If you're building AI products in 2026, API costs are probably your biggest expense.
I've spent the last month testing different approaches. Here are real pricing data.
The Numbers
| Model | Direct (1M input) | Gateway | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| GPT-4o | $2.50 | $1.50 | 40% |
| Claude 3.5 Sonnet | $3.00 | $1.80 | 40% |
| GPT-4 Turbo | $10.00 | $5.00 | 50% |
| Gemini 1.5 Pro | $1.25 | $0.75 | 40% |
| DeepSeek-V3 | $0.27 | $0.14 | 48% |
Why Are Gateways Cheaper?
Gateways like HuntAI buy in bulk and pass savings to developers. They also optimize routing between providers.
My Results
Before: $1,200/month, 7 accounts, 3 downtime/month
After: $540/month (55% savings), 1 API key, 0 downtime
Integration
from openai import OpenAI
client = OpenAI(
base_url="https://your-huntai-url/v1",
api_key="your-huntai-key"
)
# Works with LangChain, Dify, Open WebUI, NextChat
Free Trial
HuntAI: 10M free tokens, no credit card, 30 seconds to start.
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