---
title: "How Pricing Works"
description: "Run one request, compare its token estimate with the Gateway cost metadata, and find the same charge in the dashboard."
canonical_url: "https://vercel.com/academy/ai-gateway/ai-gateway-pricing"
md_url: "https://vercel.com/academy/ai-gateway/ai-gateway-pricing.md"
docset_id: "vercel-academy"
doc_version: "1.0"
last_updated: "2026-08-08T23:27:13.342Z"
content_type: "lesson"
course: "ai-gateway"
course_title: "Using AI Gateway in Production"
prerequisites:  []
---

<agent-instructions>
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Lessons are sequenced.
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The lesson shows one path; if the human's project diverges, adapt concepts to their setup.
Preserve the learning goal over literal steps.
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</agent-instructions>

# How Pricing Works

# How Is AI Gateway Priced?

A gateway sits between the application and the model provider, so its fee belongs in the first round of questions.

AI Gateway does not add a token markup. We will verify the charge by running one request, estimating its token cost, and finding the same request in the dashboard.

\*\*Note: Quick Answer\*\*

AI Gateway charges the provider's list price for tokens with zero markup, including BYOK traffic. Gateway requests draw from prepaid credits, and every response includes its cost in `providerMetadata.gateway.cost`. Check the model catalog for current prices and the pricing page for current tier details.

## Outcome

Run one request through AI Gateway and trace it to the exact fraction of a cent it cost in your dashboard.

## Fast Track

1. Grab an API key: Vercel dashboard, **AI Gateway** tab, create key
2. Run a `generateText` script with `AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY` set
3. Open **AI Gateway** in the dashboard and find that request's cost

## Hands-on exercise

The Taco Tuesday assistant writes menu descriptions. Each description is inexpensive, but the total only makes sense if we can trace a request from its token counts to the amount charged.

Let's build a small script that generates one menu description and prints its own receipt.

Requirements:

- A `scripts/cost-check.ts` that calls `generateText` with the model string `openai/gpt-5.4-mini`
- Prompt it to describe today's special (give the taco a name with some dignity)
- Print the model, the input tokens, and the output tokens from `result.usage`
- Look up the model's per-token price at [vercel.com/ai-gateway/models](https://vercel.com/ai-gateway/models) and print an estimated cost
- Then print the actual cost. The Gateway puts it right in the response: `providerMetadata.gateway.cost`

Token prices vary by model and serving provider. Look up the current rates in the model catalog, keep the values in named constants, and compare the estimate with the cost returned by the Gateway.

## Try It

Run the script:

```bash
pnpm cost-check
```

You should see something like:

```
--- Taco Tuesday Cost Receipt ---
Model:         openai/gpt-5.4-mini
Input tokens:  41
Output tokens: 87
Estimated:     $0.000067
Actual:        $0.0000672
```

Open **AI Gateway** in the Vercel dashboard and find the request in the usage view. Its request record should match the cost printed by the script.

\*\*Note: Where the free credits went\*\*

If you've never purchased credits, this request came out of your monthly free allowance. Free tier covers a subset of models. If `openai/gpt-5.4-mini` isn't in it when you try this, pick any model from the free tier list; the receipt logic is identical.

Two issues you may encounter:

**You get a `429` error.** The free tier applies per-model rate limits. Wait a moment and retry. If this happens frequently, review the paid tier's higher limits.

**The model isn't available.** Either it's not in the free tier subset, or the model string has a typo. The format is always `creator/model-name`. Check the exact string against the model list rather than guessing.

## Commit

```bash
git commit -m "feat(pricing): add cost-check script that traces one request to its exact cost"
```

## Done-When

- [ ] `scripts/cost-check.ts` runs and prints token counts, your estimate, and the actual cost from the response
- [ ] The request appears in your AI Gateway dashboard usage view with the same cost
- [ ] Your estimate matches the actual charge within rounding
- [ ] You can state the Gateway's token markup

## Solution

```ts filename="scripts/cost-check.ts"
import { generateText } from "ai";

// Prices are per million tokens; check the current rate at
// vercel.com/ai-gateway/models before trusting the estimate.
const INPUT_PRICE_PER_M = 0.6;
const OUTPUT_PRICE_PER_M = 2.4;

const result = await generateText({
  model: "openai/gpt-5.4-mini",
  prompt:
    "Write a two-sentence menu description for the Al Pastor Meteor, " +
    "a taco so good it ended a family feud. Keep it tasteful. The description, not the taco.",
});

const { inputTokens = 0, outputTokens = 0 } = result.usage;
const estimated =
  (inputTokens * INPUT_PRICE_PER_M + outputTokens * OUTPUT_PRICE_PER_M) / 1_000_000;
const actual = result.finalStep.providerMetadata?.gateway?.cost;

console.log(result.text);
console.log("--- Taco Tuesday Cost Receipt ---");
console.log(`Model:         openai/gpt-5.4-mini`);
console.log(`Input tokens:  ${inputTokens}`);
console.log(`Output tokens: ${outputTokens}`);
console.log(`Estimated:     $${estimated.toFixed(6)}`);
console.log(`Actual:        $${actual}`);
```

With `AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY` in the environment, the model string routes through AI Gateway. The response cost gives us a direct check against the estimate.

## Related Questions

- [How do I route to the cheapest provider automatically?](/ai-gateway/save-money/cheapest-provider-routing)
- [How do I use AI credits I already bought?](/ai-gateway/save-money/use-ai-credits)
- [How do I set a budget so I don't get a surprise bill?](/ai-gateway/save-money/set-a-budget)


---

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