GPT-5.2 Mini is the best AI for prototyping for most builders because it gives strong technical output at a cost that still works for a lot of iterative back-and-forth.
The shortest way to see the safest default, the lower-cost option, and the specialist pick before you read deeper.
GPT-5.2 Mini is the safest overall answer here when you want the strongest default instead of the lowest list price.
Switch the scoring lens to see whether the top answer changes when you care more about cost, speed, or long-document work.
Anthropic / Premium / Mar 23, 2026
Best daily driver for coding and writing — the model most developers actually reach for.
Ranks models by the broadest mix of coding, writing, research, and long-context usefulness.
You specifically need desktop-control capabilities (GPT-5.4) or the absolute highest coding ceiling (Opus 4.6).
The fastest way to see where the recommendation shifts when your priority changes.
Cheaper than flagship models without becoming toy-grade
Good for edits, summaries, and repetitive operational prompts
Fast enough for embedded product experiences
Weaker on nuanced reasoning than premium models
Gemini 3.1 Flash is now cheaper with a larger context window
UseRightAI recommendations are based on practical decision factors people actually feel in day-to-day use.
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Useful if you care about ranking shifts, pricing changes, or a better recommendation appearing in this decision path.
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The top-ranked model in this directory changes as new models launch and prices shift. Check the recommendation at the top of this page for the current best pick.
The best coding model in this directory is ranked by SWE-bench score and real-world developer adoption. The current #1 is shown at the top of our coding comparison pages.
The cheapest capable AI model changes as providers adjust pricing. Check our cheapest AI comparison page for the current lowest-cost option per million tokens.
The fastest models in the directory are ranked by speed score. Check our fastest AI page for the current top picks by latency and throughput.
Most businesses get the best results pairing one premium model for quality work with one budget model for volume — rather than forcing a single model to do everything.
Meta: Llama 3.1 8B Instruct is the lower-cost option to start with when you still need useful output at scale.
Claude Sonnet 4.6 is the better pick when response speed matters more than maximum reasoning depth.
GPT-5.2 Mini is the best value prototyping model in this directory.
GPT-5.4 is better once the prototype starts turning into real product infrastructure.
Codestral 25.01 is strong when the workflow is more coding-throughput heavy than product-thinking heavy.
Use GPT-5.2 Mini for iterative build loops and rough product experiments.
Use GPT-5.4 when debugging, architecture, and reliability start to dominate.
Use Codestral when you mainly want cheaper coding acceleration.
