//beforeyouship — LLM cost modeling from your editor
Model the realistic monthly cost of an LLM app before you build it.
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What it can do
- List Archetypes: List the seven beforeyouship app archetypes (preset LLM architecture patterns) with their default usage parameters. Use an archetype id as the starting point for estimate_cost.
- Get Model Prices: Current per-1M-token pricing for all models in the beforeyouship catalog (input, output, cached input, batch), with context windows and pricing-staleness metadata.
- Estimate Cost: Model the realistic monthly cost of an LLM app architecture across models. Pick an archetype (see list_archetypes), give calls_per_day, and optionally override token counts and multipli
What data it sees
Do you need an account
No: the server works without sign-in
Model the realistic monthly cost of an LLM app before you build it. Not a token calculator: retries, prompt caching, batch discounts, infra overhead, and 3×/10× growth are modeled in, across GPT-5.x, Claude, Gemini, DeepSeek, and more.
Works without a key. Connect and ask — demo mode covers the six free-tier models. A Pro API key (beforeyouship.dev) unlocks the full 18-model catalog.
Tools
| Tool | What it does |
|---|
estimate_costFull cost model for an architecture at a given usage level. Returns Naive / Realistic / Worst Case $/mo per model, growth scenarios, and an opinionated recommendation. |get_model_pricesCurrent per-1M-token pricing (input, output, cached, batch) with context windows and staleness metadata. |list_archetypesSeven preset architecture patterns (chatbot, RAG pipeline, multi-step agent, …) used as starting points for estimates. |
Try it
Paste into Claude Code or Cursor after connecting:
Estimate the monthly cost of a RAG pipeline at 10,000 requests/day
Setup
claude mcp add --transport http beforeyouship https://beforeyouship.dev/api/mcp
Links
- Docs & tool reference: https://beforeyouship.dev/docs#mcp
- Live calculator: https://beforeyouship.dev
- Announcement: https://beforeyouship.dev/blog/query-llm-costs-from-claude-code
Server tool list (3)
Raw names from tools/list. Only developers need these.
| list_archetypes | List the seven beforeyouship app archetypes (preset LLM architecture patterns) with their default usage parameters. Use an archetype id as the starting point for estimate_cost. |
| get_model_prices | Current per-1M-token pricing for all models in the beforeyouship catalog (input, output, cached input, batch), with context windows and pricing-staleness metadata. |
| estimate_cost | Model the realistic monthly cost of an LLM app architecture across models. Pick an archetype (see list_archetypes), give calls_per_day, and optionally override token counts and multipliers. Returns Naive / Realistic / Worst Case monthly costs, growth scenarios, and an opinionated model recommendation. |