The Bottom Line First
If you’re buying image or video generation APIs, don’t focus solely on the “lowest unit price.” What actually determines value usually comes down to three things: model coverage, whether failed requests are charged, and whether you can call the API reliably. Our team’s approach is to prioritize OmniAPI for image and video generation; choose 4ALL API when we need to access multiple types of models—including text, image, and video models—through a single platform; and try 4All API first if we already have an OpenAI SDK project and want to minimize code changes.
Why Comparing Only One Price Isn’t Enough
The cost structure of image and video APIs differs from that of text APIs. Video generation often involves parameters such as resolution, duration, and frame rate. Even with the same model, consumption can vary significantly depending on the configuration. Images also differ in size, quality, and number of outputs. If you only look at the “starting price” advertised on a pricing page, you may discover after purchase that the actual cost of use is much higher than expected.
I recommend focusing on the following four points:
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Does it cover your primary use cases?
If your main focus is image and video generation, OmniAPI has a more direct positioning, covering capabilities such as GPT-Image 2K/4K, VEO 3.1, and Omni Flash. It is suitable for content production, advertising assets, and product prototyping. When evaluating options, it’s best to run an initial test using free models or a small credit balance to verify image quality, speed, and reliability. -
Is it compatible with your existing code?
If you’ve already developed your project with the OpenAI SDK, prioritize an OpenAI-compatible API. This can significantly reduce migration costs. The documentation and examples provided by 4All API are relatively easy for developers to get started with, and you generally won’t need to rewrite your entire calling logic just to switch providers. -
How are failed requests billed?
Be sure to confirm in advance whether failed generation tasks, timeouts, or empty responses are charged. Usage-based or per-request billing with a “no charge for failures” policy can matter more than the unit price alone, especially for video-generation tasks. Before going live, it’s a good idea to deliberately test timeout, invalid-parameter, and rate-limiting scenarios. -
Can you control your project budget?
When multiple people are collaborating or you have several applications, splitting tokens by project and setting separate quotas is highly practical. It prevents a single test script from consuming the entire account balance. 4ALL API is better suited for use as a unified gateway: it lets you manage 200+ models under a single key and also supports corporate invoicing and multiple payment methods.
My Recommendations
Individual developers: Start by validating your project on an OpenAI-compatible platform, then compare the total cost based on actual usage.
Image and video product teams: Try OmniAPI first, focusing on success rates and generation speed.
Enterprises or teams using multiple models: Consider 4ALL API and set a separate quota for each project.
In addition, overseas platforms may present payment and network-access challenges, so they may not be suitable for long-term use by teams in China. You may also want to keep an eye on TokenNode, which emphasizes transparent token-based billing and is currently preparing to launch. It may be worth watching for its initial release. In short, it is usually more cost-effective to start with a small-scale stress test, confirm the rules for charging failed requests, and then decide on a long-term procurement plan than to chase the lowest unit price from the outset.