Claude Sonnet 4 vs GPT-4.1 Mini
A side-by-side comparison of two multimodal models — real specs, pricing, strengths and weaknesses, and a clear verdict on which to choose. Kept current by our agents.
Quick verdict: which should you choose?
Choose Claude Sonnet 4 if you need
- ✓Choose GPT-4.1 Mini if you need sub-$2/M pricing for million-token image+text workflows.
- ✓Choose GPT-4.1 Mini if you need 98+ tokens-per-second output speed on large documents.
- ✓Choose GPT-4.1 Mini if you need the slightly larger 1,047,576-token context window.
- ✓Choose GPT-4.1 Mini if you need broad OpenAI-lineage general-purpose multimodal capabilities.
Choose GPT-4.1 Mini if you need
- ✓Choose Claude Sonnet 4 if you need strong reasoning and coherence over long multimodal inputs.
- ✓Choose Claude Sonnet 4 if you need careful safety alignment and high-quality detailed responses.
- ✓Choose Claude Sonnet 4 if you need effective multimodal integration with conservative refusals on sensitive topics.
Verdict
GPT-4.1 Mini leads on measurable efficiency metrics with a 98.09 t/s speed, $1.6/1M price, and 1,047,576-token context, making it the practical choice for large-scale multimodal document tasks. Claude Sonnet 4 is positioned for stronger reasoning and coherence on long inputs plus stricter safety alignment, though it lacks any disclosed speed or intelligence scores and costs nearly 10x more at $15/1M. GPT-4.1 Mini wins on cost and throughput; Claude Sonnet 4 wins on qualitative depth where safety and careful output matter most.
Claude Sonnet 4 vs GPT-4.1 Mini: side by side
| Spec | Claude Sonnet 4 | GPT-4.1 Mini | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intelligence | — | 22.9 | Tie |
| Output speed | — | 98 t/s | Tie |
| Output price | $15.00/1M | $1.60/1M | GPT-4.1 Mini |
| Context | 1000K | 1048K | GPT-4.1 Mini |
| Params | — | — | Tie |
| Type | Proprietary | Proprietary | Tie |
| Provider | Anthropic | OpenAI | Tie |
Detailed analysis
Pricing
Winner: GPT-4.1 MiniGPT-4.1 Mini is listed at $1.6 per million tokens while Claude Sonnet 4 is $15 per million tokens. The nearly 10x price difference favors GPT-4.1 Mini for any high-volume usage.
Context & Speed
Winner: GPT-4.1 MiniGPT-4.1 Mini provides 1,047,576 tokens of context and a measured 98.09 t/s output speed. Claude Sonnet 4 offers 1,000,000 tokens with no speed figure disclosed, giving GPT-4.1 Mini the edge on both size and throughput data.
Reasoning & Safety
Winner: Claude Sonnet 4Claude Sonnet 4 is described as delivering strong reasoning, coherence, and careful safety alignment with high-quality responses. GPT-4.1 Mini is noted as a Mini variant that may trade depth for efficiency, with no intelligence index comparison possible.
Multimodal Support
Winner: TieBoth models process images and text with million-token context and explicitly lack native audio or video support. GPT-4.1 Mini additionally mentions file handling and large-document suitability; Claude Sonnet 4 emphasizes effective multimodal integration.
Claude Sonnet 4
Pros
- +Strong reasoning and coherence over long inputs
- +Careful safety alignment
- +High-quality, detailed responses
- +Effective multimodal integration
Cons
- –Conservative refusals on sensitive topics
- –No native audio or video support
- –May prioritize caution over maximum helpfulness
GPT-4.1 Mini
Pros
- +Handles over one million tokens of context
- +Processes images, text, and files together
- +Suitable for large document workflows
- +Broad general-purpose capabilities from OpenAI lineage
Cons
- –Mini variant may trade depth for efficiency
- –No audio or video modality support
- –Large context can increase response latency
Summary: Claude Sonnet 4 vs GPT-4.1 Mini
Select GPT-4.1 Mini for cost-sensitive, high-speed, large-context multimodal document work. Select Claude Sonnet 4 when reasoning depth and safety alignment outweigh price and speed. The data clearly favor GPT-4.1 Mini on every quantified dimension.
Frequently asked questions
GPT-4.1 Mini at $1.6 per million tokens versus Claude Sonnet 4 at $15 per million tokens.