AI API Prices Are Rising
Three Times in 41 Days
No single provider will tell you this — but across OpenAI and Google, four price events hit between November 2026 and January 2027 — including GPT-6 Cyber's 60% generational increase. Here's every one, with dates and amounts.
The Timeline
GPT-6 Generation Upgrade — OpenAI
GPT-6 Cyber replaces 5.6-Cyber at 60% higher rates
| GPT-5.6 Cyber | GPT-6 Cyber | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Input /1M | $12.50 | $20.00 | +60% |
| Output /1M | $75.00 | $100.00 | +33% |
Not a promotional expiry — a generational upgrade with higher pricing. Already in effect.
November 21, 2026 — OpenAI
GPT-5.6 Sol promotional pricing expires
| Until Nov 21 | After Nov 21 | |
|---|---|---|
| Input /1M | $4.00 | TBD |
| Output /1M | $20.00 | TBD |
OpenAI states promo is "available at least through Nov 21" — standard rates may be higher.
December 1, 2026 — Google
Gemini 4 Argon doubles (+100%)
| Until Nov 30 | From Dec 1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Input /1M | $2.00 | $4.00 |
| Output /1M | $10.00 | $20.00 |
| Cache /1M | $0.10 | $0.20 |
January 1, 2027 — Google
Gemini 3.x Flash family doubles (+100%)
| Until Dec 31 | From Jan 1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Input /1M | $0.75 | $1.50 |
| Output /1M | $3.75 | $7.50 |
| Cache /1M | $0.075 | $0.15 |
What This Means for You
Who's Getting Cheaper?
Not everything is going up. Anthropic cut Opus 4.5–4.8 by 67% (from $15/$75 to $5/$25) in September. DeepSeek off-peak rates are 50% of standard. See the full picture:
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are AI API prices increasing?
The increases are the expiry of promotional/launch pricing, not new surcharges. Google ran promotional rates for Gemini 3.x and Argon; OpenAI ran promotional rates for GPT-5.6 Sol. When promos expire, standard (higher) rates apply.
Which AI APIs are NOT increasing prices?
Anthropic (cut Opus 4.5-4.8 by 67%), DeepSeek (off-peak is 50% off), Qwen (hosted on SiliconFlow), and Claude Haiku 5.5 ($0.10/$0.50 — cheapest Claude ever).
How can I prepare for these increases?
1) Use Batch API (50% off) where latency permits. 2) Enable prompt caching. 3) Evaluate cheaper alternatives — see our cheapest LLM ranking. 4) Shift non-critical workloads to off-peak hours if using DeepSeek.
Will there be more increases?
Google has not announced rates beyond Jan 2027. OpenAI's GPT-6 Astra Law also has a promo expiring Dec 31, 2026. We track all changes daily at our changelog.
Data tracked daily from official provider pricing pages. Last updated 2026-11-06. 66 models monitored.