Lesson 1234 of 1570
API vs Chat App: When You Should Stop Using ChatGPT.com
Once you're prompting the same thing daily, the API is cheaper and more powerful than the chat app.
Lesson map
What this lesson covers
Learning path
The main moves in order
- 1The big idea
- 2API
- 3ChatGPT Plus
- 4cost
Concept cluster
Terms to connect while reading
Section 1
The big idea
ChatGPT Plus is $20/month. The same usage on the API is often $1. The difference is one weekend of learning.
Some examples
- OpenAI API: $0.005-$0.05 per typical query
- Build a Discord bot, a Shortcut, a Google Sheet plugin
- Use the playground at platform.openai.com to test free
- No queue, no rate limits, no UI distractions
Try it!
Sign up for a free OpenAI API key. Try the Playground with your most common prompt. Notice how much faster it is than the chat app.
Key terms in this lesson
End-of-lesson quiz
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