Best LLM API Models for Coding

This guide highlights models whose public metadata indicates coding, programming, developer, or software-oriented use cases.

50Models listed
1M input + 500K outputCost example tokens
USD / 1MNormalized prices

Quick shortlist

Start with DeepSeek V4 Flash 0731.

This guide starts with coding-oriented models and practical popularity signals so developers can shortlist options faster.

Lead model 🔥DeepSeek V4 Flash 0731
ProviderDeepSeek
Sample cost$0.17
Context1.31M

The ranking is a discovery aid, not a final recommendation. Always compare the model against your workload and verify provider pricing before production use.

How to read this ranking

Models are included when their public model metadata indicates coding, programming, developer, software, or code generation use cases.

Model Ranking

Browse all models
ModelProviderPromptOutputSample costYour CostContextPopularityRelease
🔥DeepSeek V4 Flash 0731DeepSeek$0.08$0.18$0.17$0.171.31M#1
New🔥Ox Alphastealth$0$0$0$01.05M#4
🔥GLM 5.2Z.ai$0.966$3.036$2.48$2.481.05M#8
🔥Claude Opus 5Anthropic$5$25$17.5$17.51M#9
🔥DeepSeek V4 Pro 0423DeepSeek$0.3969$0.7938$0.79$0.791.05M#10
🔥Laguna S 2.1 (free)Poolside$0$0$0$0262.14K#11
New🔥Gemini 3.7 FlashGoogle$0.375$1.875$1.31$1.311.05M#12
🔥Gemini 3.6 FlashGoogle$0.75$3.75$2.62$2.621.05M#13
🔥Kimi K3MoonshotAI$3$15$10.5$10.51.05M#14
🔥GPT-5.6 SolOpenAI$2$10$7$71.05M#15
🔥Claude Sonnet 5Anthropic$2$10$7$71M#16
🔥Gemini 3 Flash PreviewGoogle$0.5$3$2$21.05M#18
NewMuse Spark 1.2 ContributorMeta$0.1$0.2$0.2$0.21.05M
NewGLM 5.3Z.ai$1.4$4.4$3.6$3.61.05M
NewQwen3.8 27BQwen$0.4$3$1.9$1.91M
NewGemini 3.7 Flash (batch)Google$0.1875$0.9375$0.66$0.661.05M
NewSeed 2.1 TurboByteDance Seed$0.5$2.5$1.75$1.75262.14K
NewSeed-2.0-CodeByteDance Seed$0.5$3$2$2262.14K
NewGrok 4.6SpaceXAI$2$6$5$5500K
NewLFM2.5-2.6B (free)LiquidAI$0$0$0$065.54K
Qwen3.7 FlashQwen$0.03$0.13$0.1$0.11M
Claude Opus 5 (batch)Anthropic$2.5$12.5$8.75$8.751M
Ling-3.0-flashinclusionAI$0.021$0.063$0.05$0.05262.14K
Ling-3.0-flash (free)inclusionAI$0$0$0$0262.14K
Laguna S 2.1Poolside$0.09$0.18$0.18$0.181.05M
Gemini 3.6 Flash (batch)Google$0.375$1.875$1.31$1.311.05M
LongCat 2.0Meituan$0.3$1.2$0.9$0.91.05M
InklingThinking Machines$1$4.05$3.02$3.021.05M
Inkling (batch)Thinking Machines$1$4.05$3.02$3.02524.29K
Inkling (free)Thinking Machines$0$0$0$0262.14K
KAT-Coder-Air V2.5Kwaipilot$0.15$0.6$0.45$0.45256K
KAT-Coder-Pro V2.5Kwaipilot$0.74$2.96$2.22$2.22256K
GPT-5.6 Luna ProOpenAI$0.2$1.2$0.8$0.81.05M
GPT-5.6 Luna Pro (batch)OpenAI$0.1$0.6$0.4$0.41.05M
GPT-5.6 Terra ProOpenAI$2$12$8$81.05M
GPT-5.6 Terra Pro (batch)OpenAI$1$6$4$41.05M
GPT-5.6 TerraOpenAI$2$12$8$81.05M
GPT-5.6 Terra (batch)OpenAI$1$6$4$41.05M
GPT-5.6 Sol ProOpenAI$2$10$7$71.05M
GPT-5.6 Sol Pro (batch)OpenAI$1$5$3.5$3.51.05M
GPT-5.6 Sol (batch)OpenAI$1$5$3.5$3.51.05M
Grok 4.5SpaceXAI$2$6$5$5500K
Laguna XS 2.1Poolside$0.06$0.12$0.12$0.12262.14K
Laguna XS 2.1 (free)Poolside$0$0$0$0262.14K
Claude Sonnet 5 (batch)Anthropic$1$5$3.5$3.51M
Nano Banana 2 Lite (Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite Image)Google$0.25$1.5$1$165.54K
Nex-N2-MiniNex AGI$0.025$0.1$0.08$0.08262.14K
North Mini Code (free)Cohere$0$0$0$0256K
GLM 5.2 (batch)Z.ai$1.4$4.4$3.6$3.61.05M
GLM 5.2 (free)Z.ai$0$0$0$0256K

Pricing FAQ

How is the sample workload cost calculated?

The sample workload uses 1,000,000 input tokens plus 500,000 output tokens, then applies each model's normalized USD price per 1 million tokens.

Why do input and output token prices matter separately?

Many applications are output-token heavy, while retrieval and classification workloads may be input-token heavy. Comparing both prices helps avoid picking a model that is cheap for the wrong workload shape.

Should I verify prices before production use?

Yes. AI Model Matrix normalizes public pricing metadata for comparison, but provider availability, limits, and prices can change. Always verify the final contract or provider dashboard before production use.

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