Is OpenAI API or Gemini API cheaper?

OpenAI API starts lower at $0.10 per million input tokens, $0.5 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%), then went up to $0.20 by Sep 2026 (+300%), and finally came down to $0.10 by Oct 2026 (-50%). 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%), then went up to $1.20 by Sep 2026 (+200%), and finally came down to $0.50 by Oct 2026 (-58%). Gemini API has not changed its listed prices since 2026.

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.

OpenAI API vs Gemini API pricing

OpenAI API is cheaper to start: $0.10 per million input tokens, $0.5 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. Gemini API has not changed its listed prices since 2026.

OpenAI API pricing

Gemini API pricing Add a third product

OpenAI API vs Gemini API at a glance

Current list prices as last read from each pricing page.

OpenAI API

Full analysis Visit OpenAI API

Starts at: $0.10 per million input tokens, $0.5 per million outputgpt-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

Full analysis Visit 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: since 2026
Price changes: none

Exhibit 1

OpenAI API vs Gemini API price history

Both histories on one chart. The default line is each product's cheapest paid plan.

Changed between readings

Note: OpenAI API: USD per million tokens, standard processing. Gemini API: USD per million tokens, paid tier, prompts up to 200K tokens. Click a legend entry to add or hide a plan. Log scale.Source: live and archived pricing pages; SaaS Pricing Tracker analysis.

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
Oct 3, 2026	$0.10	$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	$0.10was $0.80 in 2021	Nov 2021
Cheapest model, output	$0.50was $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.

Oct 2026OpenAI API cut the Cheapest model input and output prices. Cheapest model, input went from $0.20 to $0.10 (-50%). Cheapest model, output went from $1.20 to $0.50 (-58%).
Sep 2026OpenAI API raised the Flagship model input and output and Cheapest model input and 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 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 and Cheapest model input and 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 and output and Cheapest model input and 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 and output and Cheapest model input and 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 $0.10 per million input tokens, $0.5 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%), then went up to $0.20 by Sep 2026 (+300%), and finally came down to $0.10 by Oct 2026 (-50%). 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%), then went up to $1.20 by Sep 2026 (+200%), and finally came down to $0.50 by Oct 2026 (-58%). Gemini API has not changed its listed prices since 2026.
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.