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OpenAI API Platform vs Together AI

OpenAI API Platform: OpenAI's developer platform for building apps with GPT, image, audio and embedding models. Together AI: Cloud platform to run, fine-tune and train open-source AI models. Here is how they compare on features, pricing, platforms, pros and cons.

Quick verdict

OpenAI API Platform

Best for: Developers building AI features into apps and services.

Stands out for: Broad range of capable models; Mature docs and SDKs.

Together AI

Best for: Teams building on open-source models at production scale.

Stands out for: Wide open-model catalogue; Fine-tuning built in.

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of OpenAI API Platform, Together AI
OpenAI API Platform
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Together AI
Visit together.ai (opens in a new tab)
What it isOpenAI's developer platform for building apps with GPT, image, audio and embedding models.Cloud platform to run, fine-tune and train open-source AI models.
Pricing
PaidPay per use
PaidPay per use
Free to useNoNo
CategoryAI Models & Developer APIsAI Models & Developer APIs
Editor rank#1 in category#12 in category
Made byOpenAITogether AI
Best forDevelopers building AI features into apps and services.Teams building on open-source models at production scale.
Key features
  • Text, image, audio and embedding models
  • Playground for testing prompts
  • Agent and tool-calling features
  • Official SDKs and usage dashboards
  • APIs for many open models
  • Fine-tuning service
  • Dedicated endpoints and GPU clusters
  • OpenAI-compatible API
Pros
  • Broad range of capable models
  • Mature docs and SDKs
  • Large developer community
  • Wide open-model catalogue
  • Fine-tuning built in
  • Scales to large workloads
Cons
  • Usage is billed, so costs need monitoring
  • Requires programming to use beyond the playground
  • Billed by usage
  • Best suited to technical teams
Use it to
  • Add a chat assistant to a website
  • Build an agent that calls your own tools
  • Turn speech into text in an app
  • Serve an open model in production
  • Fine-tune a model on company data
  • Rent GPUs for training
Web app
API

OpenAI API Platform vs Together AI: questions

Is OpenAI API Platform better than Together AI?

Neither wins for everyone. Our editors rank OpenAI API Platform slightly higher overall in AI Models & Developer APIs, but Together AI can be the better fit: Teams building on open-source models at production scale.

Which is free, OpenAI API Platform or Together AI?

Neither has an ongoing free plan: OpenAI API Platform is paid and Together AI is paid.

Can I use OpenAI API Platform and Together AI together?

Yes. Many people keep both and pick per task, for example add a chat assistant to a website with OpenAI API Platform, and serve an open model in production with Together AI.

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