FAQ

Is the lower headline token price always the better choice?
No. The lower headline price often masks higher hidden costs; OpenAI’s $0.03 / 1 k tokens plus a $0.02 over‑quota surcharge can exceed Anthropic’s $0.06 / 1 k tokens when usage spikes above the tpm cap.

Should I focus on volume discounts or feature bundles for a startup?
Not feature bundles, but volume discounts. Startups that exceed 30 M tokens / month benefit more from OpenAI’s 5 %–10 % tiered discounts than from Anthropic’s compliance‑centric bundles.

What’s the biggest pitfall in a pricing interview?
Not addressing rate‑limit elasticity. Candidates who ignore the 350 k tpm vs. 200 k tpm ceiling and the associated surcharge consistently receive “no hire” votes, as seen in the OpenAI and Anthropic debriefs above.

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