AI API Pricing by Use Case
Not sure which AI model to pick? Choose your use case below and we'll show you the cheapest model that meets your quality needs — with interactive calculators and migration code.
Last updated: Jul 3, 2026 · 49 models · 10 providers
Chatbots & Customer Support
Build AI-powered chatbots that handle customer questions, FAQs, and support tickets at the lowest cost.
Cheapest: $9/mo for 10K messages/day See full ranking →Code Generation & Assistants
Power your coding assistant, IDE plugin, or code review tool with the cheapest AI model.
Cheapest: $1.30/mo for 1K completions/day See full ranking →Content Writing & Marketing
Generate blog posts, marketing copy, and product descriptions at scale for the lowest price.
Cheapest: $0.05 for 50 articles/mo See full ranking →Multilingual Translation
Translate content across 100+ languages at a fraction of human translation cost.
Cheapest: $4/mo for 10K translations/day See full ranking →Document Summarization
Summarize documents, articles, and reports automatically — from meeting notes to research papers.
Cheapest: $2/mo for 5K docs/day See full ranking →How to Choose the Right Model
The cheapest model isn't always the best choice. Here's a quick framework:
1. Start with your quality requirements. Simple FAQ chatbot? Budget models work. Complex reasoning? You need mid-tier or premium.
2. Calculate your actual volume. Use the calculators on each page to see real monthly costs for your usage.
3. Factor in switching costs. Most models use the same API format (OpenAI-compatible). Switching usually takes 5 minutes of code changes.
4. Start cheap, upgrade if needed. Begin with the cheapest model that might work. Only upgrade if quality is insufficient.
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