The cost of using OpenAI's ChatGPT models, particularly through their API, is primarily determined by the number of "tokens" processed. Tokens are not simply words; they are pieces of words or characters that the AI model uses to understand and generate text. For example, the word "tokenization" might be broken down into "token", "iz", and "ation". On average, 1000 tokens are roughly equivalent to 750 English words.
OpenAI prices its models based on usage, specifically the number of tokens consumed for both input (the prompt you send to the model) and output (the response generated by the model). Different models have different pricing structures, with more advanced models like GPT-4 generally costing more than simpler ones like GPT-3.5 Turbo.
How the Calculator Works
This calculator helps you estimate the cost of your ChatGPT API usage based on the model you select and the number of input and output tokens you anticipate.
Model Selection: You choose the specific ChatGPT model you plan to use (e.g., GPT-4o, GPT-4 Turbo, GPT-4, GPT-3.5 Turbo). Each model has its own pricing.
Input Tokens: This represents the number of tokens in the prompt or query you send to the model.
Output Tokens: This represents the maximum number of tokens the model is allowed to generate in its response.
Price Per 1000 Tokens: The calculator displays the current input and output pricing for the selected model. Please note that output token prices can sometimes differ from input token prices for certain models.
Estimated Cost: The calculator computes the total cost by multiplying the input tokens by the input price rate and the output tokens by the output price rate, then summing these two values.
The formula used is:
Total Cost = (Input Tokens / 1000) * Input Price per 1000 Tokens + (Output Tokens / 1000) * Output Price per 1000 Tokens
Use Cases for This Calculator
This tool is invaluable for:
Developers: Estimating the cost of integrating AI into applications.
Businesses: Budgeting for AI-powered services and customer support.
Researchers: Planning the financial feasibility of large-scale AI experiments.
Students: Understanding the economics of AI models for academic projects.
By accurately estimating costs beforehand, you can optimize your prompts, manage your API usage effectively, and avoid unexpected expenses. Always refer to the official OpenAI pricing page for the most up-to-date and definitive cost information.
var modelPrices = {
"gpt-4o": { input: 0.005, output: 0.015 }, // Example prices, subject to change
"gpt-4-turbo": { input: 0.01, output: 0.03 },
"gpt-4": { input: 0.03, output: 0.06 },
"gpt-3.5-turbo": { input: 0.0005, output: 0.0015 }
};
function updatePricePerToken() {
var selectedModel = document.getElementById("modelSelect").value;
var prices = modelPrices[selectedModel];
if (prices) {
document.getElementById("pricePer1kTokens").value = "$" + prices.input.toFixed(3);
document.getElementById("pricePer1kOutputTokens").value = "$" + prices.output.toFixed(3);
} else {
document.getElementById("pricePer1kTokens").value = "N/A";
document.getElementById("pricePer1kOutputTokens").value = "N/A";
}
calculateCost(); // Recalculate cost when model changes
}
function calculateCost() {
var selectedModel = document.getElementById("modelSelect").value;
var inputTokens = parseFloat(document.getElementById("inputTokens").value);
var outputTokens = parseFloat(document.getElementById("outputTokens").value);
var resultElement = document.getElementById("result-value");
// Clear previous error messages
resultElement.textContent = "$0.00";
// Validate inputs
if (isNaN(inputTokens) || inputTokens < 0) {
resultElement.textContent = "Invalid Input Tokens";
return;
}
if (isNaN(outputTokens) || outputTokens < 0) {
resultElement.textContent = "Invalid Output Tokens";
return;
}
var prices = modelPrices[selectedModel];
if (!prices) {
resultElement.textContent = "Unknown Model";
return;
}
var inputCost = (inputTokens / 1000) * prices.input;
var outputCost = (outputTokens / 1000) * prices.output;
var totalCost = inputCost + outputCost;
resultElement.textContent = "$" + totalCost.toFixed(4); // Display with more precision for potentially small costs
}
// Initialize prices and calculation on page load
window.onload = function() {
updatePricePerToken();
calculateCost();
};