API cost decision in 10 seconds

NewGemini 4 Argon vs NewClaude Haiku 5.5

Pick Claude Haiku 5.5 for lower cost; pick Gemini 4 Argon 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 Claude Haiku 5.5 for lower cost; pick Gemini 4 Argon only if the larger context window matters more.

On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, Claude Haiku 5.5 is estimated at $0.35 vs $7 for Gemini 4 Argon, saving $6.65 (95% lower).

Cost-first pickClaude Haiku 5.5
Context-first pickGemini 4 Argon
Sample savings$6.6595%
10x traffic gap$66.5

Gemini 4 Argon has more context, but Claude Haiku 5.5 saves $6.65 on the standard workload. At 10x that traffic, the same price gap is about $66.5. Use the calculator below to replace the sample workload with your own token volume.

Cost sensitivity

Workload Sensitivity

Same prices, different token mixes.

Claude Haiku 5.5 stays cheaper across input-heavy, balanced, and output-heavy sample workloads.

Workload shapeToken mixBetter pickGemini 4 ArgonClaude Haiku 5.5
Input-heavy / RAG5M input + 500K outputClaude Haiku 5.5$15$0.75
Balanced workload1M input + 1M outputClaude Haiku 5.5$12$0.6
Output-heavy chatbot1M input + 5M outputClaude Haiku 5.5$52$2.6
Cheaper input Claude Haiku 5.5 $2 vs $0.1 / 1M

Claude Haiku 5.5 is $1.9 cheaper per 1M input tokens (95% lower; 20x difference).

Cheaper output Claude Haiku 5.5 $10 vs $0.5 / 1M

Claude Haiku 5.5 is $9.5 cheaper per 1M output tokens (95% lower; 20x difference).

Larger context Gemini 4 Argon 1.05M vs 1M

Gemini 4 Argon has 48.58K more context (1.05x larger).

Sample workload Claude Haiku 5.5 $7 vs $0.35

Claude Haiku 5.5 is $6.65 cheaper on the standard workload (95% lower).

Estimate your workload cost

Your Workload Cost

Prices are normalized to USD per 1M tokens.
Gemini 4 Argon Calculating… Estimated API cost
Claude Haiku 5.5 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

Claude Haiku 5.5 has the lower input price; Claude Haiku 5.5 has the lower output price; Gemini 4 Argon offers the larger context window. For the 1M input plus 500K output sample, Claude Haiku 5.5 is cheaper for the standard workload.

For a 1M input token plus 500K output token workload, the estimated API cost is $7 for Gemini 4 Argon and $0.35 for Claude Haiku 5.5.

Best Fit

Choose Gemini 4 Argon when you care most about larger context window.

Choose Claude Haiku 5.5 when you care most about lower input-token price, and lower output-token price.

Decision Notes
  • On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, Claude Haiku 5.5 is estimated at $0.35 vs $7 for Gemini 4 Argon, saving $6.65 (95% lower).
  • Claude Haiku 5.5 is $6.65 cheaper on the standard workload (95% lower).
  • Claude Haiku 5.5 is $1.9 cheaper per 1M input tokens (95% lower; 20x difference).
  • Claude Haiku 5.5 is $9.5 cheaper per 1M output tokens (95% lower; 20x difference).
  • Gemini 4 Argon has 48.58K more context (1.05x larger).
Head-to-Head Specs
FeatureNewGemini 4 Argon
(Google)
NewClaude Haiku 5.5
(Anthropic)
Input Price
prompt tokens per 1M
$2$0.1
Completion Price
per 1M tokens
$10$0.5
Sample Workload Cost
1M input + 500K output
$7$0.35
Context Window1.05M1M
Release Date

Use-Case Decision Matrix

Use caseBetter pickWhy
Budget-constrained productionClaude Haiku 5.5On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, Claude Haiku 5.5 is estimated at $0.35 vs $7 for Gemini 4 Argon, saving $6.65 (95% lower).
High-volume input processingClaude Haiku 5.5Lower prompt-token price matters most when prompts, retrieved passages, or documents dominate the bill.
Long responses and chatbotsClaude Haiku 5.5Lower output-token price matters most when assistants generate many completion tokens.
RAG or long-document workGemini 4 ArgonA larger context window leaves more room for retrieved passages, conversation history, or source files.

Related Alternatives

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Cheaper alternatives

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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

Google catalog

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

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Anthropic catalog

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

Open Anthropic models
Gemini 4 Argon

Gemini 4 Argon is Google's flagship reasoning model, built for complex software engineering, deep mathematical and scientific problem solving, and autonomous multi-step agents. Google trained it to keep context across...

Claude Haiku 5.5

Claude Haiku 5.5 is Anthropic's small, fast model for high-volume, cost-sensitive work such as summarization, subagents, and browser use. It succeeds Claude Haiku 4.5 with stronger coding, computer use, and...