LLM API vs self-hosted cost calculator
Compare API spend with self-hosted inference using your own prices, request volume and GPU assumptions.
Relevant capabilities
- Workload-based monthly cost comparison
- Break-even volume and GPU utilization
- Calculator runs in your browser
How should you compare the options?
- Compare model quality and required latency before treating API and self-hosted requests as interchangeable.
- GPU utilization, batch size and idle capacity can change self-hosted economics materially.
- Include platform, storage, networking, operations and migration costs alongside inference compute.
What should you bring?
- Actual API rates and request/token volume
- Candidate model, GPU price and measured throughput
- Expected utilization, latency target and operating effort
What does a practical first workflow look like?
- Enter your real workload and prices in the calculator.
- Test representative requests on the candidate model.
- Compare low, expected and high utilization scenarios.
- Pilot at production-like load and review the measured break-even assumptions.
What should you check before expanding?
- Confirm output quality on representative tasks.
- Measure throughput and tail latency at target concurrency.
- Compare actual billed cost with the model after the pilot.
How should you evaluate the cost?
Use your actual API rates, cloud prices and expected utilization. Include software and operational costs when making the buying decision.
What needs checking before switching?
Verify throughput, model quality, latency and operational requirements before replacing an API service.