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OpenAI API vs Claude API pricing
OpenAI API is cheaper to start: $0.2 per million input tokens, $1.2 per million output against $1 per million input tokens, $5 per million output for Claude API. OpenAI API has changed its listed prices 4 times since 2021. Claude API has changed its listed prices 6 times since 2024.
OpenAI API vs Claude API at a glance
Current list prices as last read from each pricing page.
OpenAI API
- Starts at
- $0.2 per million input tokens, $1.2 per million outputgpt-5.6-luna, USD per million tokens, standard processing
- Top listed plan
- $10 per million input tokens, $50 per million outputgpt-6-astra
- Priced by
- Usage based
- Free plan
- Not recorded
- Price history
- since 2021
- Price changes
- 4
Claude API
- Starts at
- $1 per million input tokens, $5 per million outputHaiku 4.5, USD per million tokens, standard processing
- Top listed plan
- $10 per million input tokens, $50 per million outputFable 5.1
- Priced by
- Usage based
- Free plan
- Not recorded
- Price history
- since 2024
- Price changes
- 6
OpenAI API vs Claude API price history
Both histories on one chart. The default line is each product's cheapest paid plan.
Show the data as a table
| Observed | OpenAI API Cheapest model, input | Claude API Haiku tier, input |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 20, 2021 | $0.80 | |
| Nov 3, 2022 | $0.40 | |
| May 2, 2024 | $0.50 | |
| Jun 20, 2024 | $0.25 | |
| Nov 12, 2024 | $0.15 | |
| Dec 3, 2024 | $1 | |
| Jun 3, 2025 | $0.80 | |
| Oct 1, 2025 | $0.80 | |
| Nov 11, 2025 | $0.05 | |
| Jan 1, 2026 | $1 | |
| Apr 1, 2026 | $1 | |
| Jul 1, 2026 | $1 | |
| Sep 21, 2026 | $0.20 | $1 |
Plans side by side
Every plan currently listed, with the price it started at where we have it.
OpenAI APIUSD per million tokens, standard processing
| Plan | Price | Listed since |
|---|---|---|
| Flagship model, input | $10was $60 in 2021 | Nov 2021 |
| Flagship model, output | $50was $60 in 2021 | Nov 2021 |
| Cheapest model, input | $0.20was $0.80 in 2021 | Nov 2021 |
| Cheapest model, output | $1.20was $0.80 in 2021 | Nov 2021 |
Claude APIUSD per million tokens, standard processing
| Plan | Price | Listed since |
|---|---|---|
| Top model, input | $10was $15 in 2024 | Jun 2024 |
| Top model, output | $50was $75 in 2024 | Jun 2024 |
| Sonnet tier, input | $2was $3 in 2024 | Jun 2024 |
| Sonnet tier, output | $10was $15 in 2024 | Jun 2024 |
| Haiku tier, input | $1was $0.25 in 2024 | Jun 2024 |
| Haiku tier, output | $5was $1.25 in 2024 | Jun 2024 |
What changed, and when
Every dated price move we have on record for either product, newest first.
- Sep 2026OpenAI API raised the Flagship model, input, Flagship model, output, Cheapest model, input and Cheapest model, output prices. Flagship model, input went from $5 to $10 (+100%). Flagship model, output went from $30 to $50 (+67%). Cheapest model, input went from $0.05 to $0.20 (+300%). Cheapest model, output went from $0.40 to $1.20 (+200%).
- Jul 2026Claude API changed its plans and prices. Top model, input went from $5 to $10 (+100%). Top model, output went from $25 to $50 (+100%). Sonnet tier, input went from $3 to $2 (-33%). Sonnet tier, output went from $15 to $10 (-33%).
- May 2026OpenAI API raised the Flagship model, input and Flagship model, output prices. Flagship model, input went from $1.25 to $5 (+300%). Flagship model, output went from $10 to $30 (+200%).
- Jan 2026Claude API changed its plans and prices. Top model, input went from $15 to $5 (-67%). Top model, output went from $75 to $25 (-67%). Haiku tier, input went from $0.80 to $1 (+25%). Haiku tier, output went from $4 to $5 (+25%).
- Nov 2025OpenAI API cut the Flagship model, input, Cheapest model, input and Cheapest model, output prices. Flagship model, input went from $2.50 to $1.25 (-50%). Cheapest model, input went from $0.15 to $0.05 (-67%). Cheapest model, output went from $0.60 to $0.40 (-33%).
