Trying to figure out which AI API to use? Pricing is confusing—some charge per image, some per second, some per megapixel. This guide breaks it all down, with prices checked as of July 2026, so you can make an informed decision.
TL;DR: FAL.AI is the cheapest for most use cases. Replicate is slightly more expensive but has better docs. OpenAI is premium-priced but best for text in images.
Skip the API integration entirely — Iris, TeamDay's AI designer, already runs gpt-image, Seedream, and FAL routes for you. She gets recurring missions, your brand files, and a human review step; the provider prices below stay exactly what you pay for usage. Starter is $99/month.
Hire Iris, your AI designer →Image Generation Pricing
Price Per Image Comparison
| Model | FAL.AI | Replicate | Direct | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flux 2 Pro | $0.05 | $0.055 | N/A | Best photorealism |
| Flux 2 Dev | $0.025 | $0.03 | N/A | Good balance |
| Flux 2 Schnell | $0.003 | $0.003 | N/A | Fast, lower quality |
| SDXL | $0.003 | $0.005 | N/A | Budget option |
| Recraft V3 | $0.04 | N/A | $0.04 | Best for logos |
| Ideogram 3.0 | $0.03 | $0.035 | N/A | Best for text |
| GPT Image 1.5 | N/A | N/A | $0.04-$0.12 | OpenAI only |
| DALL-E 3 | N/A | N/A | $0.04-$0.12 | OpenAI only |
Cost Analysis: 1,000 Images
| Model | FAL.AI | Replicate | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flux 2 Pro | $50 | $55 | 9% |
| Flux 2 Dev | $25 | $30 | 17% |
| SDXL | $3 | $5 | 40% |
Winner: FAL.AI for most models. OpenAI for text-heavy images. If you want the images without operating the API, Iris, TeamDay's AI designer, runs these image routes as part of her briefs.
Video Generation Pricing
Price Per Second Comparison
| Model | FAL.AI | Replicate | Runway | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wan 2.6 | $0.05 | $0.09-$0.25 | N/A | Cheapest option |
| LTX 2.0 | $0.04 | $0.05 | N/A | Open source |
| Kling 2.6 Pro | $0.07 | $0.12 | N/A | Video only |
| Kling 2.6 + Audio | $0.14 | N/A | N/A | With audio |
| Veo 3.1 | $0.20 | $0.20 | N/A | Best audio |
| Sora 2 | $0.30 | N/A | N/A | FAL exclusive |
| Gen-4 Turbo | N/A | N/A | $0.05 | Runway only |
| Gen-4 | N/A | N/A | $0.10 | Runway only |
| Gen-4.5 | N/A | N/A | $0.15 | Runway only |
Cost Analysis: 100 Videos (5 seconds each)
| Model | FAL.AI | Replicate | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wan 2.6 | $25 | $45-$125 | 44-80% |
| Kling 2.6 Pro | $35 | $60 | 42% |
| LTX 2.0 | $20 | $25 | 20% |
Winner: FAL.AI by a significant margin for video. If the goal is finished clips rather than raw API calls, Reel, TeamDay's video producer, runs these video routes end to end — script, generation, voiceover, and final cut.
Platform Comparison
Pricing is only one axis — for a deeper look at model catalogs, reliability, and API ergonomics, see our AI image & video API providers comparison.
FAL.AI
Pricing Model: Pay-per-use, no minimums
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Cheapest prices | ❌ Documentation could be better |
| ✅ 600+ models | ❌ Smaller community |
| ✅ Fast inference | |
| ✅ $10 free credits |
Best for: Production apps, cost-sensitive projects, video generation
Replicate
Pricing Model: Pay-per-use, $5 free credits
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Excellent documentation | ❌ 30-50% more expensive |
| ✅ Large community | ❌ Fewer models |
| ✅ Custom model hosting | ❌ Slower cold starts |
| ✅ Simple API |
Best for: Prototyping, custom models, learning
OpenAI
Pricing Model: Pay-per-use, tiered pricing
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Best text rendering | ❌ Most expensive |
| ✅ GPT Image 1.5 exclusive | ❌ Limited to OpenAI models |
| ✅ Reliable infrastructure | ❌ No video generation |
Best for: Infographics, text-heavy images, logos with words
Runway
Pricing Model: Credits, subscriptions available
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Gen-4 exclusive models | ❌ Subscription required for best rates |
| ✅ Professional editing tools | ❌ Limited to video |
| ✅ Good for editors | ❌ No API aggregation |
Best for: Video editors, creative professionals
Comparing four platforms usually ends with maintaining four integrations. TeamDay's creative AI employees pick the right provider per job — a cheap model for mockups, a premium one for the final asset — so you never touch an API key or a billing dashboard per project.
