Count Tokens Before Sending to the API
A quick pre-flight check: count a system prompt's tokens and cost before it ships, so the bill and the size hold no surprises.
Overview
A system prompt rides along on every single request, so its token count is paid over and over. This loads a realistic support-agent system prompt and counts it as a pre-send check — the size and cost you commit to with each call. Counting before sending is the cheap habit that prevents the expensive surprise; this is the fast, honest read you run before the prompt goes live. For whether the whole conversation will still fit the window, hand off to the Context Window Estimator.
Workflow
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Paste before you ship
Check the prompt's size and cost before it goes live.
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Note the recurring cost
A system prompt is paid on every single request.
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Hand off for fit
For whole-conversation fit, use the Context Window Estimator.
Why This Works
- Counting before sending is a cheap habit that avoids expensive surprises
- System prompts are paid on every call — their count compounds
- A fast pre-flight read fits naturally before an API request
Best for
- Pre-flight checks before an API call
- Sizing a system prompt paid on every request
- Catching cost surprises before they ship
Not for
- Whole-conversation fit — use the Context Window Estimator
- Editing the prompt for clarity — use the Prompt Cleaner
Use cases
- Pre-flight checks before an API call
- Sizing a system prompt paid on every request
- Catching cost surprises before they ship