Category · 16 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
- 16
- Entry plans
- $4–$100/mo
- Typical entry plan
- $8/mo
- Free plan
- 8 of 16
- Cheapest paid
- MiniMax, $4/mo
- Best value score
- DeepSeek API, 9/10
Every tool we cover
API pricing →| Tool | Score | From | Top listed plan | Free plan | Trial | Pages |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 DeepSeek APIDeepSeek API | 7.8 | Custom | — | No | — | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 AnthropicAnthropic | 7.3 | $17/mo | $200/mo | Yes | — | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 CohereCohere | 7.2 | Free | — | Yes | — | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 Gemini Live APIGemini Live API | 7.2 | Free* | — | Yes | — | ReviewPricing |
 Mistral AIMistral AI | 7.2 | $5.99/mo | $24.99/mo | Yes | — | ReviewPricing |
 Gemini APIGemini API | 7.2 | Free* | — | Yes | — | ReviewPricing |
 xAI APIxAI API | 7.0 | $8/mo | $200/mo | Yes | — | ReviewPricing |
 Ask SageAsk Sage | 6.8 | $30/mo* | $90/mo | No | 30 days | ReviewPricing |
 Upstage AIUpstage AI | 6.8 | $100/mo | $5,000/mo | No | — | Review |
 AI21 LabsAI21 Labs | 6.8 | Custom | — | No | 7 days | Review |
 OpenAIOpenAI | 6.5 | $8/mo* | $500/mo | Yes | — | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 Azure OpenAI ServiceAzure OpenAI Service | 6.5 | Custom* | — | No | 30 days | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 NanoGPTNanoGPT | 6.5 | $12/mo | $12/mo | Yes | — | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 ZenMuxZenMux | 6.2 | Custom* | — | No | — | Review |
 MiniMaxMiniMax | 6.1 | $4/mo | $6,000/mo | No | — | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 Amazon BedrockAmazon Bedrock | 5.6 | 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
DeepSeek APIDeepSeek API
A straightforward hosted API with flexible compatibility, variable token costs and model-specific concurrency limits.
AnthropicAnthropic
A strong hosted Claude option; verify integration details and usage limits before committing.
CohereCohere
A broad enterprise AI platform with private deployment options and pricing that needs a workload-specific estimate.
LLM API providers: quick answers
How much do LLM API providers cost?
Paid plans for the 16 LLM API providers we track start between $4 and $100 a month, and the typical entry plan is about $8 a month. 8 of them have a free plan. DeepSeek API, AI21 Labs, Azure OpenAI Service, ZenMux and Amazon Bedrock don't publish a starting price. Prices are the vendors' own, checked Nov 10, 2026; most quote the per-month price when billed annually.
Which LLM API provider is the cheapest?
MiniMax has the lowest paid entry plan at $4 a month, followed by Mistral AI at $5.99. If you can live with limits, Anthropic, Cohere, Gemini Live API and Mistral AI have a free plan.
Which LLM API providers have a free plan?
Anthropic, Cohere, Gemini Live API, Mistral AI, Gemini API, xAI API, OpenAI and NanoGPT have a free plan. Ask Sage, AI21 Labs 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?
DeepSeek API scores highest at 7.8/10. A straightforward hosted API with flexible compatibility, variable token costs and model-specific concurrency limits.