What Do You Actually Pay For?
Real examples of services you'd pay for with x402 agents instead of expensive subscriptions
The Simple Answer
You pay for API services that normally require subscriptions or expensive plans.
Instead of paying $99/month for a service you use 10 times, you pay $0.10 per use = $1 total. You save $98!
AI
Examples:
- OpenAI API
- Anthropic Claude
- Image Generation
Use Case: Ask AI questions occasionally
97.5% cheaper for occasional use
Data & Information
Examples:
- Stock Prices
- Weather Data
- News APIs
- Crypto Prices
Use Case: Get real-time data for your app
50% cheaper if you use it 100 times
Image Processing
Examples:
- Resize Images
- Enhance Photos
- OCR (Text from Images)
Use Case: Process user uploads on your website
94% cheaper for 50 images/month
SMS & Messaging
Examples:
- Send SMS
- Email APIs
- Voice Calls
Use Case: Send order confirmations to customers
93% cheaper for 200 SMS/month
Maps & Location
Examples:
- Google Maps
- Geocoding
- Directions
Use Case: Show maps on your website
95% cheaper for 100 requests
Real-World Scenarios
Scenario 1: Personal AI Use
You want to use ChatGPT occasionally but don't want to pay $20/month.
Scenario 2: Weather App
You're building an app that shows weather. You need weather data 50 times per month.
Scenario 3: SMS Notifications
Your business sends 200 SMS order confirmations per month.
Cost Comparison
| Service | Traditional | With Agent | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI Chat (10 uses) | $20 | $1 | $19 (95%) |
| Weather API (50 uses) | $40 | $2.50 | $37.50 (94%) |
| SMS (200 messages) | $30 | $2 | $28 (93%) |
| Stock Data (100 fetches) | $99 | $50 | $49 (50%) |
| Image Processing (50 images) | $40 | $2.50 | $37.50 (94%) |
The Bottom Line
You pay for services you actually use, when you use them.
Instead of paying $99/month for a service you use 10 times,
you pay $1 for those 10 uses.
It's like paying for a la carte instead of an all-you-can-eat buffet
when you only want a burger! 🍔