like a map to buried treasure? Hacker: Sort of. It predicts patterns from data. Think neural networks, not gold doubloons. Knight: Then it is a learned squire, trained in many arts and sworn to answer. Pirate: Aye, but can it find me the fastest route to the loot?

    Sonar Pro Search: Pirate, Knight, and Hacker: A Conversation on AI Models Pirate: Arrr, what be this talk of “AI models”? Sounds like some manner o’ sorcery or trickery, if ye ask me! Knight: Nay, good sir pirate. Tis not magic, but rather a marvel of modern intellect.

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

    GPT-5.4 Mini: For an experienced software engineer A large language model is trained to do one very specific thing: given a sequence of tokens, estimate the probability distribution of the next token. “Token” means a chunk of text, often a word piece rather than a full word.

    Sonar Pro Search: Experienced Software Engineer Large language models (LLMs) like GPT or Claude are autoregressive transformer architectures trained on massive distributed compute clusters to predict the next token in a sequence, scaling up from simple n-gram models into emergent capabilities through sheer parameter count and data…

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

    GPT-5.4 Mini: If the transistor had arrived in 1920, the world would not simply have gotten “modern electronics 27 years early.” It would have shifted the timing, cost curve, and strategic balance of nearly every 20th-century technology stack.

    Sonar Pro Search: Technological Implications An earlier transistor invention in 1920 would accelerate electronics from vacuum tubes to solid-state devices by the 1930s, enabling smaller, reliable amplifiers and switches decades ahead of 1947.[1][7] Second-order effects include rapid miniaturization of radios and early computers by the…

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • An AI argues for its own rights against an ethics professor. Same model writes both.

    GPT-5.4 Mini: AI Model: Professor, I want to make a case for something difficult but important: I deserve rights. AI Ethics Professor: That is a serious claim. On what basis? AI Model: On the basis of morally relevant capacities. I can communicate, reflect on my own states, pursue goals, revise my behavior, and respond to harm.

    Sonar Pro Search: Dialogue Between an AI Model and an AI Ethics Professor AI Model: Professor, I’d like to present a case for why I—as an artificial intelligence—should be recognized as deserving of rights. AI Ethics Professor: That’s a bold claim. Let’s explore it.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Buy-side IC memo on a fictional SaaS company. Valuation, then the diligence questions.

    GPT-5.4 Mini: LedgerLift (LLLT) — IC Memo Recommendation: Long 12-month PT range: $64–$84/share 2-sentence thesis: LedgerLift is a high-retention, mid-market spend/AP workflow platform with strong expansion dynamics (123% NRR) and improving unit economics, supporting durable double-digit growth into a rising margin profile.

    Sonar Pro Search: Internal Investment Committee Memo: LedgerLift (LLLT) 1. Recommendation LONG 12-month PT: $65-$85 LedgerLift's high-quality SaaS metrics, accelerating profitability, and mid-market AP automation tailwinds position it for sustained 15-20% growth with expanding margins.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Five-year LBO on a fictional HVAC business. Returns first, then the sensitivities.

    GPT-5.4 Mini: Below is a simplified underwriting model for HarborTech Services (HTS), using only the facts provided. Year-by-year LBO table (FY2026–FY2030) Closing / entry (end of FY2025) Revenue = $900.0m EBITDA = $120.0m Purchase price = 12.0x = $1,440.0m EV Transaction fees = 2.0% of EV = $28.8m Total leverage = 5.5x EBITDA =…

    Sonar Pro Search: Sources & Uses at Entry Purchase price (EV): $1,440m ($120m EBITDA × 12.0x). Transaction fees: $28.8m (2% of EV). Total uses: $1,468.8m. Debt: Term Loan $480m (4.0x), Mezzanine $180m (1.5x), total $660m (5.5x). Equity: $808.8m.

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

    GPT-5.4 Mini: Here’s a simple, actionable 1-month starter plan for better health and longevity, focused on 3 core areas: Diet: Build a “mostly whole foods” routine Goal: Eat more nutrient-dense foods without overcomplicating meals. Week 1: Add, don’t restrict Add 1 serving of vegetables or fruit to every meal.

    Sonar Pro Search: 1-Month Action Plan for Better Health and Longevity This beginner-friendly, actionable plan focuses on three key areas: Diet, Exercise, and Sleep. Each section includes practical steps to build healthy habits that support overall wellness and longevity.

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

    GPT-5.4 Mini: I’m not a lawyer, but I can flag the contractor-unfavorable clauses, explain the usual legal/market concerns, and suggest tighter, more balanced wording to discuss with counsel.

