Category · 11 tools · 6 comparisons
LLM API providers
These providers offer businesses API access to large language models for building AI applications.
At a glance
- Tools tracked
- 11
- Entry plans
- $4–$100/mo
- Typical entry plan
- $12/mo
- Free plan
- 5 of 11
- Cheapest paid
- MiniMax, $4/mo
- Best value score
- NanoGPT, 7.5/10
Every tool we cover
Price tracker →| Tool | Score | From | Top listed plan | Free plan | Trial | Pages |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 NanoGPTNanoGPT | 7.1 | $12/mo | $12/mo | Yes | — | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 CohereCohere | 6.8 | Free | — | Yes | — | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 AnthropicAnthropic | 6.8 | $17/mo | $200/mo | Yes | — | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 Gemini Live APIGemini Live API | 6.8 | Free* | — | Yes | — | ReviewPricing |
 Ask SageAsk Sage | 6.5 | $30/mo* | $90/mo | No | 30 days | ReviewPricing |
 ZenMuxZenMux | 6.5 | Custom* | — | No | — | Review |
 MiniMaxMiniMax | 6.3 | $4/mo | $6,000/mo | No | — | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 Upstage AIUpstage AI | 6.3 | $100/mo | $5,000/mo | No | — | Review |
 OpenAIOpenAI | 6.2 | $8/mo* | $500/mo | Yes | — | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 Azure OpenAI ServiceAzure OpenAI Service | 6.0 | Custom* | — | No | 30 days | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 Amazon BedrockAmazon Bedrock | 5.5 | Custom* | — | No | — | ReviewAlternatives |
* Lower confidence: the vendor's pricing page couldn't be read directly or didn't list every price, so the figure was compiled from other public sources and may be incomplete. Check the vendor's page before you buy.
Head-to-head
Highest scored
NanoGPTNanoGPT
A useful multi-model hub; check model costs and accept that subscription routing can be uneven.
CohereCohere
A capable enterprise AI platform, but opaque production pricing makes cost comparisons difficult.
AnthropicAnthropic
A strong Claude lineup, but plan limits and usage-based API costs complicate the value case.
LLM API providers: quick answers
How much do LLM API providers cost?
Paid plans for the 11 LLM API providers we track start between $4 and $100 a month, and the typical entry plan is about $12 a month. 5 of them have a free plan. ZenMux, Azure OpenAI Service and Amazon Bedrock don't publish a starting price. Prices are the vendors' own, checked Nov 7, 2026; most quote the per-month price when billed annually.
Which LLM API provider is the cheapest?
Which LLM API providers have a free plan?
NanoGPT, Cohere, Anthropic, Gemini Live API and OpenAI have a free plan. Ask Sage and Azure OpenAI Service offer a free trial instead. Free plans are usually capped on usage, seats or features; each review lists the limits.
Which LLM API provider scores highest in our reviews?
NanoGPT scores highest at 7.1/10. A useful multi-model hub; check model costs and accept that subscription routing can be uneven.