GPT-4.1 Nano vs GPT-4o-mini
Pricing, context window and real answers (September 2026)
GPT-4.1 Nano (OpenAI) and GPT-4o-mini (OpenAI), 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 Nano | GPT-4o-mini | |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | OpenAI | OpenAI |
| Input (per 1M tokens) | ¥17.87 | ¥26.81 |
| Output (per 1M tokens) | ¥71.48 | ¥107.22 |
| Typical cost (1,000 in + 500 out tokens × 1,000 calls) | ¥54 | ¥80 |
| Context window | 1,047,576 tokens | 128,000 tokens |
| Release date | 4/14/2025 | 7/18/2024 |
| Input modalities | image, text, file | text, image, file |
| Throughput (p50) | — | — |
| Arena · overall | #243 · ELO 1,322 | #251 · ELO 1,318 |
| Arena · Japanese | #195 · ELO 1,234 | #187 · ELO 1,250 |
| Arena · coding | #226 · ELO 1,374 | #259 · ELO 1,348 |
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 Nano: ¥71.48 per 1M output tokens, 33% less than GPT-4o-mini.
- On the Overall arena board, GPT-4.1 Nano ranks higher (#243; GPT-4o-mini is #251).
- On the Japanese arena board, GPT-4o-mini ranks higher (#187; GPT-4.1 Nano is #195).
- On the Coding arena board, GPT-4.1 Nano ranks higher (#226; GPT-4o-mini is #259).
- For long documents, GPT-4.1 Nano: a 1,047,576-token context window against 128,000 for GPT-4o-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 Nano
Let's analyze the word "strawberry" step by step to count the number of 'r's.
1. Write down the word: **strawberry**
2. Examine each letter one by one:
- s: no
- t: no
- r: yes (first 'r')
- a: no
- w: no
- b: no
- e: no
- r: yes (second 'r')
- r: yes (third 'r')
- y: no
3. Counting the 'r's found:
- First 'r' (at position 3)
- Second 'r' (at position 8)
- Third 'r' (at position 9)
So, there are **3** 'r's in "strawberry."
**Final answer: 3**
2.0s183 output tokens
GPT-4o-mini
To count the number of 'r's in the word "strawberry," we can follow these steps:
1. **Identify the word**: We have the word "strawberry."
2. **Break down the letters**: Let's write out the letters in the word:
- s
- t
- r
- a
- w
- b
- e
- r
- r
- y
3. **Locate the 'r's**: Now, we need to look for the letter 'r' among these letters.
- In the list of letters, we can see:
- The first 'r' is in the 3rd position.
- The second 'r' is in the 8th position.
- The third 'r' is in the 9th position.
4. **Count the occurrences**: We check each position we identified:
- There are three occurrences of 'r' in the word "strawberry."
5. **Conclusion**:…
2.1s239 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 Nano
The error:
```
TypeError: Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'map')
```
indicates that `users` is `undefined` at the time your `UserList` component is rendering, and you're trying to call `map` on it.
### Why is this happening?
In React, if a prop (`users` in this case) is not provided or is undefined, trying to do `users.map(...)` causes this error. This can happen if:
- The parent component does not pass `users`.
- `users` might be `null` or `undefined` initially, especially if data fetching is involved.
### How to fix it
**Option 1: Provide a default value for `users`**
Ensure that `users` defaults to an empty array if it is not provided:
```jsx
function UserList({ users…
4.3s514 output tokens
GPT-4o-mini
The error you're encountering, `TypeError: Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'map')`, indicates that the `users` prop is `undefined` when you try to call the `map` method on it.
In your `UserList` component, you're attempting to use `users.map(...)`, but if the `users` prop is not provided or is `undefined`, this will throw an error.
### Fixing the Error
1. **Default Props**: You can set a default value for the `users` prop to prevent the error when it is `undefined`.
```jsx
function UserList({ users = [] }) { // Default to an empty array
return (
<ul>
{users.map(user => <li key={user.id}>{user.name}</li>)}
</ul>
);
}
```…
5.0s511 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 Nano
Here's a review and an improved version of your function:
### Key improvements:
1. **Move imports to the top**: Imports should generally be at the top of the file, not inside functions.
2. **Specify exception types**: Catch specific exceptions rather than a generic `except`.
3. **Use context managers if needed**: Not necessary here, but good to consider.
4. **Avoid repeated code**: The sleep statement is the same whether there is a request exception or a non-200 status.
5. **Simplify filtering**: Use list comprehensions for clarity.
6. **Improve variable names**: For readability.
7. **Add optional headers or parameters** if needed (not required here).
8. **Optional:** Add more descriptive e…
3.4s391 output tokens
GPT-4o-mini
Your Python function, `get_data`, essentially performs a GET request, handles retries on failure, and processes the response JSON to return a filtered list of dictionaries. Below, I've highlighted several improvements regarding readability, performance, and best practices:
1. **Avoid blanket exceptions**: It’s best practice to specify which exceptions you expect, allowing for better debugging and error handling.
2. **Use `requests` built-in exception handling**: Handle specific requests exceptions, such as `requests.exceptions.RequestException`.
3. **Improve condition checks**: Check for `item['active']` directly instead of comparing to `True`, which is more Pythonic.
4. **Use `time.sl…
8.8s628 output tokens
Frequently asked questions
- Which is cheaper, GPT-4.1 Nano or GPT-4o-mini?
- Per 1M output tokens, GPT-4.1 Nano is ¥71.48 and GPT-4o-mini is ¥107.22 on FastMetal (yen, before tax), so GPT-4.1 Nano is cheaper.
- How do the context windows of GPT-4.1 Nano and GPT-4o-mini compare?
- GPT-4.1 Nano takes 1,047,576 tokens; GPT-4o-mini takes 128,000.
- Which ranks higher, GPT-4.1 Nano or GPT-4o-mini?
- GPT-4o-mini ranks higher on the public arena (GPT-4.1 Nano #195, GPT-4o-mini #187). Ranks move as the leaderboard updates.
- Can I use GPT-4.1 Nano and GPT-4o-mini with the same API key?
- Yes. On FastMetal's OpenAI-compatible endpoint, switch by passing "gpt-4.1-nano" or "gpt-4o-mini" 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 Nano and GPT-4o-mini from the browser chat and the API. No monthly fee.