OpenAI pricing guide for the UK (2025)

Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming embedded in how UK businesses work. If you're considering integrating AI to your workflows via OpenAI's API, understanding the costs is essential. Whether you're building customer-facing features or internal workflows, understanding OpenAI pricing can help you make smarter decisions and avoid unexpected costs. And if you're paying in USD, a Wise Business multi-currency card can help you reduce conversion fees and keep your software bills predictable.

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OpenAI pricing overview

The OpenAI API pricing is model-based and usage-driven. There are no fixed monthly subscriptions, and businesses are billed based on how many tokens they use.¹ Token pricing varies depending on the model, context length, and whether you're using input or output tokens. Because of its billing model, it's best to review the different OpenAI model pricing options before making a decision.

Model	Input Price	Output Price
GPT-4.1	$2.00 / 1M tokens	$8.00 / 1M tokens
GPT-4.1 mini	$0.40 / 1M tokens	$1.60 / 1M tokens
GPT-4.1 nano	$0.100 / 1M tokens	$0.400 / 1M tokens
OpenAI o3	$2.00 / 1M tokens	$8.00 / 1M tokens
OpenAI o4-mini	$1.100 / 1M tokens	$4.400 / 1M tokens

OpenAI GPT-4.1 model Pricing

GPT-4.1 is one of the most popular OpenAI models³, with a pricing of $2 per 1M input tokens and $8 per 1M output tokens.¹ It offers a balance between power and performance, making it the most suitable for serious production use. This plan is best suited for businesses that rely on high-volume, complex AI workflows or offer AI-powered customer features.

OpenAI GPT-4.1 model Features

With GPT-4.1, businesses gain access to OpenAI's most advanced reasoning and generation model available at scale. It supports tools like Code Interpreter, Browsing, and DALL·E, features a 128K context window, and is well-suited for detailed analysis, high-quality summarisation, and complex chat workflows.⁴

Is the OpenAI GPT-4.1 model right for my business?

If your business depends on high accuracy or you're building customer-facing tools, GPT-4.1 is a smart choice. Marketing teams, developers, and fintech apps benefit most from its advanced capabilities. However, costs can scale quickly, so it's best for businesses with high-volume use and solid optimisation.

OpenAI GPT-4.1 mini model Plan Pricing

GPT-4.1 mini is significantly more affordable, at $0.40 per 1M input tokens and $1.60 for output.¹ It's an excellent entry point for budget-conscious users and small businesses or teams with light-to-medium usage that need reliable but less costly AI support.

OpenAI GPT-4.1 mini model Plan Features

This plan allows UK businesses to access faster responses and efficient task handling for less intensive use cases. With a 16K context window, it's ideal for routine document processing, customer service automation, or quick internal tools. GPT-4.1 mini provides faster responses and a 16K context window. It supports functions like text classification, customer service, and form processing, offering lower latency and better cost efficiency.⁵

Is the OpenAI GPT-4.1 mini model Plan right for my business?

This is a great fit for startups or SMBs doing internal automation, classification tasks, or lightweight applications. If your AI use cases are simple, this model gives you a lot of flexibility at a low cost.

OpenAI GPT-4.1 nano model Pricing

GPT-4.1 nano is priced at $0.100 per 1M input tokens and $0.400 per 1M output tokens.¹ It's designed for businesses that want to deploy lightweight AI at scale, especially in mobile or embedded environments.

OpenAI GPT-4.1 nano model Features

This model delivers reliable AI capabilities with reduced computing requirements. Businesses using nano can run local or mobile-based inference efficiently, handle low-latency tasks, and integrate AI into products with limited cloud connectivity or privacy-sensitive environments. It's especially well-suited for IoT, embedded systems, and mobile-first startups.⁶

This plan is highly optimised for edge performance with a reduced cost and memory footprint. It's best for mobile AI use or on-device intelligence.

Is the OpenAI GPT-4.1 nano model right for my business?

If you're building AI-powered mobile apps or require local inference (for privacy or latency), this model offers unique advantages. Pricing is especially cost-effective for large-scale, lightweight use cases.

OpenAI o3 model Pricing

OpenAI's o3 typically costs $2.00 per 1M input tokens and $8.00 per 1M output tokens.¹ It's a practical middle-ground option for companies that need consistent AI-powered processing without the premium cost of GPT-4.

OpenAI o3 model Features

OpenAI o3 focuses on reasoning capabilities. It is built for everyday tasks that require logic and structure. Businesses can rely on it for document classification, response drafting, lead enrichment, and automated workflows.⁷ It supports long-context understanding and delivers stable performance for repeatable, well-scoped tasks.

Is the OpenAI o3 model right for my business?

