Glossary
Notional vs real cost explained
Whether a dollar figure is what you actually spent or what usage would cost at list prices.
Why it matters for cost
Claude Code cost is computed from real per-token counts; Codex is a subscription, so its $ is notional list price.
How JP the Cat surfaces it
JP the Cat reads the real token counts behind this from the local logs on your Mac and prices them at the shipped rates — so it shows up in your actual cost, not an estimate.
Common questions
- What is notional vs real cost?
- Whether a dollar figure is what you actually spent or what usage would cost at list prices.
- How does it change what I pay?
- Claude Code cost is computed from real per-token counts; Codex is a subscription, so its $ is notional list price.