Choosing the right LLM API can make or break your product's margins. We tested every major model across pricing, speed, and quality. Here's the definitive comparison.
| Model | Input $/1M | Output $/1M | Cost Index* |
|---|---|---|---|
| GLM-4-Flash | $0.02 | $0.04 | 1x |
| DeepSeek-V4-Flash | $0.03 | $0.06 | 1.5x |
| Qwen3-Flash | $0.05 | $0.10 | 2.5x |
| DeepSeek-V3 | $0.14 | $0.28 | 7x |
| DeepSeek-V4 | $0.28 | $0.42 | 14x |
| Kimi-K3 | $0.30 | $0.60 | 15x |
| Qwen-Max | $0.40 | $0.80 | 20x |
| GPT-4o | $2.50 | $10.00 | 125x |
| Claude Sonnet 4 | $3.00 | $15.00 | 150x |
| Gemini 2.5 Pro | $1.25 | $10.00 | 125x |
*Cost Index relative to GLM-4-Flash (cheapest option). Pricing via AI Token gateway for Chinese models.
| Model | Time to First Token | Output Speed | Throughput |
|---|---|---|---|
| GLM-4-Flash | ~80ms | 150+ tok/s | ★★★★★ |
| DeepSeek-V4-Flash | ~100ms | 120+ tok/s | ★★★★★ |
| Qwen3-Flash | ~120ms | 100+ tok/s | ★★★★☆ |
| DeepSeek-V4 | ~200ms | 60+ tok/s | ★★★★☆ |
| GPT-4o | ~300ms | 50+ tok/s | ★★★☆☆ |
| Claude Sonnet 4 | ~350ms | 45+ tok/s | ★★★☆☆ |
| Task | #1 Best | #2 Runner-up | Budget Pick |
|---|---|---|---|
| English reasoning | Claude Sonnet 4 | DeepSeek-V4 | DeepSeek-V3 |
| Code generation | GPT-4o | DeepSeek-V4 | Qwen-Max |
| Chinese NLP | DeepSeek-V4 | Qwen-Max | GLM-4-Air |
| Creative writing | Claude Sonnet 4 | DeepSeek-V4 | Kimi-K3 |
| Data extraction | GPT-4o | DeepSeek-V4-Flash | GLM-4-Flash |
| Long context (100K+) | Kimi-K3 | Qwen-Max | DeepSeek-V4 |
Best value overall: DeepSeek-V4 — 90% of GPT-4o quality at 1/10th the price.
Best budget option: GLM-4-Flash — Unbeatable at $0.02/1M tokens for high-volume tasks.
Best for English quality: Claude Sonnet 4 — If budget allows, still the quality leader.
Best for production at scale: DeepSeek-V4-Flash + Qwen3-Flash combo — Ultra-cheap, fast, and reliable.
Why manage separate accounts when you can switch between all 38+ models with one API key? AI Token gateway provides OpenAI-compatible access to every model listed above.
No code changes needed — just update your base URL and API key.
Last updated: July 29, 2026
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