Which AI model is currently the best choice? The answer changes almost weekly, but a few fixed points help with orientation. This overview summarizes the most relevant large language models (LLMs) right now: from the three major providers Anthropic, OpenAI, and Google, with a focus on use case and price.
Important note: This article is a snapshot as of September 2026. The AI market evolves extremely fast – new models, price adjustments, and feature updates appear constantly. For an exact, up-to-date cost estimate, use our AI Cost Calculator.
Table of Contents
The Current Models at a Glance
The table below shows the most important LLMs today with their official list prices (USD per 1 million tokens, as of September 2026):
| Model | Provider | Input (per 1M tokens) | Output (per 1M tokens) | Positioning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GPT-6 Luna | OpenAI | $0.10 | $0.50 | Cheapest model, for simple/high-volume tasks |
| Claude Sonnet 5 | Anthropic | $2.00 | $10.00 | Balanced price-performance, everyday workhorse |
| GPT-6 Sol | OpenAI | $2.00 | $10.00 | Direct counterpart to Sonnet 5, OpenAI’s mid-tier |
| Gemini 3 Pro | $2.00 | $12.00 | Large context window (up to 200k tokens), strong multimodality | |
| Claude Opus 5.5 | Anthropic | $4.00 | $20.00 | Premium model for complex tasks, high alignment scores |
| GPT-6 Astra | OpenAI | $10.00 | $50.00 | OpenAI’s flagship, highest cybersecurity capability |
Which Model for Which Purpose?
GPT-6 Luna is suited for simple, high-volume tasks like classification, short summaries, or chatbots with limited scope – the price per token is unmatched.
Claude Sonnet 5 and GPT-6 Sol are the workhorses for most everyday tasks: coding assistance, content production, research. Both are priced identically and differ mainly in style and provider-specific strengths.
Gemini 3 Pro stands out with a particularly large context window (up to 200,000 tokens) and strong processing of images, audio, and video – relevant for applications with long documents or mixed media types.
Claude Opus 5.5 is Anthropic’s premium model: more expensive, but with stronger performance on complex, multi-step tasks and high internal alignment/safety scores according to Anthropic.
GPT-6 Astra is OpenAI’s most expensive and capable model – among other things, the first model that, according to OpenAI, crossed a critical cybersecurity threshold in internal testing, which suggests additional safety precautions when using it.
How Quickly Does This List Go Out of Date?
Very quickly. Within the past few weeks, both Anthropic and OpenAI have released new models and price adjustments – sometimes just hours apart. Before making a budget decision, it’s always worth checking the providers’ current official pricing pages, as well as our continuously updated AI Cost Calculator.
Unclear on terms like “context window” or “token”? Our AI & Crypto Glossary has concise explanations.
Frequently Asked Questions About AI Model Comparisons
Which AI model is currently the cheapest?
GPT-6 Luna from OpenAI is currently the cheapest of the models compared here, at $0.10 per 1 million input tokens and $0.50 per 1 million output tokens, though with correspondingly more limited capabilities for complex tasks.
Which model has the largest context window?
Gemini 3 Pro from Google offers one of the largest available context windows among the models listed here, up to 200,000 tokens.
Is the most expensive model always worth it?
No. For simple, high-volume tasks, a cheaper model like GPT-6 Luna is often sufficient and significantly more cost-effective. Expensive premium models like Claude Opus 5.5 or GPT-6 Astra pay off mainly for complex, multi-step tasks with high precision requirements.
How often do these prices and models change?
Very frequently. New model versions and price adjustments from the major providers appear sometimes weekly or even daily. This article reflects the state as of September 2026.
How do I calculate my actual costs for a specific project?
Use our free AI Cost Calculator: it calculates monthly costs for all models compared here directly in your browser based on your estimated token volume, without sending any data to a server.
