AI API Pricing Guide 2026: Complete Cost Breakdown
AI API pricing is complex — input tokens, output tokens, cached tokens, batch pricing, and more. This guide breaks down costs across every major provider so you can make informed decisions. All data is live and updated hourly.
How AI API Pricing Works
AI APIs charge per token — roughly 0.75 words. Every request has two costs:
What you send to the model (prompt, context, system instructions). Usually cheaper.
What the model generates (response text). Usually 2-5x more expensive than input.
Prices are quoted per 1 million tokens ($/M). A typical conversation uses 1,000-5,000 tokens total.
Provider-by-Provider Pricing
Flagship model pricing per provider. Use our calculator for exact costs.
| Provider | Flagship Model | Input $/M | Output $/M | Blended | Models |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
OpenAI | GPT-5.4 (xhigh) | $2.50 | $15.00 | $5.63 | 55 |
Anthropic | Claude Opus 4.6 (Adaptive Reasoning, Max Effort) | $5.00 | $25.00 | $10.00 | 28 |
Google | Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview | $2.00 | $12.00 | $4.50 | 42 |
DeepSeek | DeepSeek V3.2 (Reasoning) | $0.28 | $0.42 | $0.32 | 25 |
Mistral | Magistral Medium 1.2 | $2.00 | $5.00 | $2.75 | 31 |
xAI | Grok 4.20 Beta 0309 (Reasoning) | $2.00 | $6.00 | $3.00 | 14 |
Alibaba (Qwen) | Qwen3.5 397B A17B (Reasoning) | $0.60 | $3.60 | $1.35 | 71 |
💰 Cheapest AI Models (Overall)
Budget Options by Provider
Cost Optimization Tips
Use cached input pricing. If you send the same system prompt or context repeatedly, enable prompt caching. Most providers offer 50-90% discounts on cached input tokens.
Right-size your model. Don't use GPT-5.4 for tasks a smaller model handles well. Use our recommender to find the right model for your use case.
Use batch APIs. OpenAI and other providers offer 50% discounts for non-real-time batch processing. Great for data processing, content generation, and classification tasks.
Monitor your token usage. Output tokens cost 2-5x more than input tokens. Reduce output by requesting concise responses, using max_tokens limits, and structuring prompts efficiently.
Consider open-source models. For high-volume workloads, self-hosting models like Llama or Qwen can be cheaper at scale. But factor in infrastructure and engineering costs.
Calculate Your Exact Costs
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