Quick Comparison
| Model | Input Price (1M) | Output Price (1M) | Best Use Case | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | GPT-5.5 | $5 | $30 | Complex reasoning, heavy logic | | GPT-5.5 Mini | $0.15 | $0.6 | General chat, summarization | | Claude Opus 5.5 | $4 | $20 | Deep data analysis, planning | | Claude Sonnet 4.6 | $3 | $15 | Coding, fast execution | | Gemini 4 Argon | $2 | $10 | Autonomous coding & 1M output tokens | | Gemini 3.1 Pro | $2 | $12 | Multi-modal video & reasoning |
The Verdict: Cheapest vs. Smartest
If you are trying to optimize your AI infrastructure costs, here are the current winners in each category based on our latest benchmarks.
The Cheapest Model
GPT-5.5 Mini continues to dominate the cost-efficiency category. At $0.15 per 1M input tokens, it is virtually free for small-scale applications.
The Best Value Model
Claude Sonnet 4.6 is the undisputed king of value. Despite being significantly cheaper than the flagship models, it routinely beats them in coding and logic benchmarks. If you leverage Claude's Prompt Caching, your input cost drops from $3 to an incredible $0.3.
Understand Your Bills
If you are confused by how token pricing translates into real-world dollars, start by reading our guides below. Or, if you just want to know exactly what your app will cost next month, plug your usage numbers into the AI Cost Calculator linked above.