# I Built AICostPass Because I Was Tired of Guessing My AI API Costs

> Source: <https://dev.to/neeraj_uikey_07/i-built-ai-cost-pass-because-i-was-tired-of-guessing-my-ai-api-costs-nd>
> Published: 2026-07-14 21:27:14+00:00

While building with OpenAI, Anthropic, and other AI providers, I realized something surprising.

I monitored my servers, databases, and application performance—but I had almost **no visibility into my AI API spending** until I checked the provider dashboard or received the monthly invoice.

That led me to build **AICostPass**.

It helps developers, indie hackers, startups, and agencies:

The goal is simple: **help developers understand and control AI costs before the invoice arrives.**

I'd love to hear how you're currently tracking AI API costs. Are you using provider dashboards, spreadsheets, or another tool?