What the OpenAI and Claude APIs actually cost
The API bills by the token, and for most people that works out cheaper than a monthly plan — once you know what a token is.
Per-token, not per-month
Consumer AI subscriptions charge a flat monthly fee. The provider APIs charge by usage — a price per million tokens in and a price per million out, where a token is roughly three-quarters of a word. You pay for exactly what you send and receive, and nothing when you're not using it.
Why it's usually cheaper
For most individual use, metered token pricing comes out well under a monthly plan, because the plan is priced to cover heavy users and you're probably not one. The cases where a subscription wins are genuinely heavy, constant use — and even then, seeing the per-task cost tells you which work is actually expensive.
- Light months cost close to nothing instead of a fixed fee.
- Costs are visible per run, so you can spot an expensive prompt.
- You're paying the provider's rate directly, with no tool's markup on top.
Using the API without the plumbing
The catch is that raw API access means keys and code. Bizwax.ai lets you add your provider keys once and use them across every tool — the provider bills you directly at its own rate, and Bizwax adds nothing per run. You get API pricing without wiring anything up yourself.
Try it on your own keys
Bizwax.ai is in closed beta. Request access and we'll email you when you're in.
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