API cost decision in 10 seconds

🔥GPT-5.4 vs NewLaguna XS.2 (free)

Pick Laguna XS.2 (free) for lower cost; pick GPT-5.4 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 Laguna XS.2 (free) for lower cost; pick GPT-5.4 only if the larger context window matters more.

On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, Laguna XS.2 (free) is estimated at $0 vs $10 for GPT-5.4, saving $10 (100% lower).

Cost-first pickLaguna XS.2 (free)
Context-first pickGPT-5.4
Sample savings$10100%
10x traffic gap$100

GPT-5.4 has more context, but Laguna XS.2 (free) saves $10 on the standard workload. At 10x that traffic, the same price gap is about $100. Use the calculator below to replace the sample workload with your own token volume.

Cost sensitivity

Workload Sensitivity

Same prices, different token mixes.

Laguna XS.2 (free) stays cheaper across input-heavy, balanced, and output-heavy sample workloads.

Workload shapeToken mixBetter pickGPT-5.4Laguna XS.2 (free)
Input-heavy / RAG5M input + 500K outputLaguna XS.2 (free)$20$0
Balanced workload1M input + 1M outputLaguna XS.2 (free)$17.5$0
Output-heavy chatbot1M input + 5M outputLaguna XS.2 (free)$77.5$0
Cheaper input Laguna XS.2 (free) $2.5 vs $0 / 1M

Laguna XS.2 (free) is free for input tokens while GPT-5.4 costs $2.5 per 1M tokens.

Cheaper output Laguna XS.2 (free) $15 vs $0 / 1M

Laguna XS.2 (free) is free for output tokens while GPT-5.4 costs $15 per 1M tokens.

Larger context GPT-5.4 1.05M vs 131.07K

GPT-5.4 has 918.93K more context (8.01x larger).

Sample workload Laguna XS.2 (free) $10 vs $0

Laguna XS.2 (free) is free for the standard workload while the other model is estimated at $10.

Estimate your workload cost

Your Workload Cost

Prices are normalized to USD per 1M tokens.
GPT-5.4 Calculating… Estimated API cost
Laguna XS.2 (free) 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

Laguna XS.2 (free) has the lower input price; Laguna XS.2 (free) has the lower output price; GPT-5.4 offers the larger context window. For the 1M input plus 500K output sample, Laguna XS.2 (free) is cheaper for the standard workload.

For a 1M input token plus 500K output token workload, the estimated API cost is $10 for GPT-5.4 and $0 for Laguna XS.2 (free).

Best Fit

Choose GPT-5.4 when you care most about larger context window.

Choose Laguna XS.2 (free) 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, Laguna XS.2 (free) is estimated at $0 vs $10 for GPT-5.4, saving $10 (100% lower).
  • Laguna XS.2 (free) is free for the standard workload while the other model is estimated at $10.
  • Laguna XS.2 (free) is free for input tokens while GPT-5.4 costs $2.5 per 1M tokens.
  • Laguna XS.2 (free) is free for output tokens while GPT-5.4 costs $15 per 1M tokens.
  • GPT-5.4 has 918.93K more context (8.01x larger).
Head-to-Head Specs
Feature🔥GPT-5.4
(OpenAI)
NewLaguna XS.2 (free)
(Poolside)
Input Price
prompt tokens per 1M
$2.5$0
Completion Price
per 1M tokens
$15$0
Sample Workload Cost
1M input + 500K output
$10$0
Context Window1.05M131.07K
Release Date
Popularity#19

Use-Case Decision Matrix

Use caseBetter pickWhy
Budget-constrained productionLaguna XS.2 (free)On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, Laguna XS.2 (free) is estimated at $0 vs $10 for GPT-5.4, saving $10 (100% lower).
High-volume input processingLaguna XS.2 (free)Lower prompt-token price matters most when prompts, retrieved passages, or documents dominate the bill.
Long responses and chatbotsLaguna XS.2 (free)Lower output-token price matters most when assistants generate many completion tokens.
RAG or long-document workGPT-5.4A 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-5.4 when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.
  • gpt-oss-20b (free) can replace GPT-5.4 when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.
  • gpt-oss-20b can replace GPT-5.4 when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.1.
  • gpt-oss-120b can replace GPT-5.4 when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.13.
Larger context near this budget

Cheaper alternatives

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

Open cheapest models

Larger context alternatives

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

Open largest context models

Provider catalogs

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

Open provider hubs

OpenAI catalog

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

Open OpenAI models

Poolside catalog

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

Open Poolside models
GPT-5.4

GPT-5.4 is OpenAI’s latest frontier model, unifying the Codex and GPT lines into a single system. It features a 1M+ token context window (922K input, 128K output) with support for...

Laguna XS.2 (free)

Laguna XS.2 is the second-generation model in the XS size class from [Poolside](https://poolside.ai), their efficient coding agent series. It combines tool calling and reasoning capabilities with a compact footprint, offering...