Exceptional value for code tasks at $0.25/1M input tokens — roughly 10x cheaper than GPT-5.1 flagship
400K context window handles large repositories, multi-file diffs, and long test suites in a single pass
Codex-tuned weights give it an edge over generic budget models like GPT-4o-mini on syntax accuracy and boilerplate generation
Fast inference makes it suitable for real-time IDE integrations and agentic coding loops
Weaknesses
Weaker at complex multi-step algorithmic reasoning compared to full GPT-5.1 or Claude Sonnet 4.6
Non-code creative writing and nuanced instruction-following lag behind frontier models
No native image input support limits multimodal coding tasks like UI-from-screenshot generation
Monthly cost estimate
See what OpenAI: GPT-5.1-Codex-Mini actually costs at your usage level
Input tokens / month1M
10k50M
Output tokens / month500k
10k25M
Input cost
$0.250
Output cost
$1.00
Total / month
$1.25
Based on OpenAI: GPT-5.1-Codex-Mini API pricing: $0.25/1M input · $2/1M output. Real costs vary by provider discounts and caching. Check the provider for exact current rates.
Price History
OpenAI: GPT-5.1-Codex-Mini pricing over time
→0% since Mar 27
2 data points · tracked daily since Mar 27, 2026
Ready to try it?
Start using OpenAI: GPT-5.1-Codex-Mini
High-volume code generation, autocomplete pipelines, and developer tooling where cost efficiency matters more than peak reasoning depth.. Start free — no card required.
Recommendations are made independently based on real-world use and public benchmarks. See our disclosures for details.
Compare alternatives
Similar models worth checking before you commit.
OpenAIBudget
OpenAI: GPT-5 Mini
GPT-5 Mini is OpenAI's budget-tier distillation of GPT-5, designed for high-volume, cost-sensitive tasks that don't require full flagship reasoning depth. It supersedes GPT-4o with improved instruction following and a massively expanded 400K context window at a fraction of the cost.
Verdict
The new budget default for OpenAI API users: faster, cheaper, and smarter than GPT-4o with a context window that punches well above its price tier.
Quality score
66%
Pricing
$0.25/1M in
$2.00/1M out
Speed
Very fast
Best for high-volume production workloads — chatbots, summarization pipelines, and document q&a — where cost efficiency matters more than peak reasoning.
Context
400k tokens
Output cost of $2/1M tokens is higher than some competing budget models (Gemini Flash at ~$0.60/1M output). At scale, output-heavy tasks may erode cost advantages — monitor token ratios carefully. Supersedes GPT-4o, which may be deprecated on a rolling basis.
BudgetFastLong ContextHigh VolumeOpenAI
Best for
High-volume production workloads — chatbots, summarization pipelines, and document Q&A — where cost efficiency matters more than peak reasoning.
Claude 3.5 Haiku is Anthropic's fastest and most affordable model in the Claude 3.5 family, designed for high-throughput tasks requiring quick responses without sacrificing Claude's core instruction-following quality. It handles a massive 200K context window while maintaining speed suitable for production pipelines.
Verdict
The fastest way to get Claude's quality in production — just don't confuse 'fast' with 'cheap'.
Quality score
64%
Pricing
$0.80/1M in
$4.00/1M out
Speed
Very fast
Best for high-volume, latency-sensitive applications like chatbots, classification, data extraction, and agentic tool use where speed and cost matter more than peak reasoning depth.
Context
200k tokens
Output cost of $4/1M is notably higher than competing fast/mini models. Input cost at ~$0.80/1M is competitive. Best value emerges in input-heavy pipelines like document classification or RAG retrieval where output tokens are minimal.
High-volume, latency-sensitive applications like chatbots, classification, data extraction, and agentic tool use where speed and cost matter more than peak reasoning depth.
Gemini 2.0 Flash is Google's high-speed, cost-efficient multimodal model built for high-volume production workloads, offering a massive 1M token context window at near-throwaway pricing. It supports text, image, audio, and video inputs with strong instruction-following and tool-use capabilities.
Verdict
The best bang-for-buck multimodal workhorse for developers who need speed, scale, and a massive context window.
Quality score
76%
Pricing
$0.10/1M in
$0.40/1M out
Speed
Very fast
Best for high-throughput pipelines and agentic tasks where speed and cost matter more than peak reasoning quality.
Context
1.0M tokens
Pricing listed is for standard (non-cached) input/output. Context caching is available and can reduce costs significantly for repeated long-context calls. Image and audio inputs are priced separately. Free tier available via Google AI Studio.
BudgetFastLong ContextMultimodalGoogle
Best for
High-throughput pipelines and agentic tasks where speed and cost matter more than peak reasoning quality.
Pricing moves, ranking shifts, and capability updates.
New ModelMar 27, 2026
OpenAI: GPT-5.1-Codex-Mini — added to UseRightAI
OpenAI: GPT-5.1-Codex-Mini (OpenAI) is now indexed. It supersedes GPT-4o. The sharpest budget coding model available if you need speed, volume, and a long context window without breaking your API budget.
OpenAI: GPT-5.1-Codex-Mini is best for high-volume code generation, autocomplete pipelines, and developer tooling where cost efficiency matters more than peak reasoning depth.. It is a strong fit when that workflow matters more than the tradeoffs around budget pricing and very fast speed.
When should I avoid OpenAI: GPT-5.1-Codex-Mini?
You need deep mathematical reasoning, complex architecture design decisions, or multimodal inputs — use GPT-5.1 or Claude Sonnet 4.6 instead.
What is a cheaper alternative to OpenAI: GPT-5.1-Codex-Mini?
Meta: Llama 3.1 8B Instruct is the lower-cost option to compare first when you want a similar workflow fit with less token spend.
What is a faster alternative to OpenAI: GPT-5.1-Codex-Mini?
OpenAI: GPT-5 Mini is the better pick when response time matters more than maximum depth or premium quality.
Newsletter
Get notified when OpenAI: GPT-5.1-Codex-Mini pricing changes
We track pricing daily. When this model drops or spikes, you'll know first.
No spam. Useful updates only. Affiliate disclosures always clearly labeled.
