Show HN: Costbase – See what each of your AI apps costs, without a proxy (costbase.co)

Costbase has introduced a groundbreaking tool for monitoring the costs associated with AI applications by providing a unified dashboard that effortlessly tracks expenses without relying on a proxy. Users simply paste one admin key per provider, allowing Costbase to automatically discover and report on all API usage directly from the providers’ official reporting APIs. This streamlines cost visibility, eliminating the need for complex dependencies or latency-inducing reroutes present in traditional cost monitoring tools. This innovation is significant for the AI/ML community, as it offers a comprehensive view of spending across various AI services—such as transcription, text-to-speech, and embeddings—without compromising the integrity of app performance. Costbase supports multiple providers, including OpenAI and ElevenLabs, and backfills data for a full year, enabling organizations to recognize costs by application instantly. The tool not only democratizes access to crucial financial metrics but also enhances operational transparency, fostering better decision-making in AI project management. With its focus on security—ensuring that admin keys are encrypted and used solely for read-only access—Costbase stands out as a crucial asset for companies seeking to manage their AI expenditures effectively.