Compare LLM API providers on model coverage, token prices, budget controls, and OpenAI-compatible migration before you commit traffic.
Picking an LLM API provider is a lock-in decision that outlives any single model. What actually differs between providers is the mix: which model families are covered, how input and output tokens are priced, whether you get budgets and BYOK, and how much of your app code has to change if you move. Run the comparison the way production teams do: shortlist models that fit the workload, check unit economics on /pricing, run the numbers on /tools/llm-cost-calculator, and keep the exit cheap by staying on an OpenAI-compatible endpoint. For narrower cuts, see /best/cheap-llm-api for price-first picks, /best/openrouter-alternatives for marketplace-style comparisons, and /best/openai-compatible-gateway for gateway setups.
Source basis: NextModel curated catalog, provider public pricing, and OpenRouter metadata when available. · Updated 2026-09-04
How to use this shortlist
Fit score
Start with the shortlist, then test real prompts and compare monthly cost before production routing in Canada.
DeepSeek-V4-1-Flash-GLB via NextModel: 1M-token context; $0.3 / 1M tokens in / $1.20 / 1M tokens out per 1M tokens. Capabilities: streaming.
Whisper Large V3 Turbo via NextModel: context unpublished; $0 / 1M tokens in / $0 / 1M tokens out per 1M tokens. Capabilities: streaming.
Gemini 4 Argon via NextModel: 1M-token context; $2 / 1M tokens in / $10 / 1M tokens out per 1M tokens. Capabilities: streaming, tool, json.
Claude Haiku 5.5 via NextModel: 1M-token context; Starting at $0.1 / 1M tokens in / $0.5 / 1M tokens out per 1M tokens. Capabilities: streaming, tool, json.
Comparison table
Use this view when narrowing a production shortlist, building a fallback policy, or comparing model economics for Canada-based teams.
| Model | Provider | Input | Output | Context | Capabilities | Best for | Latency | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeepSeek-V4-1-Flash-GLBdeepseek/deepseek-v4-1-flash-glb | DeepSeek | $0.3 / 1M tokens | $1.20 / 1M tokens | 1M | Streaming | Chinese Q&A, general chat | 1557-3097ms | Catalog | Platform curated |
| Whisper Large V3 Turboopenai/whisper-large-v3-turbo | OpenAI | $0 / 1M tokens | $0 / 1M tokens | — | Streaming | General chat via OpenAI, API workloads | 0-0ms | Catalog | Platform curated |
| Gemini 4 Argongoogle/gemini-4-argon | $2 / 1M tokens | $10 / 1M tokens | 1M | StreamingTool callingJSON modeVision | image understanding, multimodal chat | 2974-10589ms | Catalog | Platform curated | |
| Claude Haiku 5.5anthropic/claude-haiku-5.5 | Anthropic | Starting at $0.1 / 1M tokens | $0.5 / 1M tokens | 1M | StreamingTool callingJSON modeVision | image understanding, multimodal chat | 1321-2017ms | Catalog | Platform curated |
| Doubao Seedance 2.5doubao/doubao-seedance-2-5-260628 | Doubao | $0.225 / s | — | — | StreamingVision | image understanding, multimodal chat | 0-0ms | Catalog | Platform curated |
| Dreamina-Seedance 2.0 Fastdreamina/dreamina-seedance-2-0-fast-260128 | Dreamina | $0.122 / s | — | — | StreamingVision | image understanding, multimodal chat | 0-0ms | Catalog | Platform curated |
| Dreamina Seedance 2.5dreamina/dreamina-seedance-2-5-260628 | Dreamina | $0.234 / s | — | — | StreamingVision | image understanding, multimodal chat | 0-0ms | Catalog | Platform curated |
| Gemini 3 Pro Image (Nano Banana Pro) gemini/gemini-3-pro-image | Gemini | $0.314 / image | — | — | StreamingVision | image understanding, multimodal chat | 0-0ms | Catalog | Platform curated |
FAQ
Model coverage for your workload, input and output token prices, context limits, budget and BYOK controls, and how observable each request is after the fact. A long model list without spend controls often costs more than a shorter curated one.
Direct calls mean one contract per provider and N integrations to maintain. A gateway keeps one OpenAI-compatible base URL, centralizes fallbacks and budgets, and makes switching providers a config change instead of a rewrite.
Compare input and output rates per million tokens for the models you will actually use, then estimate blended monthly cost with your real traffic mix. Sticker price on one model says little about your bill.
If both sides speak the OpenAI API shape, migration is usually a base_url and key change. Verify streaming, tool calls, JSON mode, and vision on the exact model IDs you plan to use before cutover.
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