Model Comparison Table
Premium Models
| Model | Provider | Context Window | Input Price* | Output Price* | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claude Sonnet 4.5 | Anthropic | 1M tokens | $3-6 | $15-22.50 | Reliable tool usage, complex codebases |
| GPT-5 | OpenAI | 400K tokens | $1.25 | $10 | Latest OpenAI tech, three modes |
| Gemini 2.5 Pro | 1M+ tokens | TBD | TBD | Large codebases, document analysis | |
| Qwen3 Coder | Multiple | 256K tokens | $0.20 | $0.80 | Coding tasks, open source flexibility |
Budget Models
| Model | Provider | Context Window | Input Price* | Output Price* | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeepSeek V3 | DeepSeek | 128K tokens | $0.14 | $0.28 | Great value for daily coding |
| DeepSeek R1 | DeepSeek | 128K tokens | $0.55 | $2.19 | Budget reasoning champion |
| Qwen3 32B | Multiple | 128K tokens | Varies | Varies | Open source, multiple providers |
| Z AI GLM 4.5 | Z AI | 128K tokens | TBD | TBD | MIT licensed, hybrid reasoning |
Performance Comparison
Speed vs Quality Trade-offs
| Priority | Recommended Model | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Qwen3 Coder on Cerebras | Fastest inference available |
| Quality | Claude Sonnet 4.5 | Most reliable for complex tasks |
| Balance | DeepSeek V3 | Good quality at low cost |
Tool Reliability
Models ranked by tool usage reliability:- Claude Sonnet 4.5 - Most reliable tool execution
- GPT-5 - Excellent but occasional formatting issues
- Gemini 2.5 Pro - Good for standard tools
- DeepSeek V3 - Reliable for basic tools
- Qwen3 variants - May need retry for complex tools
Cost Calculator
Typical Task Costs
| Task Type | Token Usage (avg) | Claude Sonnet | DeepSeek V3 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simple Bug Fix | 5K tokens | $0.05 | $0.001 | 50x cheaper |
| Feature Implementation | 50K tokens | $0.50 | $0.01 | 50x cheaper |
| Large Refactoring | 200K tokens | $2.00 | $0.04 | 50x cheaper |
Monthly Budget Estimates
| Budget | Claude Usage | DeepSeek Usage | Mixed Strategy |
|---|---|---|---|
| $10/month | ~20 features | ~1000 features | Plan: DeepSeek, Act: Claude |
| $50/month | ~100 features | ~5000 features | Critical: Claude, Rest: DeepSeek |
| $100/month | ~200 features | ~10000 features | Complex: Claude, Simple: DeepSeek |
Provider Comparison
Provider Features
| Provider | Models Available | Billing | API Stability | Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cline | Multiple | Credit-based | High | In-app |
| Anthropic | Claude only | Usage-based | High | |
| OpenRouter | 100+ models | Usage-based | High | Discord |
| OpenAI | GPT only | Usage-based | High | Forum |
| Local (Ollama) | Open source | Free | N/A | Community |
Provider Selection Guide
Choose your provider based on:- Simplicity: Cline (no API key management)
- Variety: OpenRouter (access to all models)
- Direct Access: Individual providers (Anthropic, OpenAI)
- Privacy: Ollama or LM Studio (local models)
Community Usage Stats
Real-time usage data from the Cline community:- View current trends at OpenRouter’s Cline stats
- Most popular: Claude Sonnet 4.5 (40%)
- Rising star: DeepSeek V3 (25%)
- Budget favorite: Qwen3 variants (20%)