Answer four questions below — every model in our directory re-ranks live to match your exact workload.
GPT-4o-class coding quality at under $0.30/1M — the best value in the directory.
If mistakes are expensive
Anthropic · $10/M · 1M ctx
The strongest all-around answer. Pick this when you're on a deadline and need it right the first time.
If every token counts
Mistral · $0.1/M · 128K ctx
The best low-cost default. Holds up in real use — not just on benchmarks designed to flatter cheap models.
If you live in long documents
Google · $2/M · 2M ctx
2M context and real synthesis. The right pick for research, transcripts, and giant PDFs.
CODING
Strongest picks for shipping code with fewer broken edits.
WRITING
Models that stay clear, polished, and on-brand across long drafts.
RESEARCH
Right picks for synthesis, document review, and deep analysis.
VISION
Multimodal picks for visual workflows and prompt iteration.
BUDGET
Value-first picks for startups and prompt-heavy workflows.
LONG-CTX
Best choices for giant docs, transcripts, and knowledge-heavy work.
FREE
Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, and Llama 4 all have usable free tiers. See which one to pick for your workflow.
CHEAP API
From $0.100/1M tokens. DeepSeek and Gemini Flash lead value per token for production workloads.
$20/MO
Both cost exactly $20/mo. Coding, writing, research — the verdict changes by task. Which plan is right for you?
Opus 4.7 leads SWE-Bench Pro (64.3% vs 58.6%). GPT-5.5 wins when OpenAI/Codex fit matters.
The clearest side-by-side for the three families most people decide between.
Which $20/mo plan is actually worth it. Coding, writing, research, agentic.
Premium reasoning vs giant context. The verdict by use case.
Should you migrate? New tokenizer pricing trap explained.
When the consumer plan beats raw API access — and when it doesn't.
Ranked view of the best current models by overall usefulness, not benchmark theater.
Fastest way to see which APIs are actually worth paying for in 2026.
Anthropic released Claude Fable 5 and Claude Mythos 5 on June 9, 2026, two months after Mythos rocked Wall Street in private preview. Fable 5 — the generally available, Mythos-class model — scores 80.3% on SWE-Bench Pro, an 11-point leap over Opus 4.8's 69.2% and the largest single-release jump of 2026. It posts 1932 on GDPval-AA, has a 1M-token context, and is free for everyone until June 22. Mythos 5 is the same model with safeguards lifted, restricted to vetted partners. Pricing is $10/$50 per 1M tokens.
Claude Fable 5 now leads all premium coding and research recommendations, replacing Opus 4.8 at the top. At 80.3% SWE-Bench Pro it is the clear benchmark leader. Opus 4.8 remains the best-value premium pick at half the price, and Sonnet 4.6 stays the everyday default.
Anthropic launched Claude Opus 4.8 on May 27, 2026. It scores 69.2% on SWE-Bench Pro (up from 64.3% on Opus 4.7), 88.6% on SWE-Bench Verified, and 1890 Arena Elo — 121 points ahead of GPT-5.5. Pricing is unchanged at $5/$25 per 1M tokens. Key new feature: native parallel subagents.
Claude Opus 4.8 now leads all premium coding recommendations, replacing Opus 4.7. At 69.2% SWE-Bench Pro vs 64.3%, it is the clear benchmark leader. Opus 4.7 is retained for legacy comparisons and pinned integrations.
07 / 07 · DECISION ENGINE
Answer 5 questions — budget, task, workflow, and context — and we rank every model in real time. No signup. No fluff.
Best for coding?
Claude Opus 4.8
Best budget pick?
Mistral Small 3.1
Best for writing?
Claude Sonnet 4.6
Most context?
Gemini 3.1 Pro
Newsletter
Pricing changes, new model releases, and updated recommendations — delivered when it matters.
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