GPT-5.4 Mini vs Claude Haiku 4.5: fast, low-cost API endpoints compared
GPT-5.4 Mini is cheaper across both inputs and outputs, making it the more economical choice for fast, lightweight applications.
Rapid response utility models compared.
Lightweight flagship models from OpenAI and Anthropic are built for quick response times. Here is how their pricing models compare.
By TechCompare · Updated
Cost Comparison
Based on 100,000 input tokens (50% cached), 5,000 output tokens, and 100 requests.
Side-by-side specs
| Spec | GPT-5.4 Mini | Claude Haiku 4.5 |
|---|---|---|
| Input Cost (per M) | $0.75 (better on this spec) | $1.00 |
| Output Cost (per M) | $4.50 (better on this spec) | $5.00 |
| Cached Input (per M) | $0.075 (better on this spec) | $0.10 |
| Batch Discount | 50% | 50% |
How they differ
GPT-5.4 Mini costs $0.75 per million input tokens and $4.50 per million output tokens. Claude Haiku 4.5 is priced at $1.00 per million input tokens and $5.00 per million output tokens. Both feature a 90% caching discount.
Verdict
Mini wins every row: $0.75/M input against $1.00, $4.50/M output against $5.00, and $0.075/M cached input against $0.10. Both apply the same 90% cache discount and the same 50% batch discount, so the absolute gap ($0.25/M input, $0.50/M output) is preserved at every discount tier. Scaled to 100M requests the difference compounds to roughly $25K/month. Reach for Haiku only when an Anthropic ecosystem dependency matters more than the bill.
Which should you pick?
Choose GPT-5.4 Mini
Cost-sensitive quick tasks, high-caching chat completions, and lightweight agents.
Choose Claude Haiku 4.5
Anthropic ecosystem workflows, high-precision structured data formatting.