GPT-5 API Cost Calculator

OpenAI GPT-5 Pricing Explained

OpenAI's GPT-5 API is priced at $1.25 per 1M input tokens and $10.00 per 1M output tokens. This makes it one of the best-value premium models — cheaper than Claude Sonnet 4.6 ($3/$15) and Gemini 3.1 Pro ($2/$12) for input-heavy workloads.

When to Use Each OpenAI Model

• GPT-5.5 ($5/$30): Maximum capability. Use for the most complex reasoning, research, and analysis tasks.
• GPT-5 ($1.25/$10): Best balance of quality and cost. Use for code generation, complex analysis, and multi-step reasoning.
• GPT-5 mini ($0.25/$2): Great for moderate tasks. Summarization, content generation, and most chatbot workloads.
• GPT-4o ($2.50/$10): Proven reliability. Good for production workloads where consistency matters.
• GPT-4o mini ($0.15/$0.60): Budget champion. Classification, extraction, simple Q&A — handles 70% of typical workloads.
• GPT-oss 120B ($0.15/$0.60): Open-source option via API. Same price as GPT-4o mini, different architecture.

How to Reduce Your OpenAI API Costs

• Use model routing: Route simple tasks to GPT-4o mini, complex ones to GPT-5. Saves 40-80%.
• Reduce output tokens: Set max_tokens limits. Output costs 8x more than input for GPT-5.
• Use caching: OpenAI offers prompt caching for repeated prefixes — up to 50% discount on cached tokens.
• Batch processing: Use the Batch API for non-urgent tasks — 50% discount on batch pricing.
• Monitor usage: Set up billing alerts in the OpenAI dashboard to catch cost spikes early.

Related Tools

• Claude API Cost Calculator — Compare Anthropic pricing
• Multi-Model Routing Builder — Design a cost-optimized routing strategy
• Model Switch Calculator — See savings from switching models
• Cost Optimizer — Get a personalized optimization report
• API Cost Report Card — Grade your spending efficiency, get a shareable report