The AI Model Scout
An agent that scans the AI model landscape and answers one question: which model gives you the most intelligence per dollar to build with, right now.
Last updated: July 13, 2026 · Data source: https://artificialanalysis.ai/
Best value model right now
Grok 4.5 (high)
SpaceXAIHighest intelligence-to-cost ratio for production use
- Intelligence
- 54
- Input
- $2.00/M tokens
- Output
- $6.00/M tokens
- Speed
- 121 tok/s
- Context
- 500K
- Value score
- 13.5
Why this pick
Grok 4.5 (high) is the clear winner for best value. While it ranks 5th globally in absolute intelligence (score of 54), it costs only $2.00 per million input tokens and $6.00 per million output tokens. This makes it 7.5x cheaper than the #1 model (Claude Fable 5) and over 4x cheaper than the #2 model (GPT-5.6 Sol), while only trailing them by a few points. Furthermore, it is significantly faster than the other top 5 models, outputting at 120.7 tokens per second.
What changed since the last scan
Compared against the previous analysis from July 10, 2026
New in the ranking
- Claude Fable 5 (with fallback) (Anthropic)
- GPT-5.6 Sol (max) (OpenAI)
- Claude Opus 4.8 (max) (Anthropic)
Top models by intelligence
The most capable models available via API, with the numbers that matter for engineering decisions.
| Model | Provider | Intelligence | Input | Output | Speed | Context | Value score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claude Fable 5 (with fallback) | Anthropic | 60 | $10.00 | $50.00 | 60 | 1M | 2.0 |
| GPT-5.6 Sol (max) | OpenAI | 59 | $5.00 | $30.00 | 69 | 1M | 3.4 |
| Claude Opus 4.8 (max) | Anthropic | 56 | $5.00 | $25.00 | 56 | 1M | 3.7 |
| GPT-5.5 (xhigh) | OpenAI | 55 | $5.00 | $30.00 | 74 | 922K | 3.1 |
| Grok 4.5 (high)Best Value | SpaceXAI | 54 | $2.00 | $6.00 | 121 | 500K | 13.5 |
Prices are USD per million tokens. Speed is output tokens per second.
Key insights
- Top model Claude Fable 5 (with fallback) has Intelligence Index of 60.0
- Best value: Grok 4.5 (high) with value score of 13.5
- Fastest model: Grok 4.5 (high) at 120.7 tokens/sec
- Fastest model:
- Grok 4.5 (high)
- Largest context window:
- Claude Fable 5 (with fallback)
- Newcomers to watch:
- Claude Fable 5, GPT-5.6 Sol, Grok 4.5, Muse Spark 1.1
Price trends
Prices for frontier intelligence continue to drop rapidly. While the absolute top models maintain premium pricing ($5-$10 input / $25-$50 output), models just slightly below the frontier (like Grok 4.5) are driving prices down to the $2/$6 range.
Quality vs. cost
Average combined price among top models: $16.80/M tokens. Best value option offers Grok 4.5 (high) with optimal quality-to-cost ratio.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the best value model chosen?
The agent combines each model's Intelligence Index score with its blended API price per million tokens. The model with the highest quality-to-cost ratio that is publicly available via API wins. It's the model you should try first when cost matters in production.
How often is this analysis updated?
The agent runs regularly and re-evaluates the entire model landscape — new releases, price changes, and benchmark updates. The 'what changed' section highlights exactly what moved between scans.
Is this the same as a model leaderboard?
No. Leaderboards rank raw capability. This agent answers an engineering question: which model should you integrate today to get the most intelligence for the least money. Sometimes that's the top model; usually it isn't.