GPT-5.5 (batch) is $2.5 cheaper per 1M input tokens (50% lower; 2x difference).
API cost decision in 10 seconds
Fugu Ultra vs GPT-5.5 (batch)
Pick GPT-5.5 (batch) when budget and context both matter.
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Data confirmed:
Prices normalized to USD per 1M tokens
Sample workload: 1M input + 500K output
Budget verdict
Pick GPT-5.5 (batch) when budget and context both matter.
On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, GPT-5.5 (batch) is estimated at $10 vs $20 for Fugu Ultra, saving $10 (50% lower).
Cost-first pickGPT-5.5 (batch)
Context-first pickGPT-5.5 (batch)
Sample savings$1050%
10x traffic gap$100
GPT-5.5 (batch) is cheaper on the standard workload and also has the larger context window. 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
GPT-5.5 (batch) stays cheaper across input-heavy, balanced, and output-heavy sample workloads.
| Workload shape | Token mix | Better pick | Fugu Ultra | GPT-5.5 (batch) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Input-heavy / RAG | 5M input + 500K output | GPT-5.5 (batch) | $40 | $20 |
| Balanced workload | 1M input + 1M output | GPT-5.5 (batch) | $35 | $17.5 |
| Output-heavy chatbot | 1M input + 5M output | GPT-5.5 (batch) | $155 | $77.5 |
GPT-5.5 (batch) is $15 cheaper per 1M output tokens (50% lower; 2x difference).
GPT-5.5 (batch) has 50K more context (1.05x larger).
GPT-5.5 (batch) is $10 cheaper on the standard workload (50% lower).
Estimate your workload cost
Your Workload Cost
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
GPT-5.5 (batch) has the lower input price; GPT-5.5 (batch) has the lower output price; GPT-5.5 (batch) offers the larger context window. For the 1M input plus 500K output sample, GPT-5.5 (batch) is cheaper for the standard workload.
For a 1M input token plus 500K output token workload, the estimated API cost is $20 for Fugu Ultra and $10 for GPT-5.5 (batch).
Choose Fugu Ultra when its provider, model quality, latency, or availability is more important than the numeric price/context winner.
Choose GPT-5.5 (batch) when you care most about lower input-token price, lower output-token price, and larger context window.
- On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, GPT-5.5 (batch) is estimated at $10 vs $20 for Fugu Ultra, saving $10 (50% lower).
- GPT-5.5 (batch) is $10 cheaper on the standard workload (50% lower).
- GPT-5.5 (batch) is $2.5 cheaper per 1M input tokens (50% lower; 2x difference).
- GPT-5.5 (batch) is $15 cheaper per 1M output tokens (50% lower; 2x difference).
- GPT-5.5 (batch) has 50K more context (1.05x larger).
| Feature | Fugu Ultra (Sakana) | GPT-5.5 (batch) (OpenAI) |
|---|---|---|
| Input Price prompt tokens per 1M | $5 | $2.5 |
| Completion Price per 1M tokens | $30 | $15 |
| Sample Workload Cost 1M input + 500K output | $20 | $10 |
| Context Window | 1M | 1.05M |
| Release Date |
Use-Case Decision Matrix
| Use case | Better pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Budget-constrained production | GPT-5.5 (batch) | On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, GPT-5.5 (batch) is estimated at $10 vs $20 for Fugu Ultra, saving $10 (50% lower). |
| High-volume input processing | GPT-5.5 (batch) | Lower prompt-token price matters most when prompts, retrieved passages, or documents dominate the bill. |
| Long responses and chatbots | GPT-5.5 (batch) | Lower output-token price matters most when assistants generate many completion tokens. |
| RAG or long-document work | GPT-5.5 (batch) | A larger context window leaves more room for retrieved passages, conversation history, or source files. |
Related Alternatives
- Sakana Namazu can replace Fugu Ultra when lower sample workload cost matters most: $2.95.
- gpt-oss-120b (free) can replace GPT-5.5 (batch) when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.
- gpt-oss-20b (free) can replace GPT-5.5 (batch) when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.
- gpt-oss-20b can replace GPT-5.5 (batch) when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.1.
- Grok 4.20 Multi-Agent offers 2M context with $2.5 sample workload cost.
- Grok 4.20 offers 2M context with $2.5 sample workload cost.
- DeepSeek V4 Flash 0731 offers 1.31M context with $0.17 sample workload cost.
- DeepSeek V4 Flash Latest offers 1.31M context with $0.11 sample workload cost.
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- MiMo-V2.5 · Xiaomi · #2
- Hy3 · Tencent · #3
- Ox Alpha · stealth · #4
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