For businesses with moderate AI needs, such as creating summaries, routing messages, or basic analytics, o3 offers value without the high overhead.

OpenAI o4-mini model Pricing

OpenAI's o4-mini tier delivers a lighter version of GPT-4o, with pricing at $1.100 per 1M input tokens and $4.400 for output.¹ It's a good fit for businesses seeking large-scale throughput while keeping spending predictable.

OpenAI o4-mini model Features

The o4-mini is a reduced-cost version of GPT-4o. It helps businesses automate bulk processes like feedback analysis, inbound email routing, and operational summaries.⁸ With enhanced speed, response quality, and improved reasoning ability compared to older models, this plan provides meaningful value across high-frequency tasks in marketing, support, and operations.

Is the OpenAI o4-mini model right for my business?

Yes, if your workflows require higher throughput at scale, such as bulk processing of customer feedback or email responses. It's also a good mid-step for businesses transitioning from GPT-3.5.

What is the pricing currency?

All OpenAI API pricing is billed in US dollars (USD), even for UK customers. That means the actual cost in GBP varies depending on the exchange rate at billing. But you can use Wise Business multi-currency card to pay your subscription with the mid-market exchange rate to track accurate conversions and avoid being overcharged. And you get access to 40+ currencies with no hidden markups.

How to save on your OpenAI bill next month

The first step to reducing your OpenAI bill is selecting the right model for your specific business needs. Models like GPT-4.1 mini or nano are great for basic use cases and internal tools, whereas GPT-4.1 is more appropriate for advanced tasks that justify higher token costs.

Reviewing your team's usage regularly can help you determine whether high-cost features like image generation, code execution, or fine-tuning are actually being used effectively or if it's time to downscale. You should also pay attention to how your team structures prompts and batches requests. Inefficient use of tokens can lead to unnecessary charges.

And since OpenAI bills in USD, consider using a Wise Business multi-currency card to avoid foreign transaction fees. It ensures you pay at the real exchange rate, with no hidden markups, helping your business manage international subscriptions more cost-effectively.

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Get Wise Business for Smart Savings

Keeping track of business costs well is important for saving money in the long run. Having a Wise Business account makes it easy to manage international SaaS costs. With Wise Business, you'll always get accurate exchange rates and never have to pay high fees for doing business abroad. You can also earn rewards on everyday purchases with 0.5% cashback on eligible business card transactions.

OpenAI vs. Anthropic - price comparison

OpenAI and Anthropic take two different approaches to AI pricing and usage. OpenAI uses a pay-as-you-go model where you're billed based on the number of input and output tokens used. This offers greater flexibility and control for businesses who want to customise their usage by model type and task complexity.

Claude, on the other hand, offers a flat-rate subscription model with plans ranging from $20 to $200 per month. This makes it easier to predict monthly costs, especially for light or consistent users, but it may be less efficient for businesses with fluctuating needs. Claude tends to offer a larger context window (up to 200K tokens), which can be helpful for handling longer documents.

If cost predictability is your priority, Claude might be a better fit. But if you need advanced functionality and scalable integration, OpenAI's model-based pricing could deliver more value.

FAQ - OpenAi pricing

Can I estimate my OpenAI bill in advance?

Yes, OpenAI provides a pricing calculator where you can input your estimated token usage per model. You can also monitor live usage through the OpenAI dashboard.

What is the difference between input and output tokens in OpenAI pricing?

Input tokens refer to the text you send into the model, while output tokens are the model's responses. Pricing is usually higher for output tokens, so the length of your responses can greatly affect your costs.

Is there a discount for high-volume usage?

OpenAI doesn't currently list volume discounts publicly, but businesses with consistent or large-scale usage can contact their sales team to discuss custom pricing options.

Does OpenAI offer any enterprise billing or invoicing options?

Yes, there is an OpenAI enterprise pricing option with custom agreements, enhanced support, and consolidated billing for larger teams. You'll need to contact OpenAI sales directly to set up an enterprise account.

Manage your OpenAI payments with Wise Business

OpenAI's API lets UK businesses embed AI deeply into their workflows, but usage-based pricing means cost control is crucial. Choose the right model for each task, track token usage, and avoid foreign transaction fees with a Wise Business multi-currency card. With the right approach, you can scale your AI stack without overspending.

Sources used in this article:

1. Pricing | OpenAI
2. OpenAI Platform
3. Models - OpenAI API - OpenAI Platform
4. Model GPT-4.1 - OpenAI API - OpenAI Platform
5. Model GPT-4.1 mini - OpenAI API - OpenAI Platform
6. Gpt-4.1 nano model card - OpenAI Platform
7. Model o4 mini - OpenAI API - OpenAI Platform
8. Model o3 - OpenAI API - OpenAI Platform

Sources last checked 15/07/2025