GPT-5.1 Codex mini vs GPT-5.1 Chat
GPT-5.1 Codex mini comes out ahead, 59 to 38 on our weighted score, and it is the cheaper option too.
- Our pick
OpenAIGPT-5.1 Codex mini
59/100- ECI—
- Price$0.25 / $2.00
- Context400K
- OpenAI
GPT-5.1 Chat
38/100- ECI—
- Price$1.25 / $10.00
- Context128K
Add a model
Make it a three-way comparison.
GPT-5.1 Codex mini is our pick
GPT-5.1 Codex mini is the better all-round choice, scoring 59/100 against GPT-5.1 Chat (38). It leads on price and context window. The score weighs price 50%, inputs & features 30%, context window 20%. None of the shared benchmarks cover every model here yet, so capability is left out of this verdict.
- CapabilityNot enough dataNo independent benchmark covers every model here yet
- Lowest priceGPT-5.1 Codex miniGPT-5.1 Codex mini $0.688 · GPT-5.1 Chat $3.44 per 1M tokens (3:1 blend)
- Longest contextGPT-5.1 Codex miniGPT-5.1 Codex mini 400,000 · GPT-5.1 Chat 128,000 tokens
- Widest inputsSame inputsGPT-5.1 Codex mini: Text, Images · GPT-5.1 Chat: Text, Images
- Self-hostingNo open weightsBoth are available only through APIs
| Measure | Weight | GPT-5.1 Codex mini | GPT-5.1 Chat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | 50% | 58 | 24 |
| Inputs & features | 30% | 70 | 70 |
| Context window | 20% | 44 | 24 |
| Overall | 100% | 59/100 | 38/100 |
Left out because at least one model lacks the data: capability. The remaining weights were rescaled.
Every spec in one table
Highlighted cells lead their row. Dashes mean the data is not published.
| Specification | GPT-5.1 Codex miniOpenAI | GPT-5.1 ChatOpenAI |
|---|---|---|
| Capability | ||
| Capabilities Index (ECI) | — | — |
| ECI rank | — | — |
| Price per million tokens | ||
| Input | $0.25 (best) | $1.25 |
| Output | $2.00 (best) | $10.00 |
| Cached input | — | — |
| Blended (3:1) | $0.688 (best) | $3.44 |
| Long-context rate | Same rate | Same rate |
| Price source | Median of 10 providers | Median of 2 providers |
| Limits | ||
| Context window | 400,000 tokens (best) | 128,000 tokens |
| Max output | 128,000 tokens (best) | 16,384 tokens |
| Inputs and features | ||
| Text | Yes | Yes |
| Images | Yes | Yes |
| PDFs | No | No |
| Audio | No | No |
| Video | No | No |
| Reasoning | Yes | Yes |
| Tool calling | Yes | Yes |
| Structured output | Yes | Yes |
| Availability | ||
| Weights | Proprietary | Proprietary |
| API model ID | — | — |
| API providers | 10 (best) | 2 |
| Released | Nov 13, 2025 | Nov 13, 2025 |
| Knowledge cutoff | Sep 30, 2024 | Sep 30, 2024 |
What would a month cost?
Enter your expected volume in millions of tokens. List prices only; caching and batch discounts would lower these.
- GPT-5.1 Codex mini$6.50
- GPT-5.1 Chat$32.50
Which should you choose?
Which is better: GPT-5.1 Codex mini or GPT-5.1 Chat?
GPT-5.1 Codex mini is the better all-round choice, scoring 59/100 against GPT-5.1 Chat (38). It leads on price and context window. The score weighs price 50%, inputs & features 30%, context window 20%. None of the shared benchmarks cover every model here yet, so capability is left out of this verdict.
Which is cheaper, GPT-5.1 Codex mini or GPT-5.1 Chat?
GPT-5.1 Codex mini is cheaper at $0.25 input / $2.00 output per million tokens (median across 10 API providers). GPT-5.1 Chat costs $1.25 input / $10.00 output per million tokens (median across 2 API providers). At a typical mix of three input tokens to one output token, that is $0.688 per million tokens for GPT-5.1 Codex mini versus $3.44 for GPT-5.1 Chat (5× as much).
Which scores higher on benchmarks?
There is no independent benchmark that covers both models yet. GPT-5.1 Codex mini has not been scored yet and GPT-5.1 Chat has not been scored yet.
Which is better for coding?
There are no published SWE-bench Verified results for GPT-5.1 Codex mini and GPT-5.1 Chat yet, so there is no like-for-like coding score. Test both on a sample of your own tasks. Both support tool calling for agent workflows.
Which has the bigger context window?
GPT-5.1 Codex mini has the largest context window at 400,000 tokens, against 128,000 for GPT-5.1 Chat. Maximum output per response: GPT-5.1 Codex mini up to 128,000, GPT-5.1 Chat up to 16,384 tokens.
Which can read images, PDFs, audio or video?
GPT-5.1 Codex mini accepts text and images; GPT-5.1 Chat accepts text and images. They handle the same number of input types.
Are any of these open source?
No. GPT-5.1 Codex mini and GPT-5.1 Chat are proprietary and only available through APIs and apps.
Which is newer?
GPT-5.1 Codex mini is the newest, released Nov 13, 2025. GPT-5.1 Chat came out Nov 13, 2025. Knowledge cutoff: GPT-5.1 Codex mini Sep 30, 2024, GPT-5.1 Chat Sep 30, 2024.
How do you decide the winner?
Each model gets a 0–100 score on capability (50%, independent benchmark results); price (25%, blended price per million tokens (3 input : 1 output), log scale); inputs & features (15%, image, PDF, audio and video input, tool calling, structured output and reasoning); context window (10%, maximum tokens per request, log scale). Dimensions missing for any model are dropped and the remaining weights rescaled, so every model is judged on the same evidence. Specs and prices come from public model listings and the labs’ own API pages; capability scores come from independent benchmark runs. Data updated Oct 4, 2026.
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