Gemma 4 26B-A4B vs GPT-5 mini
Gemma 4 26B-A4B has a slight edge in benchmark performance. Gemma 4 26B-A4B is 3.5x cheaper per token.
Google · OpenAI · Updated for 2026
Which is better?
Gemma 4 26B-A4B outperforms in 1 benchmarks (Humanity's Last Exam), while GPT-5 mini is better at 0 benchmarks. Gemma 4 26B-A4B has a slight edge in benchmark performance.
On price, Gemma 4 26B-A4B is roughly 3.5x cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 input/output basis, which adds up quickly at production volume.
GPT-5 mini also accepts a larger context window (400,000 input tokens), making it the stronger choice for long documents and large codebases.
Based on current benchmark, pricing, and model metadata for 2026.
Choose Gemma 4 26B-A4B
- cost matters — it's about 3.5x cheaper per token
- you want the most recent training data — it shipped Apr 2026
- you need open weights you can self-host or fine-tune
Choose GPT-5 mini
- you process long inputs — it offers a 400,000 token context window
At a glance
The differences that matter most.
Performance Benchmarks
Comparative analysis across standard metrics
Gemma 4 26B-A4B outperforms in 1 benchmarks (Humanity's Last Exam), while GPT-5 mini is better at 0 benchmarks.
Gemma 4 26B-A4B has a slight edge in benchmark performance.
Arena Performance
Playground indexes and blind preference scores
Pricing Analysis
Price comparison per million tokens
For input processing, Gemma 4 26B-A4B ($0.13/1M tokens) is 1.9x cheaper than GPT-5 mini ($0.25/1M tokens).
For output processing, Gemma 4 26B-A4B ($0.40/1M tokens) is 5.0x cheaper than GPT-5 mini ($2.00/1M tokens).
In conclusion, GPT-5 mini is more expensive than Gemma 4 26B-A4B.*
* Using a 3:1 ratio of input to output tokens
Context Window
Maximum input and output token capacity
GPT-5 mini accepts 400,000 input tokens compared to Gemma 4 26B-A4B's 262,144 tokens. Gemma 4 26B-A4B can generate longer responses up to 131,072 tokens, while GPT-5 mini is limited to 128,000 tokens.
Input Capabilities
Supported data types and modalities
Both Gemma 4 26B-A4B and GPT-5 mini support multimodal inputs.
They are both capable of processing various types of data, offering versatility in application.
Gemma 4 26B-A4B
GPT-5 mini
License
Usage and distribution terms
Gemma 4 26B-A4B is licensed under Apache 2.0, while GPT-5 mini uses a proprietary license.
License differences may affect how you can use these models in commercial or open-source projects.
Apache 2.0
Open weights
Proprietary
Closed source
Release Timeline
When each model was launched
Gemma 4 26B-A4B was released on 2026-04-02, while GPT-5 mini was released on 2025-08-07.
Gemma 4 26B-A4B is 8 months newer than GPT-5 mini.
Apr 2, 2026
4 months ago
7mo newerAug 7, 2025
1.0 years ago
Knowledge Cutoff
When training data ends
Gemma 4 26B-A4B has a knowledge cutoff of 2025-01-01, while GPT-5 mini has a cutoff of 2024-05-30.
Gemma 4 26B-A4B has more recent training data (up to 2025-01-01), making it potentially better informed about events through that date compared to GPT-5 mini (2024-05-30).
Jan 2025
8 mo newerMay 2024
Provider Availability
Gemma 4 26B-A4B is available from Novita. GPT-5 mini is available from OpenAI.
Gemma 4 26B-A4B
GPT-5 mini
Outputs Comparison
Judge for yourself.
Run your own prompts against Gemma 4 26B-A4B and GPT-5 mini side-by-side, then vote on the output you prefer.
FAQ
Common questions about Gemma 4 26B-A4B vs GPT-5 mini.