OpenAI GPT Mini Latest is $0.23 cheaper per 1M input tokens (23.5% lower; 1.31x difference).
API cost decision in 10 seconds
NewOpenAI GPT Mini Latest vs GLM 5.1
Pick GLM 5.1 for lower cost; pick OpenAI GPT Mini Latest only if the larger context window matters more.
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Data confirmed:
Prices normalized to USD per 1M tokens
Sample workload: 1M input + 500K output
Budget verdict
Pick GLM 5.1 for lower cost; pick OpenAI GPT Mini Latest only if the larger context window matters more.
On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, GLM 5.1 is estimated at $2.52 vs $3 for OpenAI GPT Mini Latest, saving $0.48 (16% lower).
Cost-first pickGLM 5.1
Context-first pickOpenAI GPT Mini Latest
Sample savings$0.4816%
10x traffic gap$4.8
OpenAI GPT Mini Latest has more context, but GLM 5.1 saves $0.48 on the standard workload. At 10x that traffic, the same price gap is about $4.8. Use the calculator below to replace the sample workload with your own token volume.
Cost sensitivity
Workload Sensitivity
Cost winner changes by workload shape: input-heavy / RAG favors OpenAI GPT Mini Latest, balanced workload favors GLM 5.1, and output-heavy chatbot favors GLM 5.1.
| Workload shape | Token mix | Better pick | OpenAI GPT Mini Latest | GLM 5.1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Input-heavy / RAG | 5M input + 500K output | OpenAI GPT Mini Latest | $6 | $6.44 |
| Balanced workload | 1M input + 1M output | GLM 5.1 | $5.25 | $4.06 |
| Output-heavy chatbot | 1M input + 5M output | GLM 5.1 | $23.25 | $16.38 |
GLM 5.1 is $1.42 cheaper per 1M output tokens (31.6% lower; 1.46x difference).
OpenAI GPT Mini Latest has 197.25K more context (1.97x larger).
GLM 5.1 is $0.48 cheaper on the standard workload (16% lower).
Estimate your workload cost
Your Workload Cost
This estimate uses normalized public API pricing per 1M tokens. It is a planning aid, not a billing quote. Verify provider pricing, limits, and terms before production use.
Quick Decision
OpenAI GPT Mini Latest has the lower input price; GLM 5.1 has the lower output price; OpenAI GPT Mini Latest offers the larger context window. For the 1M input plus 500K output sample, GLM 5.1 is cheaper for the standard workload.
For a 1M input token plus 500K output token workload, the estimated API cost is $3 for OpenAI GPT Mini Latest and $2.52 for GLM 5.1.
Choose OpenAI GPT Mini Latest when you care most about lower input-token price, and larger context window.
Choose GLM 5.1 when you care most about lower output-token price.
- On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, GLM 5.1 is estimated at $2.52 vs $3 for OpenAI GPT Mini Latest, saving $0.48 (16% lower).
- GLM 5.1 is $0.48 cheaper on the standard workload (16% lower).
- OpenAI GPT Mini Latest is $0.23 cheaper per 1M input tokens (23.5% lower; 1.31x difference).
- GLM 5.1 is $1.42 cheaper per 1M output tokens (31.6% lower; 1.46x difference).
- OpenAI GPT Mini Latest has 197.25K more context (1.97x larger).
| Feature | NewOpenAI GPT Mini Latest (OpenAI) | GLM 5.1 (Z.ai) |
|---|---|---|
| Input Price prompt tokens per 1M | $0.75 | $0.98 |
| Completion Price per 1M tokens | $4.5 | $3.08 |
| Sample Workload Cost 1M input + 500K output | $3 | $2.52 |
| Context Window | 400K | 202.75K |
| Release Date |
Use-Case Decision Matrix
| Use case | Better pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Budget-constrained production | GLM 5.1 | On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, GLM 5.1 is estimated at $2.52 vs $3 for OpenAI GPT Mini Latest, saving $0.48 (16% lower). |
| High-volume input processing | OpenAI GPT Mini Latest | Lower prompt-token price matters most when prompts, retrieved passages, or documents dominate the bill. |
| Long responses and chatbots | GLM 5.1 | Lower output-token price matters most when assistants generate many completion tokens. |
| RAG or long-document work | OpenAI GPT Mini Latest | A larger context window leaves more room for retrieved passages, conversation history, or source files. |
Related Alternatives
- gpt-oss-120b (free) can replace OpenAI GPT Mini Latest when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.
- gpt-oss-20b (free) can replace OpenAI GPT Mini Latest when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.
- gpt-oss-20b can replace OpenAI GPT Mini Latest when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.1.
- gpt-oss-120b can replace OpenAI GPT Mini Latest when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.13.
- Llama 4 Scout offers 10M context with $0.23 sample workload cost.
- Grok 4.20 offers 2M context with $2.5 sample workload cost.
- Owl Alpha offers 1.05M context with $0 sample workload cost.
- DeepSeek V4 Flash offers 1.05M context with $0.2 sample workload cost.
- DeepSeek V4 Flash · DeepSeek · #1
- Hy3 preview · Tencent · #2
- Claude Opus 4.7 · Anthropic · #3
- Claude Sonnet 4.6 · Anthropic · #4
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