OpenAI pricing guide details
Pricing Overview
OpenAI uses a pure usage-based pricing model for its API platform, charging per million tokens processed. There are no monthly subscriptions or seat licenses on the API side — you pay only for what you consume. The current GPT-6 lineup has four models: GPT-6.1 Sol is the flagship at $2.00 per 1M input tokens and $10.00 per 1M output tokens, GPT-6.1 Terra is the middle model at $1.00 and $5.00, GPT-6 Luna is the small, high-volume model at $0.10 and $0.50, and GPT-6 Astra is the top model at $10.00 and $50.00. OpenAI also offers enterprise agreements through sales for organizations that need a dedicated account team, data residency controls, and zero data retention.
Plan Comparison
OpenAI’s official API pricing leads with four GPT-6 models. Each has a 1.05M context length and 128K maximum output tokens.
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| Model | Input Price (per 1M tokens) | Output Price (per 1M tokens) | Context Length | Max Output Tokens | Knowledge Cut-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GPT-6 Astra | $10.00 | $50.00 | 1.05M | 128K | Apr 30, 2026 |
| GPT-6.1 Sol | $2.00 | $10.00 | 1.05M | 128K | Apr 30, 2026 |
| GPT-6.1 Terra | $1.00 | $5.00 | 1.05M | 128K | Jun 1, 2026 |
| GPT-6 Luna | $0.10 | $0.50 | 1.05M | 128K | May 18, 2026 |
The listed prices are standard processing rates for context lengths under 272K; longer prompts have separate long-context rates. Earlier models stay on the price list: GPT-5.6 Sol costs $4.00 and $20.00, GPT-5.6 Terra $2.00 and $12.00, and GPT-5.4 mini $0.75 and $4.50, so GPT-6.1 Sol’s standard rates are half of GPT-5.6 Sol’s. Buyers should compare expected input and output token volumes with the published rates and confirm the context-length requirements of their intended use.
Hidden Costs and Considerations
Output tokens are the real cost driver — at five times the input price on every GPT-6 model, a chatbot generating lengthy responses will burn through budget fast. Context window usage also matters: every token of context is billed as input, so long prompts on GPT-6 Astra add up quickly at $10.00 per million input tokens. We flag that zero data retention and HIPAA BAA compliance require enterprise agreements, which carry undisclosed pricing. Realtime and audio models, gpt-image image generation, Whisper transcription and built-in tools such as web search carry separate charges not reflected in the base token pricing above, and the fine-tuning platform is winding down and no longer accepts new users.
Cost Estimates by Team Size
OpenAI's API pricing page lists GPT-6.1 Terra at $1.00 per 1M input tokens and $5.00 per 1M output tokens. These are standard processing rates for context lengths under 272K.
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| Pricing input | Officially listed value |
|---|---|
| Model | GPT-6.1 Terra |
| Input price | $1.00 per 1M tokens |
| Output price | $5.00 per 1M tokens |
| Context length | 1.05M |
| Max output tokens | 128K |
The public documentation does not provide team-size usage assumptions, monthly token volumes, or total monthly cost estimates. Buyers should confirm their expected input and output token volumes, context-length requirements, and whether their workloads fall within the stated standard-processing context-length condition before estimating spend.
How OpenAI Pricing Compares
OpenAI's usage-based model contrasts sharply with competitors that bundle AI capabilities into fixed monthly plans. We see OpenAI as the better fit for teams with variable or unpredictable workloads, while subscription-based alternatives suit predictable, bounded use cases.
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| Platform | Pricing Model | Starting Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAI | Usage-based (per token) | $0.05 per 1M input tokens (GPT-5-nano) | Variable API workloads |
| Anthropic | Freemium + usage-based | Pro $20/month, Team $25/user/month | Teams wanting fixed monthly costs |
| Fusedash | Usage-based (token packs) | $5 token pack | Budget-conscious prototyping |
| HypeScribe | Fixed subscription | — | Transcription-focused workflows |
OpenAI holds a clear advantage on model variety and context window size, but Anthropic offers a more predictable cost structure with its flat-rate plans. For pure cost-per-token, GPT-6 Luna at $0.10 input / $0.50 output is competitive, though direct comparison depends on output quality for your specific use case.