Choosing an AI API in 2026 is confusing. There are dozens of models across multiple providers, each with different pricing. This page puts all the numbers in one place so you can make an informed decision.
| Model | Provider | Input | Output | Context | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GLM-4.6V-Flash | Zhipu via NovAI | $0.00 | $0.00 | 128K | FREE |
| Qwen-Turbo | Alibaba via NovAI | $0.06 | $0.20 | 128K | Budget |
| DeepSeek-v3.2 | DeepSeek via NovAI | $0.20 | $0.40 | 128K | Budget |
| Qwen-Plus | Alibaba via NovAI | $0.20 | $0.60 | 128K | Budget |
| MiniMax-Text-01 | MiniMax via NovAI | $0.20 | $1.60 | 1M | Budget |
| GLM-4.6V | Zhipu via NovAI | $0.40 | $1.20 | 128K | Budget |
| Qwen-Max | Alibaba via NovAI | $0.40 | $1.20 | 32K | Budget |
| Moonshot-128K | Kimi via NovAI | $0.80 | $0.80 | 128K | Budget |
| GPT-4o Mini | OpenAI | $0.15 | $0.60 | 128K | Budget |
| Gemini 1.5 Flash | $0.075 | $0.30 | 1M | Budget | |
| GPT-4o | OpenAI | $2.50 | $10.00 | 128K | Premium |
| Claude 3.5 Sonnet | Anthropic | $3.00 | $15.00 | 200K | Premium |
| Claude 3 Opus | Anthropic | $15.00 | $75.00 | 200K | Premium |
| GPT-4 Turbo | OpenAI | $10.00 | $30.00 | 128K | Premium |
| Gemini 1.5 Pro | $1.25 | $5.00 | 2M | Mid |
Green rows = available through NovAI with one API key. Prices as of March 2026.
| Scenario | DeepSeek (NovAI) | GPT-4o | Claude 3.5 | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1K chat messages/day (30 days) | $1.80 | $37.50 | $54.00 | up to 96% |
| 10K code reviews/month | $6.00 | $125.00 | $180.00 | up to 97% |
| Document processing (100 docs/day) | $0.90 | $18.75 | $27.00 | up to 97% |
| AI chatbot (50K users/month) | $30 | $625 | $900 | up to 97% |
| Use Case | Best Budget Pick | Price | Premium Alternative | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Code generation | DeepSeek-v3.2 | $0.20/$0.40 | Claude 3.5 Sonnet | $3/$15 |
| Translation (CN/EN) | Qwen-Max | $0.40/$1.20 | GPT-4o | $2.5/$10 |
| High-volume classify | Qwen-Turbo | $0.06/$0.20 | GPT-4o Mini | $0.15/$0.60 |
| Document analysis | Moonshot-128K | $0.80/$0.80 | Claude 3.5 | $3/$15 |
| Ultra-long context | MiniMax-Text-01 | $0.20/$1.60 | Gemini 1.5 Pro | $1.25/$5 |
| Free testing | GLM-4.6V-Flash | FREE | - | - |
Don't pick one model. Use the cheapest model that's good enough for each task. Send classification to Qwen-Turbo ($0.06/1M), code to DeepSeek ($0.20/1M), and only use premium models when the task genuinely requires it.
With NovAI, all 8 Chinese models are accessible through one OpenAI-compatible API key. You route by changing the model parameter — no separate accounts, no separate SDKs.
Free to sign up. Free model included. $5 minimum top-up for paid models.
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