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OpenAIPricing change · Price decrease · Apr 21 → Apr 27, 2026

OpenAI API cuts image output pricing, launches GPT-image-2

Verified Apr 27, 2026AI & Machine LearningDirection: down
The changePrice — price decrease.
Before · Apr 21$32.00
After · Apr 27$30.00
−6%
1 change2 capturesApr 21, 2026 → Apr 27, 2026

What happened

Between the Apr 21, 2026 and Apr 27, 2026 captures of OpenAI's pricing page, Pulse recorded one change: GPT-image-2 replaces GPT-image-1.5; image output pricing decreased from $32.00 to $30.00 per 1M tokens. GPT-5.4 nano removed from featured flagship section. Pulse files it as a pricing change (price decrease) with a downward direction. Pulse's latest capture (Oct 5, 2026) lists gpt-image-2.5-flare at $2 per 1M cached image input tokens + $30 per 1M image output tokens, gpt-6.1-sol at $0.2 per 1M cached input tokens (long context) + $2 per 1M input tokens (short context), gpt-6-luna at $0.25 per 1M cache write tokens (long context) + $0.2 per 1M input tokens (long context), gpt-5.6-sol at $30 per 1M output tokens (long context) + $8 per 1M input tokens (long context) and gpt-6-astra at $20 per 1M input tokens (long context) + $1 per 1M cached input tokens (short context).

It lands 25 days after OpenAI's previous change, "Openai API slashes web search tool price 60% to $10 per 1k calls" (Apr 2, 2026). Before that Pulse recorded "Openai API triples GPT-5 mini pricing, launches budget nano tier" (Mar 24, 2026), "Openai API launches GPT-5.4 at $2.50/M tokens, adds Containers tool" (Apr 6, 2026) and "Openai API adds Sora-2-pro HD video tier at $0.70/second" (Mar 18, 2026). OpenAI has been tracked since 2023-11-14.

In the same window Anthropic, Microsoft, Metabase and X also changed their AI & Machine Learning pricing pages. Those moves are listed further down, and the Pulse Agent can compare them side by side.

  • — · Price−6%
    $32.00$30.00

Values as written on OpenAI's public pricing page in the two captures Pulse compared; where the page states no number, the cells give the wording before and after.

Evidence

The two captures Pulse compared

Full-page captures of OpenAI's pricing page (openai.com) from Apr 21, 2026 and Apr 27, 2026; the change is marked around the middle of the page, where price reads $32.00 and then $30.00.

Sign in to see the evidence

The two full-page captures with this change marked up are free with an account.

OpenAI, the last 90 days

Full history
  1. Oct 5, 2026improvedOpenai API halves GPT-6.1 Sol cached input price to $0.10 per 1M tokens
  2. Aug 31, 2026packagingOpenai API Business: new $100/mo Premium seat tier + 200-employee cap
  3. May 11, 2026increaseOpenai API raises GPT-Realtime-2 text output 50%, adds translate
  4. Apr 27, 2026decreaseOpenAI API cuts image output pricing, launches GPT-image-2 · this change
  5. Apr 2, 2026decreaseOpenai API slashes web search tool price 60% to $10 per 1k calls
  6. Mar 24, 2026packagingOpenai API triples GPT-5 mini pricing, launches budget nano tier
  7. Apr 6, 2026packagingOpenai API launches GPT-5.4 at $2.50/M tokens, adds Containers tool
  8. Mar 18, 2026improvedOpenai API adds Sora-2-pro HD video tier at $0.70/second
  9. Mar 11, 2026packagingOpenai API launches GPT-5.4, adds 10% data residency surcharge
  10. Feb 18, 2026increaseOpenai API shifts Containers to per-session billing starting March 31

Across AI & Machine Learning in the same window

All AI & Machine Learning changes
  1. AnthropicApr 21Anthropic API launches Managed Agents at $0.08 per session-hour of runtime
  2. MicrosoftApr 7Microsoft Copilot softens AI usage promises, tightens renewal terms
  3. MetabaseApr 4Metabase Launches Data Studio and Storage Add-Ons, Expands Free AI Access
  4. XFeb 18X adds real-time voice AI, drops structured outputs from API

Questions about this change

Did OpenAI raise prices in April 2026?

No — prices went down. Between Apr 21, 2026 and Apr 27, 2026 OpenAI's pricing page showed 1 price cut: $32.00 → $30.00 (−6%).

What changed on OpenAI's pricing page between Apr 21, 2026 and Apr 27, 2026?

Price: $32.00 → $30.00 (−6%). Pulse compared the captures it took on Apr 21, 2026 and Apr 27, 2026; the before/after table above lists each item as written on the page.

How often does OpenAI change its pricing?

Pulse recorded 6 other pricing-page changes for OpenAI in the 90 days before this one; the previous change was "Openai API slashes web search tool price 60% to $10 per 1k calls" on Apr 2, 2026; OpenAI has been tracked since 2023-11-14.