AI Model Intelligence vs. Price: Find the Best Trade-off

Choosing an AI model is rarely just about finding the highest score. A model can be excellent and still be a poor choice for everyday work if it costs too much. A cheaper model can be a great deal, but only if it is capable enough for the task.

This chart compares 100+ models using two dimensions:

• AI Intelligence Index on the vertical axis: higher means stronger overall benchmark performance.
• Blended price on the horizontal axis: an approximate cost per 1 million tokens, shown on a logarithmic scale.

Find the best intelligence for the price

Search a model, or click any point to pin its exact score and blended price.

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104 models

No model pinned

Search or select a point to see its score and price.

Click a point or a search result to pin a model. The chart uses a logarithmic price axis so low-cost models remain visible.

How to read the chart

The dotted lines split the chart at an intelligence score of 50 and a blended price of $1 per million tokens:

• Cheap and Smart: the most attractive area for high-volume work.
• Expensive and Smart: strong models that may be worth the extra cost for difficult tasks.
• Cheap and Weak: inexpensive models that can still be useful for simple work.
• Expensive and Weak: models where the price is harder to justify from this comparison alone.

The horizontal axis is logarithmic. This keeps a model costing a few cents visible next to models costing several dollars or more. It also means that equal visual distances represent ratios rather than equal dollar differences.

A note about the data

This is a snapshot rather than a permanent ranking. Model versions, benchmark scores, provider pricing, and routing options change frequently. Prices are blended estimates, so the real cost for a particular workload will depend on the input/output mix and the provider you use.

The underlying comparison is based on the Artificial Analysis model index. Use it as a starting point for exploration, then check the latest model card and pricing before making a production decision.