API cost decision in 10 seconds

NewDots3-Note Preview (free) vs GPT-5.5 Pro (batch)

Pick Dots3-Note Preview (free) for lower cost; pick GPT-5.5 Pro (batch) only if the larger context window matters more.

Page updated:  Data confirmed:  Prices normalized to USD per 1M tokens Sample workload: 1M input + 500K output

Budget verdict

Pick Dots3-Note Preview (free) for lower cost; pick GPT-5.5 Pro (batch) only if the larger context window matters more.

On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, Dots3-Note Preview (free) is estimated at $0 vs $60 for GPT-5.5 Pro (batch), saving $60 (100% lower).

Cost-first pickDots3-Note Preview (free)
Context-first pickGPT-5.5 Pro (batch)
Sample savings$60100%
10x traffic gap$600

GPT-5.5 Pro (batch) has more context, but Dots3-Note Preview (free) saves $60 on the standard workload. At 10x that traffic, the same price gap is about $600. Use the calculator below to replace the sample workload with your own token volume.

Cost sensitivity

Workload Sensitivity

Same prices, different token mixes.

Dots3-Note Preview (free) stays cheaper across input-heavy, balanced, and output-heavy sample workloads.

Workload shapeToken mixBetter pickDots3-Note Preview (free)GPT-5.5 Pro (batch)
Input-heavy / RAG5M input + 500K outputDots3-Note Preview (free)$0$120
Balanced workload1M input + 1M outputDots3-Note Preview (free)$0$105
Output-heavy chatbot1M input + 5M outputDots3-Note Preview (free)$0$465
Cheaper input Dots3-Note Preview (free) $0 vs $15 / 1M

Dots3-Note Preview (free) is free for input tokens while GPT-5.5 Pro (batch) costs $15 per 1M tokens.

Cheaper output Dots3-Note Preview (free) $0 vs $90 / 1M

Dots3-Note Preview (free) is free for output tokens while GPT-5.5 Pro (batch) costs $90 per 1M tokens.

Larger context GPT-5.5 Pro (batch) 512K vs 1.05M

GPT-5.5 Pro (batch) has 538K more context (2.05x larger).

Sample workload Dots3-Note Preview (free) $0 vs $60

Dots3-Note Preview (free) is free for the standard workload while the other model is estimated at $60.

Estimate your workload cost

Your Workload Cost

Prices are normalized to USD per 1M tokens.
Dots3-Note Preview (free) Calculating… Estimated API cost
GPT-5.5 Pro (batch) Calculating… Estimated API cost
Cheaper for this workload Calculating… Difference: calculating…

This estimate uses normalized public API pricing per 1M tokens. It is a planning aid, not a billing quote. Verify provider pricing, limits, and terms before production use.

Quick Decision

Verdict

Dots3-Note Preview (free) has the lower input price; Dots3-Note Preview (free) has the lower output price; GPT-5.5 Pro (batch) offers the larger context window. For the 1M input plus 500K output sample, Dots3-Note Preview (free) is cheaper for the standard workload.

For a 1M input token plus 500K output token workload, the estimated API cost is $0 for Dots3-Note Preview (free) and $60 for GPT-5.5 Pro (batch).

Best Fit

Choose Dots3-Note Preview (free) when you care most about lower input-token price, and lower output-token price.

Choose GPT-5.5 Pro (batch) when you care most about larger context window.

Decision Notes
  • On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, Dots3-Note Preview (free) is estimated at $0 vs $60 for GPT-5.5 Pro (batch), saving $60 (100% lower).
  • Dots3-Note Preview (free) is free for the standard workload while the other model is estimated at $60.
  • Dots3-Note Preview (free) is free for input tokens while GPT-5.5 Pro (batch) costs $15 per 1M tokens.
  • Dots3-Note Preview (free) is free for output tokens while GPT-5.5 Pro (batch) costs $90 per 1M tokens.
  • GPT-5.5 Pro (batch) has 538K more context (2.05x larger).
Head-to-Head Specs
FeatureNewDots3-Note Preview (free)
(Dots Studio)
GPT-5.5 Pro (batch)
(OpenAI)
Input Price
prompt tokens per 1M
$0$15
Completion Price
per 1M tokens
$0$90
Sample Workload Cost
1M input + 500K output
$0$60
Context Window512K1.05M
Release Date

Use-Case Decision Matrix

Use caseBetter pickWhy
Budget-constrained productionDots3-Note Preview (free)On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, Dots3-Note Preview (free) is estimated at $0 vs $60 for GPT-5.5 Pro (batch), saving $60 (100% lower).
High-volume input processingDots3-Note Preview (free)Lower prompt-token price matters most when prompts, retrieved passages, or documents dominate the bill.
Long responses and chatbotsDots3-Note Preview (free)Lower output-token price matters most when assistants generate many completion tokens.
RAG or long-document workGPT-5.5 Pro (batch)A larger context window leaves more room for retrieved passages, conversation history, or source files.

Related Alternatives

Same-provider lower-cost swaps
  • gpt-oss-120b (free) can replace GPT-5.5 Pro (batch) when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.
  • gpt-oss-20b (free) can replace GPT-5.5 Pro (batch) when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.
  • gpt-oss-20b can replace GPT-5.5 Pro (batch) when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.1.
  • gpt-oss-120b can replace GPT-5.5 Pro (batch) when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.12.

Cheaper alternatives

Review low-cost models sorted by a standard 1M input plus 500K output workload.

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Larger context alternatives

Find models with larger context windows for RAG, long documents, and codebase review.

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Provider catalogs

Compare models within provider hubs before choosing a final API vendor.

Open provider hubs

Dots Studio catalog

Review all tracked Dots Studio models before deciding whether this matchup is the right shortlist.

Open Dots Studio models

OpenAI catalog

Check other OpenAI models with comparable pricing, context, or release timing.

Open OpenAI models
Dots3-Note Preview (free)

Dots3-Note Preview is an open-weight mixture-of-experts model from Dots Studio, with 16B active parameters out of 280B total. It is the lightest model in the Dots 3 family and is...

GPT-5.5 Pro (batch)

GPT-5.5 Pro is OpenAI’s high-capability model optimized for deep reasoning and accuracy on complex, high-stakes workloads. It features a 1M+ token context window (922K input, 128K output) with support for...