Which AI Model is Right for You?
A decision framework built from real-world experience — not marketing copy. Use the framework to understand the trade-offs, or answer 6 quick questions to get a personalised recommendation.Data updated every 2 weeks. Last refreshed July 15, 2026.
AI Model Evaluation Framework
Work through these 5 phases before shortlisting specific models — the answers eliminate bad fits fast.
DEFINE BEFORE YOU EVALUATE
Chat, RAG, agents, code gen, classification, extraction? Each demands different benchmarks and model families.
HIPAA, GDPR, ITAR, SOC2? Determines whether on-prem is required vs optional, and which providers are in scope.
Real-time (<500ms), interactive (<5s), or batch? Rules out certain model sizes and inference stacks entirely.
Requests/day or concurrent users? Determines GPU count, context caching strategy, and rate limit headroom.
English-only or multilingual? Single-language use cases rarely need Qwen's breadth or mGPT variants.
Domain-specific training? Affects which base model and licence you pick — some prohibit fine-tuned commercial use.
Best Model by Use Case
Production picks updated every 2 weeks — or use the finder tab for a personalised recommendation.
These models excel in understanding and generating code, making them ideal for development tasks.
These models are well-suited for generating human-like responses in support scenarios.
These models are optimized for analyzing and extracting information from documents.
These models are capable of generating high-quality creative content.
These models are effective in data processing and research tasks.
These models are suitable for building intelligent agents that require autonomy.
These models can handle tasks that involve multiple types of data, such as text and images.
These models are designed to excel in logical reasoning and mathematical problem-solving.
Cost Tiers Explained
Token pricing varies wildly — here's how to think about each tier.
Use this tier when budget constraints are strict and open-source solutions are viable.
Choose this tier for cost-effective solutions with moderate capabilities.
Opt for this tier when you need a balance between cost and performance.
Use this tier for high-performance tasks where budget is less of a concern.