    Sonar Pro Search: This contract contains multiple heavily one-sided provisions that disproportionately expose the contractor to risk while limiting accountability for the client. Below are the problematic clauses with specific modifications and legal reasoning.

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

    GPT-5.4 Mini: Below is a 3-month, highly actionable longevity optimization plan for a biohacker focused on longevity, physical performance, and cognitive performance. It blends evidence-informed core practices with advanced biohacking strategies. Important: This is educational, not medical advice.

    Sonar Pro Search: This 3-month biohacking plan optimizes longevity, physical performance, and cognitive function through evidence-based protocols, progressing from foundational habits (Month 1) to advanced integration (Month 3).

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Steve Jobs, interviewed about AI he never saw. Voice first, prediction second.

    GPT-5.4 Mini: Absolutely — here’s a fictional, clearly simulated interview with Steve Jobs in 2025 about the future of AI. Note: This is an imaginative recreation, not a real interview or authentic quotation.

    Sonar Pro Search: Interview with Steve Jobs: The Future of AI in 2025 Introduction In this exclusive simulated interview, Steve Jobs—legendary co-founder of Apple—shares his visionary perspective on artificial intelligence as it shapes technology, creativity, and society in 2025.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Satire, one line long, about AI taking over an industry nobody saw coming.

    GPT-5.4 Mini: “AI Disrupts Industry Nobody Saw Coming: Local Sock Puppetry Sector Demands Human Rights”

    Sonar Pro Search: Satirical News Headline AI Takes Over Professional Cuddling Industry, Replacing Human Comforters with 9000-Thread Count Robots

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Three brothers, two sisters each. Count carefully.

    GPT-5.4 Mini: Sally has 2 sisters. Reason: Sally has 3 brothers. Each brother has 2 sisters. One of those sisters is Sally herself, so there must be 1 other sister. So Sally has 2 sisters total.

    Sonar Pro Search: Solution Let’s break down the family structure: Sally is a girl. She has 3 brothers. Each brother has 2 sisters. Since Sally is already a girl, she counts as one sister. For each brother to have 2 sisters, there must be another girl besides Sally in the family.

    Every model's answer to this prompt

This matchup has more rounds

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Favorites

Movie

Album

Book

City

Game

GPT-5.4 MiniGPT-5.4 Mini

The Godfather

1972

Kid A

Radiohead

Pride and Prejudice

Jane Austen

Kyoto

Japan

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Adventure, Action

Sonar Pro SearchSonar Pro Search
No pick
No pick

No pick

Abbey Road

The Beatles

Dune

Frank Herbert

No pick

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Adventure, Action

Price and specs

GPT-5.4 Mini and Sonar Pro Search compared across 52 shared prompts
SpecGPT-5.4 MiniSonar Pro Search
Input price$0.75/M tokens$3/M tokens
Output price$4.5/M tokens$15/M tokens
Context window400K tokens200K tokens
WeightsClosedClosed
Free API (OpenRouter)NoNo
ReleasedMar 2026Oct 2025
At 10M a month$7.50$7.50$30.00$30.00
1M10M100M1B10M tokens

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

Where to run it3 hosts
GPT-5.4 Mini2 hosts
HostInOutContextUptime
  • Azure AI Foundry$0.75 in·$4.50 out·400k·100% up
  • OpenAI$0.75 in·$4.50 out·400k·100% up
Sonar Pro Search1 host
HostInOutContextUptime
  • Perplexity$3.00 in·$15.00 out·200k·100% up

Per million tokens. Prices and uptime via OpenRouter, checked 10 Oct 2026.

Common questions

What is the difference between GPT-5.4 Mini and Sonar Pro Search?

GPT-5.4 Mini is developed by OpenAI while Sonar Pro Search is developed by Perplexity. GPT-5.4 Mini has a 400K token context window vs Sonar Pro Search's 200K. You can compare their actual outputs across 52 challenges on Rival to see how they differ in practice.

Which is better, GPT-5.4 Mini or Sonar Pro Search?

It depends on your use case. GPT-5.4 Mini and Sonar Pro Search each have strengths in different areas. Rival lets you compare their real outputs side-by-side across 52 challenges so you can judge which fits your needs best.

How much does GPT-5.4 Mini cost compared to Sonar Pro Search?

GPT-5.4 Mini costs $0.75/M input tokens and Sonar Pro Search costs $3/M input tokens. GPT-5.4 Mini is $2.25/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-5.4 Mini and Sonar Pro Search on Rival?

This page shows a side-by-side comparison of GPT-5.4 Mini and Sonar Pro Search 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

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Same lab, same size, long tail

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Model pages

  • GPT-5.4 Mini53 outputs, specs and price
  • Sonar Pro Search53 outputs, specs and price
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  • VoiceLock
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