Best LLM APIs & models
Last updated · 6 tools · How we rank
Anthropic's Claude API is the best LLM API for coding and agents (Sonnet 5.5 at $2/$10 per million tokens). Google's Gemini API is the best value for long-context work, with Gemini 4 Argon at an introductory $2/$10 until Nov 30, 2026, and a free tier on Flash models. OpenAI's API has the broadest ecosystem (GPT-6.1 Sol at $2/$10). OpenRouter is best for switching between many models with one key.
Our pick
Anthropic Claude API
Top pick for coding and agentic workloads.
- Best for
- Coding agents, tool use
- Free tier
- Small amount of free credits for new API users
- Pricing
- Sonnet 5.5 $2/$10 per M tokens; Opus 5.5 $4/$20; Haiku 5.5 $0.10/$0.50 (prompts ≤100K)
Full reviewOfficial site ↗Checked 2026-10-14
The alternatives, compared
Tap a row for free tier, full pricing and sources.
02Google Gemini APILong-context and agentic tasks on a budgetGemini 4 Argon $2/$10 per M tokens through Nov 30, 2026, then $4/$20
Gemini 4 Argon with 1M-token limit at aggressive intro pricing; free tier on Flash models.
- Best for
- Long-context and agentic tasks on a budget
- Free tier
- Free tier on Flash models (Argon not on free tier)
- Pricing
- Gemini 4 Argon $2/$10 per M tokens through Nov 30, 2026, then $4/$20; Gemini 3.8 Flash $0.75/$3.75
- Checked
- 2026-10-14 · pricing source ↗
03OpenAI APIGeneral-purpose and multimodal appsGPT-6.1 Sol $2/$10 per M tokens
Broadest ecosystem; GPT-6 family now on the API.
- Best for
- General-purpose and multimodal apps
- Free tier
- unknown
- Pricing
- GPT-6.1 Sol $2/$10 per M tokens; GPT-6 Luna $0.10/$0.50; GPT-6 Astra $10/$50
- Checked
- 2026-10-14 · pricing source ↗
04MistralTeams wanting open weights or EU hostingLe Chat Pro $14.99/mo
Mistral Large 4: frontier open-weight model (preview; weights promised end of October).
- Best for
- Teams wanting open weights or EU hosting
- Free tier
- unknown for API; Le Chat has a free plan (not verified)
- Pricing
- Le Chat Pro $14.99/mo; Mistral Large 4 API pricing unknown
- Checked
- 2026-10-14 · pricing source ↗
05OpenRouterPrototyping across providersPay-as-you-go at model prices
One API key for hundreds of models; easy model switching.
- Best for
- Prototyping across providers
- Free tier
- Free plan available
- Pricing
- Pay-as-you-go at model prices; BYOK: first $25,000/mo of list-price inference fee-free, then 5% fee
- Checked
- 2026-10-14 · pricing source ↗
06Meta Muse WonderLong-running agents and computer useMuse Wonder $4/$20 per M tokens ($0.20 cached input)
Meta's new agentic frontier model on the Meta Model API and Muse Code (Oct 12, 2026).
- Best for
- Long-running agents and computer use
- Free tier
- unknown
- Pricing
- Muse Wonder $4/$20 per M tokens ($0.20 cached input); Muse Wonder Full only via Muse Code Power/Maximum Usage plans
- Checked
- 2026-10-14 · pricing source ↗
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