Let’s talk about the cost structure of AI tools—most people get the math wrong.
Everyone focuses on the price per unit, but the real savings come from cache hits. When you reuse the same long context over and over, being able to reuse the results of previous computations can make costs several times lower. So asking “Which provider is cheaper?” is incomplete. You need to ask, “Can my usage take advantage of caching?”
In my experience, first lock down your workflow so that repeated context is as long and stable as possible. Then think about which provider to use. You don’t have to switch tools to cut your bill in half.
Everyone focuses on the price per unit, but the real savings come from cache hits. When you reuse the same long context over and over, being able to reuse the results of previous computations can make costs several times lower. So asking “Which provider is cheaper?” is incomplete. You need to ask, “Can my usage take advantage of caching?”
In my experience, first lock down your workflow so that repeated context is as long and stable as possible. Then think about which provider to use. You don’t have to switch tools to cut your bill in half.
