Claude API vs Gemini API pricing
Gemini API is cheaper to start: $0.25 per million input tokens, $1.5 per million output against $1 per million input tokens, $5 per million output for Claude API. Claude API has changed its listed prices 6 times since 2024. We only have Gemini API's current prices so far.
Claude API vs Gemini API at a glance
Current list prices as last read from each pricing page.
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
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
Claude API vs Gemini API price history
We have a multi-year history for Claude API; the other line shows the current price only.
Show the data as a table
| Observed | Claude API Haiku tier, input | Gemini API Gemini 3.8 Flash, input |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 20, 2024 | $0.25 | |
| Dec 3, 2024 | $1 | |
| Jun 3, 2025 | $0.80 | |
| Oct 1, 2025 | $0.80 | |
| Jan 1, 2026 | $1 | |
| Apr 1, 2026 | $1 | |
| Jul 1, 2026 | $1 | |
| Sep 21, 2026 | $1 | $0.75 |
Plans side by side
Every plan currently listed, with the price it started at where we have it.
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 |
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.
- 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%).
- 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%).
- 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%).
Claude API vs Gemini API pricing questions
- Is Claude API or Gemini API cheaper?
- Gemini API starts lower at $0.25 per million input tokens, $1.5 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 Claude API or Gemini API raised prices?
- 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%). We only have current prices for Gemini API.
- Do Claude API and Gemini API have a free plan?
- Gemini API lists a free plan. We have not recorded one for Claude API.
- How are Claude API and Gemini API priced?
- Claude API: usage based, USD per million tokens, standard processing. Gemini API: usage based, USD per million tokens, paid tier, prompts up to 200K tokens.