How to interpret the Cheapest GPT-4.1 Mini Inference Providers
3 of 3 GPT-4.1 Mini endpoints currently have the published data required for this ranking. OpenAI leads at $0.8 / 1M tokens via openai. The table keeps unranked routes visible so missing measurements do not look like missing provider availability.
How estimated token cost is ranked
The cheapest ranking uses a 1,000-input/500-output-token ratio and reports the blended result per 1 million total tokens. Because providers can price input and output differently, a workload with a different token ratio may produce a different order.
Compare OpenAI with the next option
Azure currently ranks second at $0.8 / 1M tokens. Compare that gap with input and output price, response-start time, output speed, 30-minute uptime, context length, and the exact route before deciding whether first place is meaningful for your workload.
Use the route, not only the provider name
GPT-4.1 Mini has 3 published provider options, and performance data is matched to each exact OpenRouter routing tag. Different quantization, context, regional deployment, or provider configuration can change price and behavior even when the underlying model name is identical.