Marginal
See which customers and features drive your AI API costs
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What is Marginal?
Marginal is a cost tracking and observability platform for LLM API calls. It automatically tracks spending, computes costs server-side from provider/model/usage data, and provides a dashboard to slice costs by customer, feature, or any custom fields. Integrates via TypeScript SDK, Python SDK, or HTTP API with minimal setup—one track() call per LLM request.
Marginal pricing
Pricing model: Freemium
Marginal pros
- One-line integration: track() requires only provider, model, and usage; cost computed server-side without token math in your code
- Flexible cost slicing by any custom fields (customer, feature, model) with automatic charts for each dimension
- Zero-dependency SDKs that buffer and batch events without blocking request paths; HTTP API available for any language
- Handles unknown models gracefully—flagged as 'unpriced' in dashboard instead of hidden; custom pricing can be set at ingest
- Real-time dashboard with detailed event logs showing acceptance/rejection status and exact payloads sent
Marginal cons
- No pricing information displayed; requires signup or demo booking to learn costs
- Limited details on data retention policies, historical limits, or high-volume scaling capabilities
- No mention of cost alerts, spending thresholds, or automated notifications for budget overruns
Frequently asked questions about Marginal
How much work is the integration?
Minimal—one track() call per LLM request with provider, model, and usage object. SDKs buffer in the background without blocking. Live dashboard in five minutes.
What happens if my model isn't recognized?
The event lands and is flagged as 'unpriced' in the dashboard and API response. You can set a custom price that applies immediately at ingest.
Can I slice costs by my own fields?
Yes—register any fields (customer, feature, etc.), pass them with track(), and group/filter by them in the dashboard. Unregistered keys are stripped and reported.
Do I need to use an SDK?
No—TypeScript and Python SDKs are provided, but you can also POST JSON directly to the HTTP API from any language.