OpenAI API pricing for proxy users

Understanding token-based billing

Token-based billing charges you strictly for the data processed. Unlike subscription models that demand monthly payments regardless of usage, this approach aligns costs directly with value received. Every character you send and receive is converted into tokens for calculation.

Our infrastructure uses a prepaid credit system. You deposit crypto, receive bonus credit at higher tiers, and watch your balance drop only when tokens are successfully processed. Errors are free. Refusals are free. You never pay for wasted effort.

This method eliminates the anxiety of overage charges common in traditional cloud services. Your API key acts as the sole gatekeeper. One key per account ensures clear attribution of every token consumed. The system tracks usage in real-time, providing transparency that subscription billing often obscures.

Input vs. output token costs

Input tokens cost $0.15 per million tokens. Output tokens cost $0.50 per million tokens. The disparity reflects the computational intensity of generating text versus processing it.

• Input: The prompt you send, including system instructions and conversation history.
• Output: The model's response, including function calls and formatted data.

Output is significantly more expensive. A 1,000-word response costs roughly $0.50. A 1,000-word prompt costs $0.15. This ratio holds true across most large language models. You must optimize both sides to control costs effectively.

Our uncensored model maintains this pricing structure. It does not charge extra for longer responses or complex reasoning. The cost scales linearly with the length of the generated text. This predictability allows you to budget accurately for high-volume applications.

Calculating your total API usage

Total usage equals input tokens plus output tokens. You multiply each volume by its respective rate to find the total cost. This calculation happens automatically when you use our API.

Consider a request with 5,000 input tokens and 1,000 output tokens. The input cost is $0.75. The output cost is $0.50. The total charge is $1.25. This simplicity extends to streaming responses. You can track token counts as chunks arrive.

Errors do not add to this total. If a request fails due to a network issue or a malformed payload, you are not charged. This protection is crucial for developers testing their integration. It prevents budget leaks from unstable code. You only pay for successful interactions.

Comparison with traditional subscription models

Traditional models charge monthly fees regardless of usage. You might pay $20 for 1,000,000 tokens. If you use only 100,000 tokens, you still pay $20. This inefficiency wastes resources for sporadic users.

Our prepaid model charges only for what you use. There are no monthly deadlines. Your credit never expires. This flexibility suits developers who build prototypes or run intermittent workloads. You top up when needed, not when a billing cycle begins.

Subscription models often include tiered limits. You might hit a request cap or a token limit. Our API has clear limits: 300 requests per minute. These limits are generous for most use cases. They prevent abuse without restricting legitimate growth. You scale by adding keys, not by upgrading tiers.

Optimizing costs with streaming

Streaming responses allow you to monitor token usage in real-time. Each chunk contains token counts. You can track input and output tokens as they arrive. This visibility helps you manage budgets dynamically.

Use streaming for long responses. It provides immediate feedback to users. It also allows you to stop processing early if costs exceed a threshold. You can cancel a stream and save remaining tokens. This control is impossible with standard synchronous requests.

Our API supports streaming via Server-Sent Events (SSE). You receive partial responses as they are generated. This reduces perceived latency for end-users. It also gives you precise control over token consumption. You can log token counts for each request. This data helps you optimize your prompts and responses for efficiency.

Common pitfalls in API billing

Many developers underestimate input token costs. System prompts can consume thousands of tokens. If your system prompt is too long, you pay more for every request. Keep instructions concise. Remove unnecessary context. Use efficient formatting.

Another pitfall is ignoring output token limits. Our model allows 16,000 tokens per request. If you request too many tokens and the model generates a lot, you pay more. Set max_tokens appropriately. This prevents unexpected spikes in your bill.

Errors are free. But failed requests still count against your rate limit. If you send too many requests in a minute, you get rate-limited. This can delay your application. Monitor your request volume. Use exponential backoff for retries. This ensures you stay within the 300 requests per minute limit.

Tips for budget management

Use streaming to track token usage. Log token counts for every request. This data helps you identify expensive patterns. You can optimize prompts to reduce input tokens. You can limit output tokens to save costs.

Top up with crypto for bonus credit. Deposits of $50 or more include a 5% bonus. Deposits of $100 include 10%. Deposits of $200 include 15%. This bonus credit extends your budget. It reduces the effective cost per token.

Monitor your API key usage. One key per account makes tracking easy. If you need higher limits, generate a new key. Each key has its own rate limit. This allows you to parallelize requests without hitting limits. Use this strategy for high-throughput applications.

FAQs on token counts

What is the context window size? Our model supports a 100,000 token context window. This includes both input and output tokens. You can send long documents or conversations without truncation. This capacity suits complex tasks requiring extensive context.

Do errors consume tokens? No. Errors and refusals are free. You only pay for successful token processing. This protects your budget from unstable integrations. You can test your code without worrying about costs.

How do I top up? Use crypto only. We accept USDT on TRC20 and USDC on Base. Minimum top-up is $20. Maximum is $500. Bonus credit applies automatically. Your credit never expires. You can use it whenever you need it.

Is there a free trial? Yes. New accounts get $0.50 trial credit. It is valid for 7 days. This allows you to test the API without commitment. You can verify integration and performance before buying credit.