API cost decision in 10 seconds

NewLFM3-1.7B (free) vs GPT-6 Astra

Pick LFM3-1.7B (free) for lower cost; pick GPT-6 Astra 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 LFM3-1.7B (free) for lower cost; pick GPT-6 Astra only if the larger context window matters more.

On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, LFM3-1.7B (free) is estimated at $0 vs $35 for GPT-6 Astra, saving $35 (100% lower).

Cost-first pickLFM3-1.7B (free)
Context-first pickGPT-6 Astra
Sample savings$35100%
10x traffic gap$350

GPT-6 Astra has more context, but LFM3-1.7B (free) saves $35 on the standard workload. At 10x that traffic, the same price gap is about $350. Use the calculator below to replace the sample workload with your own token volume.

Cost sensitivity

Workload Sensitivity

Same prices, different token mixes.

LFM3-1.7B (free) stays cheaper across input-heavy, balanced, and output-heavy sample workloads.

Workload shapeToken mixBetter pickLFM3-1.7B (free)GPT-6 Astra
Input-heavy / RAG5M input + 500K outputLFM3-1.7B (free)$0$75
Balanced workload1M input + 1M outputLFM3-1.7B (free)$0$60
Output-heavy chatbot1M input + 5M outputLFM3-1.7B (free)$0$260
Cheaper input LFM3-1.7B (free) $0 vs $10 / 1M

LFM3-1.7B (free) is free for input tokens while GPT-6 Astra costs $10 per 1M tokens.

Cheaper output LFM3-1.7B (free) $0 vs $50 / 1M

LFM3-1.7B (free) is free for output tokens while GPT-6 Astra costs $50 per 1M tokens.

Larger context GPT-6 Astra 262.14K vs 1.05M

GPT-6 Astra has 787.86K more context (4.01x larger).

Sample workload LFM3-1.7B (free) $0 vs $35

LFM3-1.7B (free) is free for the standard workload while the other model is estimated at $35.

Estimate your workload cost

Your Workload Cost

Prices are normalized to USD per 1M tokens.
LFM3-1.7B (free) Calculating… Estimated API cost
GPT-6 Astra 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

LFM3-1.7B (free) has the lower input price; LFM3-1.7B (free) has the lower output price; GPT-6 Astra offers the larger context window. For the 1M input plus 500K output sample, LFM3-1.7B (free) is cheaper for the standard workload.

For a 1M input token plus 500K output token workload, the estimated API cost is $0 for LFM3-1.7B (free) and $35 for GPT-6 Astra.

Best Fit

Choose LFM3-1.7B (free) when you care most about lower input-token price, and lower output-token price.

Choose GPT-6 Astra when you care most about larger context window.

Decision Notes
  • On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, LFM3-1.7B (free) is estimated at $0 vs $35 for GPT-6 Astra, saving $35 (100% lower).
  • LFM3-1.7B (free) is free for the standard workload while the other model is estimated at $35.
  • LFM3-1.7B (free) is free for input tokens while GPT-6 Astra costs $10 per 1M tokens.
  • LFM3-1.7B (free) is free for output tokens while GPT-6 Astra costs $50 per 1M tokens.
  • GPT-6 Astra has 787.86K more context (4.01x larger).
Head-to-Head Specs
FeatureNewLFM3-1.7B (free)
(LiquidAI)		GPT-6 Astra
(OpenAI)
Input Price
prompt tokens per 1M		$0$10
Completion Price
per 1M tokens		$0$50
Sample Workload Cost
1M input + 500K output		$0$35
Context Window262.14K1.05M
Release Date

Use-Case Decision Matrix

Use caseBetter pickWhy
Budget-constrained productionLFM3-1.7B (free)On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, LFM3-1.7B (free) is estimated at $0 vs $35 for GPT-6 Astra, saving $35 (100% lower).
High-volume input processingLFM3-1.7B (free)Lower prompt-token price matters most when prompts, retrieved passages, or documents dominate the bill.
Long responses and chatbotsLFM3-1.7B (free)Lower output-token price matters most when assistants generate many completion tokens.
RAG or long-document workGPT-6 AstraA 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-6 Astra when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.
  • gpt-oss-20b (free) can replace GPT-6 Astra when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.
  • gpt-oss-120b can replace GPT-6 Astra when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.04.
  • gpt-oss-20b (batch) can replace GPT-6 Astra when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.08.
Larger context near this budget

Cheaper alternatives

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Larger context alternatives

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Provider catalogs

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LiquidAI catalog

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OpenAI catalog

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

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LFM3-1.7B (free)

A compact 1.7B-parameter text model with a 256K-token context, post-trained for agents, tool calling, and structured outputs. It reasons before it answers. Prompts and outputs may be retained and used...

GPT-6 Astra

GPT-6 Astra is OpenAI's flagship model for demanding end-to-end work. It is suited for advanced analysis, software engineering, deep research, scientific work, and document creation, with particular strengths in long-horizon...