Monthly AI plans feel small, but they never stop. Here's the plain math over three years, before any price changes.
TOTAL PAID
$10 / month
$120 after one year · $240 after two · $360 after three
$20 / month
$240 after one year · $480 after two · $720 after three
$30 / month
$360 after one year · $720 after two · $1,080 after three
$50 / month
$600 after one year · $1,200 after two · $1,800 after three
PHNTM One
$549 once, then nothing
When a one-time device comes out ahead
At $20 a month, a $549 device costs less from month 28. At $50 a month, from month 11. At $10 a month, the subscription stays cheaper over three years. Try your own number →
What the math doesn't say
- Capability differs. Cloud subscriptions buy access to frontier models that are far stronger and faster than a 4B model on a Raspberry Pi. This is a cost comparison, not a like-for-like one.
- Electricity isn't counted, and neither are price rises.
- The case for PHNTM One is privacy and ownership. The savings are a bonus. If you need the smartest model every time, a subscription is the right call.
Questions
How much is $20 a month over three years?
$720. Over the same period a $549 one-time device costs less from month 28.
Is a one-time AI device always cheaper?
No. At about $10 a month, a subscription stays cheaper over three years. And a subscription gets you a far more capable model.