AI model economics
Plan Your AI Model Costs
Start with a fair estimate for the same workload. Then compare that estimate with real usage records before changing providers or models.
Step 1
Estimate the same workload
Use the same monthly request count and average token sizes for each model. Include repeated prompt caching when the provider publishes a cache-read price.
The free Mydentify AI Model Cost Calculator uses the current public model catalog and does not ask for an API key.
monthly cost =
requests × (
input tokens
+ output tokens
+ cached input
+ fixed request fees
)Step 2
Check the real usage
List prices cannot show retries, workload mix, or the exact tokens used by production traffic. Review an export before deciding which model creates the largest part of the bill.
The free Mydentify LLM Usage Cost Analyzer reads CSV or JSON usage records in the browser. Files are not uploaded.
model,input_tokens,output_tokens,cost
model-a,2400,380,0.018
model-b,5100,920,0.064Use both views
Price is only one decision
Test quality, speed, limits, and reliability for your own workload. A cheaper model is not a better choice when it fails more often or needs more retries.