AI Content Cost per Piece vs Outsourcing Calculator (articles, posts, product copy)

How it works

Drafts needed = pieces ÷ (1 − discard share). AI cost per month = drafts × (token cost + editing minutes ÷ 60 × editor’s hourly cost) + subscriptions; discarded drafts still cost editing time. Cost per published piece = monthly AI cost ÷ pieces; outsourcing = pieces × price per piece. Quality, originality and brand voice are not priced here — budget enough editing time to keep them.

⚠ Estimates for information only — not financial advice.

FAQ

How long should editing take?

Time a few real drafts. Fact-checking, adding examples and matching your brand voice often take longer than writing the prompt, especially for expert topics.

Can I publish AI drafts without editing?

Unedited AI text can contain errors and generic wording. For anything customers rely on, a human check protects your reputation.

Checked 10 Nov 2026. Unit-cost arithmetic: (variable cost per draft × drafts + fixed subscriptions) ÷ published pieces; prices and minutes are your own quotes and measurements.