Understanding Model Costs

Different AI models have varying pricing structures based on their capabilities and computational requirements. Here's a detailed breakdown of the costs for each available model.

The good news: AI chat is surprisingly cheap. It's quite difficult to spend more than a few cents per conversation, even with the most capable models.

What is Blended Cost?

Blended cost is a simplified metric that represents the average cost per 1 million tokens for a model, taking into account typical usage patterns where conversations include both input (prompt) and output (completion) tokens. This gives you a single number to compare models at a glance.

The blended cost is calculated assuming output tokens are roughly 3x input tokens — for every word you send, you get about three words back. This reflects real-world usage patterns.

Real cost examples

A short question for Perplexity Reasoning:

• ~400 total tokens
• low token cost plus a small web-search request fee
• Most users stay within the $1 included credit for months

A longer chat with Claude Sonnet 4.6 on a complex topic:

• ~3,000 total tokens
• ~$0.05 total cost

Using GPT-5.4 Mini for quick tasks all day:

• Even 100 back-and-forth messages costs less than $0.10

Complete Model Pricing Table

The table below shows all available chat models with their pricing. The Blended Cost column is a quick comparison metric for typical usage.

Understanding the Table

• Input/Output costs are per 1 million tokens
• Blended Cost represents typical usage combining input and output at a 1:3 ratio
• Additional Fees apply to Perplexity models on top of token costs because they fetch live web data
• Models are sorted roughly by cost tier

Image Model Pricing

Image generation is priced per image, not per token.

Most image generation costs $0.03–$0.05 per image, with premium models up to $0.15. At $6/month including a $1 usage credit, that's 6–33 images on the house before you need to top up.

Cost Optimization Tips

1. Right-size your model: Use Gemini 3 Flash or GPT-5.4 Mini for quick tasks — they're 5–10x cheaper than flagship models and surprisingly capable. Save Claude Opus 4.7 or GPT-5.5 for when it actually matters.
2. Keep conversations short: With every message you send, the entire conversation history is sent to the model. Long threads get expensive fast. Start fresh chats for new topics.
3. Use the model switcher: Spotted mid-conversation that a cheaper model would do? Switch — magicdoor.ai lets you change models without losing context.
4. Watch the live cost indicator: The UI shows real-time cost per message so you always know where you stand.

What does $6/month actually get you?

Your subscription includes a $1 usage credit. For most users, that covers months of normal use. When it runs out, top up your balance (it never expires) and pay only for what you use. Around 70% of subscribers never need to top up at all.

For more help choosing the right model for your task, see the model selection guide.

FAQ

How is AI pricing calculated?

Most AI models charge per token—specifically per 1 million tokens for input and output. A token is roughly 4 characters or 3/4 of a word. A typical email might be 200-500 tokens.

What does "blended cost" mean?

Blended cost averages input and output pricing assuming you write 1 word and get back 3 words. It's a quick comparison metric—lower blended cost means cheaper typical usage.

How can I reduce my AI costs?

Use budget models like Gemini 3 Flash or GPT-5.4 Mini for simple tasks. Start new chats for new topics (long conversations cost more). Save premium models for tasks that actually need them.

Does the $1 credit expire?

No. Your credit never expires. You can top up whenever you want, and added balance also never expires.

How much does image generation cost?

Image generation is priced per image, not per token. Most images cost $0.03–$0.05, with premium models up to $0.15. Your $1 credit covers roughly 6–33 images.