LLM cost calculator
Compare the cost of running the same workload across large language models and find the cheapest fit.
Token count uses the exact GPT (o200k) tokenizer. Counted in your browser, never uploaded.
| Model | Tokens | Per request | Monthly | Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qwen3.8 Max | 0 est. | $0.003 | $3.00 | 0.1% |
| DeepSeek V4 Flashcheapest | 0 est. | $0.00014 | $0.14 | 0.1% |
| Claude Opus 5 | 0 est. | $0.013 | $12.50 | 0.1% |
Token counts vary by tokenizer and model; non-OpenAI counts are estimates. Cost is an estimate and provider pricing can change. See each model's source on the pricing page.
Why LLM prices vary so much
Per-token prices span more than 100x between a small open model and a flagship. Larger models cost more per token but can finish a task in fewer tokens or one attempt, so the cheapest headline rate is not always the cheapest result. Compare on the same real workload, not on the per-token sticker price alone.
Open-source vs closed LLM costs
Open-source models like Llama can be self-hosted for near-zero marginal cost, but require GPU infrastructure investment. API-hosted open models from providers like Together AI or Fireworks offer a middle ground. Closed models from OpenAI, Anthropic and Google are the easiest to start with and often the most capable, but you pay a premium for the convenience and quality.
FAQ
Which LLM is cheapest?
It depends on your input-to-output ratio and quality bar. Enter your tokens above and the calculator flags the cheapest selected model for that exact workload.
Is DeepSeek really cheaper than GPT-4?
Yes, significantly. DeepSeek models are typically 10-20x cheaper per token than GPT-4 class models and competitive on many benchmarks. The tradeoff is that they may underperform on certain reasoning tasks or English fluency edge cases.
How do I pick the right LLM for my budget?
Start with your quality requirement. If a cheaper model passes your evaluation, use it. If not, move up. Many teams run smaller models for routine requests and route only complex queries to flagship models, cutting costs by 60-80%.
Do LLM prices change over time?
Yes, frequently. Providers regularly cut prices as infrastructure improves. The prices in this calculator are verified against official sources with timestamps. Check the source links to confirm current rates before committing to a budget.
Current model pricing
| Model | Provider | Input | Cached | Output | Context | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qwen3.8 Max | Alibaba | $2 | $0.25 | $6 | 1 000k | 2026-08-03 |
| Claude Haiku 4.5 (latest) | Anthropic | $1 | $0.1 | $5 | 200k | 2025-10-15 |
| Claude Opus 4.8 | Anthropic | $5 | $0.5 | $25 | 1 000k | 2026-05-28 |
| Claude Sonnet 4.6 | Anthropic | $3 | $0.3 | $15 | 1 000k | 2026-03-13 |
| DeepSeek Chat | DeepSeek | $0.14 | $0.0028 | $0.28 | 1 000k | 2026-02-28 |
| Gemini 2.5 Flash | $0.3 | $0.03 | $2.5 | 1 048,576k | 2025-06-17 | |
| Gemini 3.5 Flash | $1.5 | $0.15 | $9 | 1 048,576k | 2026-05-19 | |
| Mistral Medium (latest) | Mistral | $1.5 | n/a | $7.5 | 262,144k | 2026-04-29 |
| Kimi K3 | Moonshot AI | $3 | $0.3 | $15 | 1 048,576k | 2026-07-16 |
| GPT-4.1 mini | OpenAI | $0.4 | $0.1 | $1.6 | 1 047,576k | 2025-04-14 |
| GPT-4o | OpenAI | $2.5 | $1.25 | $10 | 128k | 2024-08-06 |
| GPT-5.5 | OpenAI | $5 | $0.5 | $30 | 1 050k | 2026-04-23 |
| Grok 4.5 | xAI | $2 | $0.3 | $6 | 500k | 2026-07-08 |
| GLM-5.2 | Zhipu AI | $1.4 | $0.26 | $4.4 | 1 000k | 2026-06-13 |
Prices per 1M tokens (USD). Each model links to its official source. Seed values pending re-verification. See the methodology.