Let TeamDay run the providers for you →Cost Optimization Tips
1. Use the Right Model for the Job
Don't use Flux 2 Pro ($0.05) when SDXL ($0.003) would work fine:
| Use Case | Recommended Model | Cost/Image |
|---|---|---|
| Quick mockups | SDXL | $0.003 |
| Social media | Flux 2 Dev | $0.025 |
| Product photos | Flux 2 Pro | $0.05 |
| Logos | Recraft V3 | $0.04 |
| Text/infographics | GPT Image 1.5 | $0.04 |
This model-per-job routing is tedious to hand-tune per request — it's the kind of decision TeamDay's creative agents make as part of the brief.
2. Batch Processing
Most APIs offer volume discounts:
- FAL.AI: Automatic discounts at high volume
- Replicate: Contact for enterprise pricing
- OpenAI: Tier-based pricing (higher tiers = lower costs)
3. Optimize Resolution
Higher resolution = higher cost. Start with 1024×1024 and upscale only if needed:
| Resolution | Relative Cost |
|---|---|
| 512×512 | 0.5x |
| 1024×1024 | 1x |
| 2048×2048 | 2-4x |
4. Skip Audio When Possible
Video audio doubles the cost on most platforms:
| Model | Video Only | With Audio |
|---|---|---|
| Kling 2.6 Pro | $0.07/sec | $0.14/sec |
| Veo 3.1 | $0.20/sec | Included |
Tip: Generate video without audio, add music in post-production.
Free Tiers & Credits
| Platform | Free Credits | Expiration |
|---|---|---|
| FAL.AI | $10 | Never |
| Replicate | $5 | Never |
| OpenAI | $5 | 3 months |
| Runway | 125 credits | Monthly (with account) |
| Stability AI | 25 credits | Monthly |
Monthly Cost Estimates
Startup / Indie Developer
- 500 images/month + 50 videos (5s each)
- FAL.AI: ~$25/month
- Replicate: ~$40/month
- Mixed (OpenAI + Runway): ~$75/month
Small Business
- 5,000 images/month + 500 videos (5s each)
- FAL.AI: ~$200/month
- Replicate: ~$350/month
Enterprise
- 50,000+ images/month
- Contact providers for volume pricing
- FAL.AI and Replicate both offer enterprise agreements
Recommendation Summary
| Use Case | Recommended Platform |
|---|---|
| Budget-conscious | FAL.AI |
| Video generation | FAL.AI |
| Learning/prototyping | Replicate |
| Text in images | OpenAI |
| Professional video editing | Runway |
| Custom models | Replicate |
You now know the cheapest route for every job. The next question is who does the generating. TeamDay's Starter plan ($99/month) gives you Iris for images and Reel for video — AI employees that take a brief, pick the model, generate, and hand you the finished asset for review.
Start your creative AI team →Related Articles
- Best AI Video Models 2026 — Deep dive into Kling, Veo, Sora
- Best AI Image Models 2026 — Flux, Recraft, Ideogram comparison
- FAL.AI vs Replicate — Detailed platform comparison
- AI Image & Video API Providers Comparison 2026 — Platform-by-platform deep dive
- AI creative employees — Iris (images) and Reel (video) handle production workflows with built-in provider selection and cost optimization, so you don't manage API keys per project
- Build an AI creative team — put Iris and Reel in one department with a manager who owns the finished deliverable, not just individual agents