- Jun 2025Claude API cut the Haiku tier, input and Haiku tier, output prices. Haiku tier, input went from $1 to $0.80 (-20%). Haiku tier, output went from $5 to $4 (-20%).
- Dec 2024Claude API raised the Haiku tier, input and Haiku tier, output prices. Haiku tier, input went from $0.25 to $1 (+300%). Haiku tier, output went from $1.25 to $5 (+300%).
- Nov 2024OpenAI API cut the Flagship model, input, Flagship model, output, Cheapest model, input and Cheapest model, output prices. Flagship model, input went from $10 to $2.50 (-75%). Flagship model, output went from $30 to $10 (-67%). Cheapest model, input went from $0.50 to $0.15 (-70%). Cheapest model, output went from $1.50 to $0.60 (-60%).
- May 2024OpenAI API changed its plans and prices. Flagship model, input went from $20 to $10 (-50%). Flagship model, output went from $20 to $30 (+50%). Cheapest model, input went from $0.40 to $0.50 (+25%). Cheapest model, output went from $0.40 to $1.50 (+275%).
- Nov 2022OpenAI API cut the Flagship model, input, Flagship model, output, Cheapest model, input and Cheapest model, output prices. Flagship model, input went from $60 to $20 (-67%). Flagship model, output went from $60 to $20 (-67%). Cheapest model, input went from $0.80 to $0.40 (-50%). Cheapest model, output went from $0.80 to $0.40 (-50%).
OpenAI API vs Claude API pricing questions
- Is OpenAI API or Claude API cheaper?
- OpenAI API starts lower at $0.2 per million input tokens, $1.2 per million output, Claude API at $1 per million input tokens, $5 per million output. Prices are as shown on each pricing page when it was last read.
- Has OpenAI API or Claude API raised prices?
- OpenAI API: Flagship model, input has been listed since Nov 2021, starting at $60. It came down to $20 by Nov 2022 (-67%), then came down to $10 by May 2024 (-50%), then came down to $2.50 by Nov 2024 (-75%), then came down to $1.25 by Nov 2025 (-50%), then went up to $5 by May 2026 (+300%), and finally went up to $10 by Sep 2026 (+100%). Flagship model, output has been listed since Nov 2021, starting at $60. It came down to $20 by Nov 2022 (-67%), then went up to $30 by May 2024 (+50%), then came down to $10 by Nov 2024 (-67%), then went up to $30 by May 2026 (+200%), and finally went up to $50 by Sep 2026 (+67%). Cheapest model, input has been listed since Nov 2021, starting at $0.80. It came down to $0.40 by Nov 2022 (-50%), then went up to $0.50 by May 2024 (+25%), then came down to $0.15 by Nov 2024 (-70%), then came down to $0.05 by Nov 2025 (-67%), and finally went up to $0.20 by Sep 2026 (+300%). Cheapest model, output has been listed since Nov 2021, starting at $0.80. It came down to $0.40 by Nov 2022 (-50%), then went up to $1.50 by May 2024 (+275%), then came down to $0.60 by Nov 2024 (-60%), then came down to $0.40 by Nov 2025 (-33%), and finally went up to $1.20 by Sep 2026 (+200%). Claude API: Top model, input has been listed since Jun 2024, starting at $15. It came down to $5 by Jan 2026 (-67%), and finally went up to $10 by Jul 2026 (+100%). Top model, output has been listed since Jun 2024, starting at $75. It came down to $25 by Jan 2026 (-67%), and finally went up to $50 by Jul 2026 (+100%). Sonnet tier, input has been listed since Jun 2024, starting at $3. It came down to $2 by Jul 2026 (-33%). Sonnet tier, output has been listed since Jun 2024, starting at $15. It came down to $10 by Jul 2026 (-33%). Haiku tier, input has been listed since Jun 2024, starting at $0.25. It went up to $1 by Dec 2024 (+300%), then came down to $0.80 by Jun 2025 (-20%), and finally went up to $1 by Jan 2026 (+25%). Haiku tier, output has been listed since Jun 2024, starting at $1.25. It went up to $5 by Dec 2024 (+300%), then came down to $4 by Jun 2025 (-20%), and finally went up to $5 by Jan 2026 (+25%).
- How are OpenAI API and Claude API priced?
- OpenAI API: usage based, USD per million tokens, standard processing. Claude API: usage based, USD per million tokens, standard processing.