Instructions

How to use the AI API cost calculator

Q: What counts as one message in the calculator?

One message is one API call or chat turn: the user prompt plus the model response combined. If your app sends follow-ups in the same thread, count each turn separately unless you batch into a single API call.

Q: How do I estimate average tokens per message?

Check your provider usage dashboard for average input + output tokens per request. If you are planning a new product, start with a preset (Support bot, Code assistant, RAG, or Agent) and adjust after a pilot week of real traffic.

Q: When should I change the cached input ratio?

Raise it when you reuse long system prompts, RAG chunks, or conversation history — common in support bots and agents. Lower it for mostly fresh prompts. If a model has no cached rate, the calculator falls back to normal input pricing.

Q: Can I compare OpenAI and Anthropic on equal terms?

Yes. Every model is priced against the same messages/month, tokens/message, and token mix. The ranking shows who is cheapest for your workload, not who has the lowest headline per-million rate in isolation.

Q: How often should I re-run the calculator?

Pricing is validated weekly (last update Wednesday 7th October 2026). Re-run when you change models, traffic grows, or vendors publish new tiers. Always confirm on official provider pages before contractual commitments.

Compare 62 models across 11 providers in four steps. Set one workload, read the monthly estimate, rank every model, and tune cache-aware token math. Pricing reference updated Wednesday 7th October 2026.

Open calculator →Jump to steps

Workload presets

Presets fill messages, tokens, and token-mix defaults. Click one on the calculator, then adjust if your traffic differs.

Support bot
High volume, short replies
50,000 / mo · 800 avg
Customer support, FAQ bots, ticket triage
Code assistant
Medium volume, long context
5,000 / mo · 4,000 avg
IDE copilots, PR review, refactors
RAG / search
Retrieval-heavy prompts
10,000 / mo · 2,500 avg
Document Q&A, knowledge bases, search-augmented apps
Agent / tools
Multi-step, mixed I/O
2,000 / mo · 8,000 avg
Tool-calling agents, workflows, multi-turn reasoning

Set your workload

Start with a preset or your own volume. Recommendations appear immediately — no model pick required.

Requests per month = API calls or chat turns (one user request + model reply).
Tokens per request = prompt + completion size. Use your analytics average, or start with a preset.
The Support bot preset loads by default so you see ranked costs on first paint.

Review lowest estimated cost

Scan the top recommendations ranked by monthly token cost for the same workload.

Up to five cards show name, provider, monthly estimate, and fit notes.
Unreviewed offers and conditional Batch/Flex/off-peak discounts are excluded from default recommendations.
Source reviewed means the exact API offer has current primary evidence. Needs review means it is not eligible for default recommendations.

Optional: focus a model

Select a recommendation (or a row from View all models) to inspect the estimate detail panel.

See assumptions (requests, tokens, input %, cache %) plus input/cached/output breakdown.
Clear focus to return to recommendations-only view with a From $X/mo headline.
Expand View all models anytime to search and filter the full ranked list.

Fine-tune token mix (optional)

Open Advanced token mix when RAG, agents, or long-context apps need a more accurate split.

Input vs output ratio — share of tokens sent as prompt/context vs model reply.
Cached input ratio — share of prompt tokens served from provider cache (lower rate when available).
Per-request token summary updates live so you can sanity-check the math.

Embed on your site

Add the calculator to docs, internal tools, or landing pages with the embed widget. It loads the same live pricing engine as the main site.

Compare providers and explore pricing

Already considering a provider? Compare its rates, explore alternatives or read a workload guide.

How to use the AI API cost calculator

Quick start (under 2 minutes)

Workload presets

Set your workload

Review lowest estimated cost

Optional: focus a model

Fine-tune token mix (optional)

Embed on your site

Compare providers and explore pricing

By provider

Head-to-head comparisons

By use case

Common questions about using the calculator

What counts as one message in the calculator?

How do I estimate average tokens per message?

When should I change the cached input ratio?

Can I compare OpenAI and Anthropic on equal terms?

How often should I re-run the calculator?

Run your workload through 62 models now