Cheapest LLM API Providers
The cheapest LLM API depends on model fit, input price, output price, source type, and the terms behind each provider page.
Low-cost LLM API discovery page.
TLDR
Sort by input price for long-document and classification workloads.
Sort by output price for chat, writing, and code generation workloads.
Keep source verification visible while comparing cheap options.
Who this is for
Teams trying to reduce model API spend.
Buyers building a provider shortlist.
Developers testing cheaper models for specific tasks.
Cheap depends on the workload
A low input price is useful, but it is not the whole story. If your application writes long answers, output price may dominate monthly spend.
The best low-cost option is the one that handles the task well enough without retries, extra prompts, or hidden operational work.
How to build a shortlist
Start with approved listings, sort by the price that matters for your workload, then check source links and model fit.
Avoid comparing providers only by brand name. Compare the exact model and the exact pricing unit.
Practical examples
For classification, start with low input price.
For support chat, compare output price and rate limits.
For coding, test quality before committing to volume.
Current low-input listings
The table below uses approved Inferras listings sorted by input price. It does not add prices beyond the live data already in Supabase.
Current low-input-price listings
Approved public-source AI API listings sorted by input price. Use source links to confirm the latest provider pricing.
| Model | Provider | Provider category | Region | Input / 1M | Output / 1M | Source | Verification | Checked | Updated | View |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Groq Llama 3.1 8B Instant 128k | GroqOfficial source | Official model owner | Global | $0.05 | $0.08 | officialSource | Source listed | May 10, 2026 | May 10, 2026 | View |
Groq GPT OSS 20B 128k | GroqOfficial source | Official model owner | Global | $0.075 | $0.30 | officialSource | Source listed | May 10, 2026 | May 10, 2026 | View |
DeepInfra Qwen3-32B | DeepInfraOfficial source | Official model owner | Global | $0.08 | $0.28 | officialSource | Source listed | May 10, 2026 | May 10, 2026 | View |
DeepInfra Llama-3.3-70B-Instruct-Turbo | DeepInfraOfficial source | Official model owner | Global | $0.10 | $0.32 | officialSource | Source listed | May 10, 2026 | May 10, 2026 | View |
Gemini 2.5 Flash-Lite | Google AI Gemini APIOfficial source | Official model owner | Global | $0.10 | $0.40 | officialSource | Source listed | May 10, 2026 | May 10, 2026 | View |
Groq Llama 4 Scout 17Bx16E 128k | GroqOfficial source | Official model owner | Global | $0.11 | $0.34 | officialSource | Source listed | May 10, 2026 | May 10, 2026 | View |
OpenAI: GPT-4o-mini | OpenRouterOfficial source | Official model owner | Global | $0.15 | $0.60 | marketplaceSource | Source listed | May 10, 2026 | May 10, 2026 | View |
Gemini 2.5 Flash | Google AI Gemini APIOfficial source | Official model owner | Global | $0.15 | $1.25 | officialSource | Source listed | May 10, 2026 | May 10, 2026 | View |
Verification indicates how confidently the listed price matches its public source.
Prices are collected from public provider pages and may change over time. Verify pricing, billing units, rate limits, and terms directly on the source page before purchase.
FAQ
cheapest LLM API
Does the cheapest LLM API mean the best provider?
No. Low price is only one signal. Review model fit, source links, terms, rate limits, support, and reliability needs.
Should I sort by input price or output price?
Sort by the side that dominates your workload. Long documents favor input price; chat and generation favor output price.
Why are some low-price listings still marked source listed?
That label means a public source is provided, but the exact price may still need manual confirmation before buying.
Where should I compare low-cost alternatives?
Use the cheapest AI API compare page and the main Price Radar for current approved public listings.
Source references
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Comments
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May 10, 2026
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