LLM API Pricing Comparison
As large language models become mainstream, API call costs are a key consideration for developers and businesses. Different models have vastly different pricing — choosing the right model can save significant costs. This tool helps you quickly compare API pricing across major models to make the optimal choice.
Model Pricing Overview
Pricing strategies vary significantly: GPT-4o offers balanced pricing with strong capabilities; Claude 3.5 Sonnet provides excellent value; Gemini 2.0 Flash has the lowest pricing; DeepSeek V3 offers high-quality output at extremely low prices; open-source models like Llama can be self-hosted for free. Consider price, quality, speed, and privacy when choosing.
Tips to Reduce API Costs
- Choose the right model: Use Flash/Mini versions for simple tasks, flagship models only for complex ones
- Optimize prompts: Concise inputs reduce token consumption
- Set max_tokens: Limit output length to avoid waste
- Use caching: Leverage API caching for repeated inputs
- Batch requests: Some models offer discounted batch API pricing
What is an AI Token?
A token is the basic unit of text processing for LLMs. ~1 token = 0.75 English words or 0.5 Chinese characters. Input tokens are sent to the model; output tokens are the response. Most models price input and output separately, with output typically more expensive.
Is the pricing data up to date?
We update regularly, but API prices may change anytime. Verify on each model's official page before making decisions.
How do I estimate token counts?
English: ~1 word = 1.3 tokens. Chinese: ~1 character = 2 tokens. Code and special characters use more tokens.
Why are output tokens more expensive?
Generating output requires inference computation, which is 3-5x more intensive than processing input. Providers price output tokens higher to reflect this cost.