GPT-4.1 Mini vs Kimi K3
Pricing, context window and real answers (September 2026)
GPT-4.1 Mini (OpenAI) and Kimi K3 (Moonshot), compared as you can actually call them on FastMetal. Both are served from the same OpenAI-compatible endpoint and API key; switching is a change to the model string.
Specs and pricing
 GPT-4.1 Mini |  Kimi K3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | OpenAI | Moonshot |
| Input (per 1M tokens) | ¥71.48 | ¥504 |
| Output (per 1M tokens) | ¥285.92 | ¥2,520 |
| Typical cost (1,000 in + 500 out tokens × 1,000 calls) | ¥214 | ¥1,764 |
| Context window | 1,047,576 tokens | 1,048,576 tokens |
| Release date | 4/14/2025 | 7/16/2026 |
| Input modalities | image, text, file | text, image |
| Throughput (p50) | — | — |
| Arena · overall | #172 · ELO 1,383 | #17 · ELO 1,485 |
| Arena · Japanese | #135 · ELO 1,330 | #2 · ELO 1,511 |
| Arena · coding | #164 · ELO 1,433 | #7 · ELO 1,538 |
Prices are FastMetal's yen rates before tax. Arena ranks are as of the latest leaderboard scrape.
Which should you pick?
- On price, GPT-4.1 Mini: ¥285.92 per 1M output tokens, 89% less than Kimi K3.
- On the Overall arena board, Kimi K3 ranks higher (#17; GPT-4.1 Mini is #172).
- On the Japanese arena board, Kimi K3 ranks higher (#2; GPT-4.1 Mini is #135).
- On the Coding arena board, Kimi K3 ranks higher (#7; GPT-4.1 Mini is #164).
- For long documents, Kimi K3: a 1,048,576-token context window against 1,047,576 for GPT-4.1 Mini.
- If in doubt, try both on the same key. Switching is a change to the model string, and each is billed at its own rate.
Real answers to the same prompts
Exactly what the FastMetal gateway returned, side by side. Not benchmark scores: actual output.
Count the number of 'r's in 'strawberry'
Count the number of 'r's in 'strawberry'. Explain your reasoning step by step.
GPT-4.1 Mini
Let's count the number of 'r's in the word "strawberry" step by step:
1. Write down the word: s t r a w b e r r y
2. Look at each letter and check if it is 'r':
- s → not 'r'
- t → not 'r'
- r → yes, 1st 'r'
- a → not 'r'
- w → not 'r'
- b → not 'r'
- e → not 'r'
- r → yes, 2nd 'r'
- r → yes, 3rd 'r'
- y → not 'r'
3. Total number of 'r's found: 3
**Answer:** There are 3 'r's in the word "strawberry".
2.0s176 output tokens
Kimi K3
# Counting the 'r's in "strawberry"
**Step 1: Write out each letter with its position**
| Position | Letter |
|----------|--------|
| 1 | s |
| 2 | t |
| 3 | **r** ✓ |
| 4 | a |
| 5 | w |
| 6 | b |
| 7 | e |
| 8 | **r** ✓ |
| 9 | **r** ✓ |
| 10 | y |
**Step 2: Identify each 'r'**
- Position 3: the 'r' in "st**r**"
- Position 8: the first 'r' in "be**r**ry"
- Position 9: the second 'r' in "ber**r**y"
**Step 3: Verify by splitting the word**
"Strawberry" = "straw" + "berry"
- "straw" contains **1** r
- "berry" contains **2** r's
**Answer: There are 3 r's in "strawberry."** 🍓
12.2s594 output tokens
Debug This Error
I'm getting the following error in my Node.js application: TypeError: Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'map') at UserList (/app/components/UserList.js:12:25) at renderWithHooks (/app/node_modules/rea…
GPT-4.1 Mini
The error **"TypeError: Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'map')"** means that the `users` prop passed to your `UserList` component is `undefined` at the time the component tries to render, so calling `.map()` on it throws an error.
### What's causing the error?
- Your component expects `users` to be an array, but for some reason it is `undefined` when the component renders.
- This could happen if:
- The parent component that passes the `users` prop did not pass it or passed `undefined`.
- The data is being fetched asynchronously and hasn't arrived yet.
- The default prop is missing or no default fallback is handled.
### How to fix it?
You want to ensure `users` is alway…
8.1s465 output tokens
Kimi K3
## What's causing it
The error means `users` is `undefined` when the component renders — `.map()` only exists on arrays, so calling it on `undefined` throws. Your component code is fine; the problem is **upstream**: whatever renders `<UserList />` isn't passing a valid array.
The most common culprit is **async data fetching with uninitialized state** in the parent:
```jsx
function App() {
const [users, setUsers] = useState(); // ← undefined!
useEffect(() => {
fetch('/api/users')
.then(res => res.json())
.then(setUsers);
}, []);
return <UserList users={users} />; // undefined on first render
}
```
The component renders *before* the fetch resolves, so `users` is `…
47.5s1756 output tokens
Code Review
Please review the following Python function and suggest improvements for readability, performance, and best practices: def get_data(url, retries=3): import requests import time for i in range(retries):…
GPT-4.1 Mini
Your function is functional but can be improved for readability, performance, and best practices. Here are some suggestions and an improved version of your function:
### Issues and improvements
1. **Imports**: Import at the top of the file rather than inside the function.
2. **Catch specific exceptions**: Avoid bare `except:` clauses. Catch specific exceptions like `requests.RequestException` or `json.decoder.JSONDecodeError`.
3. **Use list comprehension**: Instead of a loop with `append()`, use list comprehension for clarity and conciseness.
4. **Check boolean conditions directly**: Instead of `item["active"] == True`, just use `item["active"]`.
5. **Avoid sleeping after last retry**: No…
5.6s690 output tokens
Kimi K3
This works, but there are several issues worth addressing. Here's a breakdown, followed by an improved version.
## Issues
### Correctness & best practices
1. **Bare `except:`** — catches *everything*, including `KeyboardInterrupt` and programming bugs like `KeyError` on a malformed item (which then get pointlessly retried). Catch `requests.RequestException` specifically.
2. **Silent failures** — errors are swallowed with no logging, and returning `[]` makes "API is down" indistinguishable from "no active items." At minimum, log; ideally, raise after the final attempt.
3. **Retrying non-retryable errors** — a 400/401/404 will never succeed on retry, but the code sleeps and retries anyway. O…
57.6s8060 output tokens
Frequently asked questions
- Which is cheaper, GPT-4.1 Mini or Kimi K3?
- Per 1M output tokens, GPT-4.1 Mini is ¥285.92 and Kimi K3 is ¥2,520 on FastMetal (yen, before tax), so GPT-4.1 Mini is cheaper.
- How do the context windows of GPT-4.1 Mini and Kimi K3 compare?
- GPT-4.1 Mini takes 1,047,576 tokens; Kimi K3 takes 1,048,576.
- Which ranks higher, GPT-4.1 Mini or Kimi K3?
- Kimi K3 ranks higher on the public arena (GPT-4.1 Mini #135, Kimi K3 #2). Ranks move as the leaderboard updates.
- Can I use GPT-4.1 Mini and Kimi K3 with the same API key?
- Yes. On FastMetal's OpenAI-compatible endpoint, switch by passing "gpt-4.1-mini" or "kimi-k3" as the model. Each is billed at its own rate from the same prepaid balance.
Try both on one API key
Create an account and add credit to call GPT-4.1 Mini and Kimi K3 from the browser chat and the API. No monthly fee.