GPT-5.5 vs Llama 4 Maverick
Llama 4 Maverick is 95% cheaper on input ($0.27 vs $5.00) and 97% cheaper on output ($0.85 vs $30.00). Both offer 1M+ token context windows with open-source flexibility.
Pricing data verified: 2026-06-21
| Specification | GPT-5.5 (OpenAI) | Llama 4 Maverick (Meta/Together.ai) |
|---|---|---|
| Input Price (per 1M tokens) | $5.00 | $0.27 |
| Output Price (per 1M tokens) | $30.00 | $0.85 |
| Context Window | 1.05M | 1M |
| Tier | Premium | Budget |
| Provider | OpenAI | Meta (Together.ai) |
| Open Source | No | Yes |
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Other Models to Consider
Which Model for Which Use Case?
Cost-Sensitive Startups
At 95-97% lower cost, Llama 4 Maverick lets startups scale to millions of requests without burning through funding. For 1M input + 500K output tokens, you pay ~$695 vs ~$20,000 — saving ~$19,305 per batch. Invest those savings in product development.
Complex Reasoning & Coding
GPT-5.5 is OpenAI's most capable model, excelling at complex multi-step reasoning, nuanced code generation, and tasks where accuracy is paramount. For mission-critical applications, GPT-5.5's quality advantage may justify the premium.
High-Volume Text Processing
For classification, extraction, summarization, and other text tasks at scale, Llama 4 Maverick's 97% output savings make it the clear winner. Quality is excellent for most production text workloads at a fraction of the cost.
Self-Hosting & Open Source
Llama 4 Maverick is fully open-source from Meta. Self-host on your own GPU cluster to eliminate per-token API costs entirely. Ideal for teams with existing infrastructure who want full control over their AI stack.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Llama 4 Maverick really that much cheaper than GPT-5.5?
Yes, dramatically so. Llama 4 Maverick costs $0.27/M input (95% cheaper than GPT-5.5's $5.00) and $0.85/M output (97% cheaper than GPT-5.5's $30.00). For output-heavy workloads, Llama 4 Maverick is roughly 35x cheaper.
What's the quality difference between GPT-5.5 and Llama 4 Maverick?
GPT-5.5 is OpenAI's most capable model and generally outperforms Llama 4 Maverick on complex reasoning, coding, and nuanced tasks. Llama 4 Maverick offers strong quality for most production workloads, especially text classification, summarization, and general chat, at a fraction of the cost.
When should I choose GPT-5.5 over Llama 4 Maverick?
Choose GPT-5.5 when you need the highest quality outputs for complex reasoning, multi-step tasks, or mission-critical applications where accuracy directly impacts revenue. GPT-5.5 also offers a slightly larger 1.05M context window and comes with OpenAI's enterprise support and SLAs.
Can I self-host Llama 4 Maverick to save even more?
Yes, Llama 4 Maverick is fully open-source from Meta. You can self-host it on your own infrastructure via providers like Together.ai, Fireworks, or your own GPU cluster. Self-hosting eliminates per-token API costs entirely, though you'll need to account for GPU compute and operational overhead.
Which model is better for production workloads?
For most production text workloads, Llama 4 Maverick delivers excellent quality at 95-97% lower cost. Choose GPT-5.5 for high-stakes tasks requiring the absolute best quality, or when you need OpenAI ecosystem integration and enterprise support.