Cheapest AI Patent Prosecution Tool in 2026: Full Pricing Comparison
Most patent AI tools charge $1,500-3,000 per month regardless of how many Office Actions you process. Here is what every tool actually costs per response, and which pricing model saves the most money at every practice size.
The Patent AI Pricing Problem
Patent AI pricing in 2026 follows two models: monthly subscriptions and pay-per-use credits. The subscription model was inherited from traditional legal SaaS -- docketing platforms, document management systems, practice management tools. These tools charge monthly because they provide ongoing access to stored data.
AI patent prosecution tools are different. You use them when you have an Office Action. If you process 5 OAs this month and 15 next month, a flat subscription charges the same rate regardless. The per-response cost swings wildly depending on volume.
The Hidden Cost of Subscriptions
A $2,000/month subscription costs $24,000/year. At 10 OAs per month, that is $200 per response. At 5 OAs per month, it is $400 per response. The fewer OAs you process, the more expensive each one becomes.
2026 Patent AI Pricing Comparison
| Tool | Model | Monthly Min | Monthly Max | Per OA Cost | Annual Min |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abigail(lowest) | Pay-per-use | $0 | No cap | $49 fixed | $0 |
| Solve Intelligence | Subscription | $1,500 | $3,000 | $100-600* | $18,000 |
| Patlytics | Subscription | $1,200 | $2,500 | $80-500* | $14,400 |
| IP Author | Subscription | $500 | $2,000 | $33-400* | $6,000 |
| Patentext | Subscription | $200 | $1,500 | $13-300* | $2,400 |
| Black Hills AI | Subscription | $1,000 | $2,500 | $67-500* | $12,000 |
| DeepIP | Subscription | $800 | $2,000 | $53-400* | $9,600 |
*Per-OA cost for subscription tools depends on volume. Calculated as monthly cost divided by OAs processed. Ranges assume 5-15 OAs/month.
Cost per OA by Practice Size
The real question is not which tool has the lowest sticker price. It is which tool costs the least per Office Action response at your volume. Here is the math for a $2,000/month subscription versus $49/response pay-per-use:
| OAs/Month | Practice Type | $2,000/mo Sub | $49/response | Annual Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Part-time solo | $667/OA | $49/OA | $22,236 |
| 8 | Full-time solo | $250/OA | $49/OA | $19,296 |
| 15 | Small firm (2-3 attys) | $133/OA | $49/OA | $15,180 |
| 30 | Mid-size practice | $67/OA | $49/OA | $6,360 |
| 41+ | High-volume | $49/OA | $49/OA | $0 (break-even) |
Pay-per-use is cheaper than a $2,000/month subscription for any practice processing fewer than 41 OAs per month. That covers solo practitioners, small firms, and most mid-size practices. Only high-volume prosecution shops with 40+ OAs/month reach break-even.
Why Pay-Per-Use Wins for Most Practices
Zero Commitment
No annual contracts, no monthly minimums. Use it when you need it. Stop when you do not. Your cost directly tracks your workload.
Predictable Client Billing
At $49 per response, the AI cost for each case is known upfront. Easy to pass through to clients or absorb into flat-fee arrangements.
Scales Down as Well as Up
Slow month with 2 OAs? You spend $98. Busy month with 20 OAs? You spend $980. Subscriptions charge $2,000 either way.
No Shelf-Ware Risk
The #1 reason legal software goes unused is that the subscription runs whether you use it or not. Pay-per-use eliminates this -- if you do not use it, you do not pay.
What You Get for $49 with Abigail
Each $49 response export includes the full 10-expert analysis pipeline -- the same output that subscription tools charge $1,500+ per month to access:
- Full OA parsing with rejection classification (101/102/103/112)
- Claim-by-claim analysis with element-level prior art mapping
- Prior Art Comparator: side-by-side examiner citations vs claim elements
- Examiner intelligence (allowance rates, interview patterns, behavioral data)
- Glass Box AI transparency -- every output verified against source documents
- Amendment suggestions with new matter detection
- Complete 37 CFR compliant DOCX export ready for USPTO filing
- Drawing objection analysis (if applicable)
- Chemical structure and sequence listing support (if applicable)
Try the $49 OA Response
New users get $100 in free credits. Upload an Office Action and get a complete response draft -- no subscription required.