OpenAI vs Google — AI API Pricing Comparison
Compare all OpenAI GPT and Google Gemini models side by side. Google matches GPT-5 pricing with 4x larger context windows, and offers the cheapest models overall.
Pricing data verified: May 14, 2026
All Models Compared
Every OpenAI and Google model, ranked by input price.
| Model | Provider | Tier | Input (per 1M) | Output (per 1M) | Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gemini 2.0 Flash Lite | Budget | $0.075 | $0.30 | 1M | |
| GPT-oss 20B | OpenAI | Budget | $0.08 | $0.35 | 128K |
| Gemini 2.0 Flash | Budget | $0.10 | $0.40 | 1M | |
| GPT-oss 120B | OpenAI | Budget | $0.15 | $0.60 | 128K |
| GPT-4o mini | OpenAI | Budget | $0.15 | $0.60 | 128K |
| GPT-5 mini | OpenAI | Budget | $0.25 | $2.00 | 272K |
| GPT-5 | OpenAI | Premium | $1.25 | $10.00 | 272K |
| Gemini 2.5 Pro | Mid | $1.25 | $10.00 | 1M | |
| GPT-4o | OpenAI | Mid | $2.50 | $10.00 | 128K |
| Gemini 3.1 Pro | Mid | $2.00 | $12.00 | 1M | |
| GPT-5.3 Codex | OpenAI | Mid | $1.75 | $14.00 | 400K |
| GPT-5.5 | OpenAI | Premium | $5.00 | $30.00 | 1M |
| GPT-5.5 Pro | OpenAI | Premium | $30.00 | $180.00 | 1M |
Calculate Your Exact Costs
Pick your OpenAI and Google models, enter your usage, see the savings.
Which Should You Choose?
Chatbot / Customer Support
High volume, short responses. Cost per message matters most. Both providers have capable budget models.
Code Generation
Complex reasoning, longer outputs. Quality and accuracy matter. Both have strong coding models.
Long Document Analysis
Processing large documents, legal contracts, or codebases. Context window is critical.
Startup MVP / Side Project
Minimize costs while building. Need reliable API at the lowest price point.
Enterprise / Premium
Highest quality for complex reasoning. Budget less critical than accuracy.
Multi-Model Pipeline
Route simple tasks to cheap models, complex tasks to premium. Mix providers for optimal cost.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Google Gemini cheaper than OpenAI for API usage?
Google's budget models are significantly cheaper. Gemini 2.0 Flash Lite ($0.075/$0.30 per 1M tokens) is 70% cheaper on input than GPT-5 mini ($0.25/$2.00). However, at the mid-tier, Gemini 2.5 Pro ($1.25/$10.00) and GPT-5 ($1.25/$10.00) are identically priced — but Gemini offers 1M context vs GPT-5's 272K, making Google the better value. For premium models, GPT-5.5 ($5.00/$30.00) has no direct Google equivalent, though Gemini 3.1 Pro ($2.00/$12.00) offers strong performance at less than half the price.
What is the cheapest model between OpenAI and Google?
Google's Gemini 2.0 Flash Lite at $0.075/$0.30 per 1M tokens is the cheapest overall. OpenAI's cheapest model is GPT-oss 20B at $0.08/$0.35 — very close but slightly more expensive on both input and output. At 10M tokens/month, Gemini Flash Lite costs $3.75 vs GPT-oss 20B's $4.30. For most use cases, Google offers the cheapest entry point, especially with their free tier.
Does Google Gemini have larger context windows than OpenAI?
Yes, Google consistently offers larger context windows. Gemini 2.5 Pro, Gemini 3.1 Pro, Gemini Flash, and Gemini Flash Lite all support 1M tokens — 3.7x larger than GPT-5's 272K. Even Google's cheapest model (Flash Lite at $0.075) has 1M context. OpenAI's largest context is 1M on GPT-5.5, but that model costs $5/$30 per 1M tokens. For budget-conscious users needing large context, Google wins decisively.
GPT-5 vs Gemini 2.5 Pro: which should I choose?
Both are priced identically at $1.25/$10.00 per 1M tokens, but Gemini 2.5 Pro offers 1M context vs GPT-5's 272K — nearly 4x more. For most use cases, Gemini 2.5 Pro provides better value. Choose GPT-5 if you prefer OpenAI's ecosystem, need better tool use/function calling, or have existing GPT-5 integrations. Choose Gemini if you need large context, want Google ecosystem integration, or prioritize cost efficiency.
Does Google offer a free API tier?
Yes, Google offers a generous free tier for Gemini models. You get 15 RPM (requests per minute) and 1 million tokens per day at no cost for Gemini Flash and Flash Lite. This is the most generous free tier in the market — all other providers (OpenAI, Anthropic, Mistral) offer only one-time $5 credits. If you're building a prototype or side project, Google's free tier lets you run for months without spending a dollar.