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OpenAI API vs Gemini API pricing
OpenAI API is cheaper to start: $0.2 per million input tokens, $1.2 per million output against $0.25 per million input tokens, $1.5 per million output for Gemini API. OpenAI API has changed its listed prices 4 times since 2021. We only have Gemini API's current prices so far.
OpenAI API vs Gemini 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
Gemini API
- Starts at
- $0.25 per million input tokens, $1.5 per million outputGemini 3.1 Flash-Lite, USD per million tokens, paid tier, prompts up to 200K tokens
- Top listed plan
- $2 per million input tokens, $12 per million output for prompts up to 200K tokensGemini 3.1 Pro Preview
- Priced by
- Usage based
- Free plan
- Yes
- Price history
- read Sep 2026
- Price changes
- unknown
OpenAI API vs Gemini API price history
We have a multi-year history for OpenAI API; the other line shows the current price only.
Show the data as a table
| Observed | OpenAI API Cheapest model, input | Gemini API Gemini 3.8 Flash, input |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 20, 2021 | $0.80 | |
| Nov 3, 2022 | $0.40 | |
| May 2, 2024 | $0.50 | |
| Nov 12, 2024 | $0.15 | |
| Nov 11, 2025 | $0.05 | |
| Sep 21, 2026 | $0.20 | $0.75 |
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 |
Gemini APIUSD per million tokens, paid tier, prompts up to 200K tokens
| Plan | Price | Listed since |
|---|---|---|
| Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview, input | $2 | Sep 2026 |
| Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview, output | $12 | Sep 2026 |
| Gemini 3.8 Flash, input | $0.75 | Sep 2026 |
| Gemini 3.8 Flash, output | $3.75 | Sep 2026 |
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%).
- 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%).
- 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%).
- 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 Gemini API pricing questions
- Is OpenAI API or Gemini API cheaper?
- OpenAI API starts lower at $0.2 per million input tokens, $1.2 per million output, Gemini API at $0.25 per million input tokens, $1.5 per million output. Prices are as shown on each pricing page when it was last read.
- Has OpenAI API or Gemini 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%). We only have current prices for Gemini API.
- Do OpenAI API and Gemini API have a free plan?
- Gemini API lists a free plan. We have not recorded one for OpenAI API.
- How are OpenAI API and Gemini API priced?
- OpenAI API: usage based, USD per million tokens, standard processing. Gemini API: usage based, USD per million tokens, paid tier, prompts up to 200K tokens.