AI Model Comparison Table
Last updated: 2026-05-18
AI Model Comparison Table — 2026
A reference for the major foundation models available in 2026. Use it for capability comparisons, context window requirements, and pricing estimates. Verify exact numbers with providers before committing at scale — pricing and specs change frequently.
OpenAI
Model · Tier · Context · Input (per 1M) · Output (per 1M) · Multi-modal · API
GPT-4o · High · 128K · ~$2.50 · ~$10 · Yes · Yes
GPT-4.5 · High · 128K+ · Higher · Higher · Yes · Yes
o1 / o3 · Reasoning · 200K+ · Premium · Premium · Text · Yes
Good for general-purpose use, coding, and broad tool use. The o1/o3 series is built for complex multi-step reasoning.
Anthropic
Model · Tier · Context · Input (per 1M) · Output (per 1M) · Multi-modal · API
Claude Opus 4.7 · High · 200K · ~$15 · ~$75 · Vision · Yes
Claude Sonnet 4.6 · Mid · 200K · ~$3 · ~$15 · Vision · Yes
Claude Haiku 4.5 · Fast · 200K · ~$0.80 · ~$4 · Vision · Yes
Strong for long-context work, analysis, and writing. 200K context across the lineup makes it one of the better options for large document tasks.
Model · Tier · Context · Input (per 1M) · Output (per 1M) · Multi-modal · API
Gemini 2.5 Pro · High · 1M+ · ~$1.25 · ~$10 · Yes · Yes
Gemini 2.5 Flash · Fast · 1M+ · ~$0.30 · ~$2.50 · Yes · Yes
The 1M+ context window is a genuine differentiator for processing large files or repositories. Flash is among the best value options for high-volume use cases.
Meta
Model · Tier · Context · Pricing · Multi-modal · API
Llama 4 · Open · 128K+ · Varies by host · Evolving · Via hosts
Open weights. Self-host for free (with your own infrastructure) or use via hosted providers like Replicate, Together AI, or Groq. Best for organizations that need data privacy, fine-tuning control, or freedom from vendor pricing.
Mistral
Model · Tier · Context · Pricing · Multi-modal · API
Mistral Large · High · 128K · Competitive · Yes · Yes
Mistral Small · Fast · 128K · Lower · Yes · Yes
A strong option if you need EU-based infrastructure. Good cost-to-performance balance with both open and proprietary model options.
Others Worth Knowing
DeepSeek — Strong on reasoning and code. Competitive pricing. Direct API available.
Qwen — Alibaba's model family. Strong for Asian-language tasks. Both open and API access.
Cohere — Enterprise-focused. Strong embeddings and retrieval capabilities. A common choice for RAG pipelines.
How to Choose
Complexity of the task — Hard tasks benefit from high-tier models (Opus, GPT-4o, Gemini Pro). Simpler, higher-volume tasks can use Flash, Haiku, or smaller models without much loss.
Cost at scale — Token pricing compounds fast. Gemini Flash and similar fast tiers often win on cost for high-volume use. Compare input plus output for your actual usage pattern.
Context requirements — Long documents need long context. Claude and Gemini lead here. Short conversations don't need much.
Multi-modal needs — If you need vision, audio, or video, check model support before committing. GPT-4o, Claude, and Gemini all support vision.
Open vs. proprietary — Open models give you self-hosting, privacy control, and fine-tuning flexibility. Proprietary models give you better managed infrastructure and often better performance on the frontier.
Integration fit — Your existing stack matters. Google Workspace users might get more from Gemini. Developers often prefer Claude or GPT for tool use and agentic workflows.