Anthropic API vs Gemini API: LLM API pricing compared
Updated 2026-11-09 · listed A to Z, not ranked
Anthropic bills the Claude API per million input and output tokens. Prompt caching has separate write prices (5-minute and 1-hour) and a much lower price for cache hits.
Google prices the Gemini API per million tokens on its Standard paid tier, with a free tier on some models. Two models list a price change on a set date, so check which date applies to you.
Listed A to Z, from docs.anthropic.com and ai.google.dev. Every figure below is quoted from those pages.
- Main price table
- Claude Fable 5.1, Claude Opus 5.5, Claude Sonnet 5.5, Claude Haiku 5.5 (prompts up to 100K tokens), Claude Haiku 5.5 (prompts over 100K tokens)
- Free option
- None in the published plan table
- Published prices
- Claude Fable 5.1, Opus 5.5, Sonnet 5.5 and Haiku 5.5, prompt caching rates and older models.
- Main price table
- Gemini 4 Argon, Gemini 3.8 Flash, Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite, Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite, Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview, Gemini 2.5 Pro, Gemini 2.5 Flash, Gemini Embedding
- Free option
- None in the published plan table
- Published prices
- Gemini 4 Argon, 3.8 Flash, 3.5 Flash-Lite, 3.1 Pro Preview and 2.5 models, scheduled price changes, batch and grounding.
How we checked: Prices quoted from each official pricing page: Anthropic API checked Nov 9, 2026, Gemini API checked Nov 9, 2026. Taxes, usage overages and promotions can change what you pay; confirm with each provider before you buy.
How they compare
- Main price table. Anthropic API lists 5 entries (Claude Fable 5.1, Claude Opus 5.5, Claude Sonnet 5.5, Claude Haiku 5.5 (prompts up to 100K tokens), Claude Haiku 5.5 (prompts over 100K tokens)); Gemini API lists 8 (Gemini 4 Argon, Gemini 3.8 Flash, Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite, Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite, Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview, Gemini 2.5 Pro, Gemini 2.5 Flash, Gemini Embedding).
- Free option. Anthropic API: none in the published plan table. Gemini API: none in the published plan table.
- How prices are quoted. Anthropic API: “Current models (per 1M tokens)”. Gemini API: “Standard paid tier (per 1M tokens)”.
Anthropic API plans and prices
| Model | Input | Output | Cache write 5m / 1h | Cache hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claude Fable 5.1 | $10 | $50 | $12.50 / $20 | $0.25 |
| Claude Opus 5.5 | $4 | $20 | $5 / $8 | $0.20 |
| Claude Sonnet 5.5 | $2 | $10 | $2.50 / $4 | $0.10 |
| Claude Haiku 5.5 (prompts up to 100K tokens) | $0.10 | $0.50 | ||
| Claude Haiku 5.5 (prompts over 100K tokens) | $0.50 | $2.50 |
| Model | Input | Output |
|---|---|---|
| Claude Opus 4.5–4.8 | $5 | $25 |
| Claude Opus 4.1 | $15 | $75 |
| Claude Sonnet 4.x | $3 | $15 |
| Claude Haiku 4.5 | $1 | $5 |
From docs.anthropic.com, checked Nov 9, 2026. Full breakdown: Anthropic API pricing.
Gemini API plans and prices
| Model | Input | Output | Free tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gemini 4 Argon | $2.00 through Nov 30, 2026; $4.00 from Dec 1, 2026 | $10.00; then $20.00 | No |
| Gemini 3.8 Flash | $0.75 through Dec 31, 2026; $1.50 from Jan 1, 2027 | $3.75; then $7.50 | Yes |
| Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite | $0.30 | $2.50 | Yes |
| Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite | $0.25 text/image/video ($0.50 audio) | $1.50 | |
| Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview | $2 (prompts up to 200K) / $4 (over 200K) | $12 / $18 | No |
| Gemini 2.5 Pro | $1.25 / $2.50 (over 200K) | $10 / $15 | |
| Gemini 2.5 Flash | $0.30 | $2.50 | |
| Gemini Embedding | $0.15 |
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Batch and Flex | 50% of Standard (Argon batch $1 / $5) |
| Priority (Gemini 4 Argon) | $3.60 input / $18 output |
| Grounding with Google Search | 5,000 prompts a month free (shared), then $14 per 1,000 |
From ai.google.dev, checked Nov 9, 2026. Full breakdown: Gemini API pricing.
FAQ
How much does Anthropic API cost?
Claude Fable 5.1, Opus 5.5, Sonnet 5.5 and Haiku 5.5, prompt caching rates and older models. (checked Nov 9, 2026).
How much does Gemini API cost?
Gemini 4 Argon, 3.8 Flash, 3.5 Flash-Lite, 3.1 Pro Preview and 2.5 models, scheduled price changes, batch and grounding. (checked Nov 9, 2026).
Do Anthropic API and Gemini API have a free option?
Anthropic API: none in the published plan table. Gemini API: none in the published plan table.
Where do these prices come from?
Each vendor's own pricing page: docs.anthropic.com (checked Nov 9, 2026) and ai.google.dev (checked Nov 9, 2026). Prices change; confirm on the vendor's page before you buy.
Sources (official pages, read 2026-11-09)
- docs.anthropic.com
- docs.anthropic.com/en/docs/about-claude/pricing
- ai.google.dev
- ai.google.dev/gemini-api/docs/pricing
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