GPT-4o Mini (07-18) vs Llama Guard 4 12B
GPT-4o Mini (07-18) (2024) and Llama Guard 4 12B (2025) are compact production models from OpenAI and AI at Meta. GPT-4o Mini (07-18) ships a 128K-token context window, while Llama Guard 4 12B ships a 164K-token context window. On pricing, GPT-4o Mini (07-18) costs $0.15/1M input tokens versus $0.18/1M for the alternative. This comparison covers specs, pricing, capabilities, benchmarks, provider availability, and production fit.
Llama Guard 4 12B is safer overall; choose GPT-4o Mini (07-18) when coding workflow support matters.
Specs
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2024-07-18 | 2025-04-05 |
| Context window | 128K | 164K |
| Parameters | — | — |
| Architecture | decoder only | decoder only |
| License | Proprietary | Open Source |
| Knowledge cutoff | 2023-10 | - |
Pricing and availability
| Pricing attribute | GPT-4o Mini (07-18) | Llama Guard 4 12B |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | $0.15/1M tokens | $0.18/1M tokens |
| Output price | $0.6/1M tokens | $0.18/1M tokens |
| Providers |
Capabilities
| Capability | GPT-4o Mini (07-18) | Llama Guard 4 12B |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | Yes | No |
| Multimodal | No | No |
| Reasoning | No | No |
| Function calling | No | No |
| Tool use | No | No |
| Structured outputs | Yes | Yes |
| Code execution | Yes | No |
Benchmarks
No shared benchmark rows are currently sourced for this pair.
Deep dive
The capability footprint differs most on vision: GPT-4o Mini (07-18) and code execution: GPT-4o Mini (07-18). Both models share structured outputs, so the practical split is not just feature count. Use those differences to decide whether the page is about raw model quality, agentic coding support, multimodal ingestion, or predictable structured API behavior.
For cost, GPT-4o Mini (07-18) lists $0.15/1M input and $0.6/1M output tokens, while Llama Guard 4 12B lists $0.18/1M input and $0.18/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider. A 70/30 input-output blend puts Llama Guard 4 12B lower by about $0.1 per million blended tokens. Availability is 3 providers versus 3, so concentration risk also matters.
Choose GPT-4o Mini (07-18) when coding workflow support and lower input-token cost are central to the workload. Choose Llama Guard 4 12B when long-context analysis and larger context windows are more important. For production, rerun your own prompts through the exact provider, region, and tool stack you plan to ship. This keeps the decision grounded in measurable tradeoffs instead of brand-level assumptions. It also helps separate model capability from provider packaging, which can change cost and latency.
FAQ
Which has a larger context window, GPT-4o Mini (07-18) or Llama Guard 4 12B?
Llama Guard 4 12B supports 164K tokens, while GPT-4o Mini (07-18) supports 128K tokens. That gap matters most for long documents, large codebases, retrieval-heavy agents, and conversations where earlier context must remain visible.
Which is cheaper, GPT-4o Mini (07-18) or Llama Guard 4 12B?
GPT-4o Mini (07-18) is cheaper on tracked token pricing. GPT-4o Mini (07-18) costs $0.15/1M input and $0.6/1M output tokens. Llama Guard 4 12B costs $0.18/1M input and $0.18/1M output tokens. Provider discounts or batch pricing can still change the final bill.
Is GPT-4o Mini (07-18) or Llama Guard 4 12B open source?
GPT-4o Mini (07-18) is listed under Proprietary. Llama Guard 4 12B is listed under Open Source. License labels affect whether you can self-host, redistribute weights, or rely only on hosted APIs, so confirm the upstream license before deployment.
Which is better for vision, GPT-4o Mini (07-18) or Llama Guard 4 12B?
GPT-4o Mini (07-18) has the clearer documented vision signal in this comparison. If vision is mission-critical, validate it against the provider endpoint because model-level support and API-level exposure can differ.
Which is better for structured outputs, GPT-4o Mini (07-18) or Llama Guard 4 12B?
Both GPT-4o Mini (07-18) and Llama Guard 4 12B expose structured outputs. The better choice depends on benchmark fit, context budget, pricing, and whether your provider route exposes the same capability surface.
Where can I run GPT-4o Mini (07-18) and Llama Guard 4 12B?
GPT-4o Mini (07-18) is available on OpenAI API, OpenRouter, and Replicate API. Llama Guard 4 12B is available on NVIDIA NIM, Replicate API, and OpenRouter. Provider coverage can affect latency, region availability, compliance posture, and fallback options.
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Last reviewed: 2026-05-11. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.