Model / Choice
An independent coding model field guide

Too many people ask which model they should use, but the right question is: how should I work within the budget I have? This page tries its best to answer that question so you can just build cool shit. These recommendations are based on several benchmarks, including (but not limited to) DeepSWE, CursorBench, and the Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index. It also recommends legit subscription options that are well regarded in the space.

Choose the budget. Build stuff.

  • Daily driverThe model you use for sustained coding work.
  • OrchestratorThe model you use to plan, delegate or divide big chunk of work into smaller pieces.

Choose your budget

Jump to a chosen tier

$15 or less

Quick Glance

Daily Driver Model(s)

  • DeepSeek V4 Flash — Max

Orchestrator Model(s)

  • Not enough budget to really use one. — Sorry.

Recommendation(s)

Option 1

OpenCode Go sub for $10/month.

Subscriptions
Daily Driver Model(s)
  • DeepSeek V4 Flash — Max
Orchestrator Model(s)
  • —

Option 2

ClinePass sub for $10/month.

Subscriptions
Daily Driver Model(s)
  • DeepSeek V4 Flash — Max
Orchestrator Model(s)
  • —

Notes

Leftover $5/month reserved for pay-as-you-go usage

$30 or less

Quick Glance

Daily Driver Model(s)

  • DeepSeek V4 Flash — Max
  • GPT 5.6 Luna — Max
  • GLM-5.3-Flash — Max

Orchestrator Model(s)

  • You can consider using bigger brothers of the daily drivers very very sporadically! — Choose effort by observing your usage.

Recommendation(s)

Option 1

Neuralwatt Basic sub $20/month + OpenCode Go sub for $10/month

Subscriptions
Daily Driver Model(s)
  • DeepSeek V4 Flash — Max
  • GLM-5.3-Flash — Max
Orchestrator Model(s)
  • DeepSeek V4 Pro —
  • GLM 5.3 —

Option 2

Codex Plus sub for $20/month + OpenCode Go sub for $10/month.

Subscriptions
Daily Driver Model(s)
  • GPT 5.6 Luna — Max
Orchestrator Model(s)
  • GPT 5.6 Sol —

Notes

Other recommendations: Synthetic.new Sub Pack ($30), Ollama Cloud Pro plan ($20), GLM Coding Plan ($18/month)

$60 or less

Quick Glance

Daily Driver Model(s)

  • DeepSeek V4 Flash — Max
  • GPT 5.6 Luna — Max
  • GLM-5.3-Flash — Max

Orchestrator Model(s)

  • GPT 5.6 Sol — High
  • GLM 5.3 — Max
  • Kimi K3 — Max

Recommendation(s)

Option 1

Neuralwatt Standard sub $50/month + OpenCode Go sub for $10/month

Subscriptions
Daily Driver Model(s)
  • DeepSeek V4 Flash — Max
  • GLM-5.3-Flash — Max
Orchestrator Model(s)
  • Kimi K3 — Max
  • GLM 5.3 — Max

Option 2

Synthetic.new Sub 2-Pack ($60).

Subscriptions
Daily Driver Model(s)
  • GLM-5.3-Flash — Max
Orchestrator Model(s)
  • Kimi K3 — Max

Notes

Juggling 3 ChatGPT/Codex accounts with $20 subs is an option (albeit cumbersome). Still no Anthropic, blame their usages.

$120 or less

Quick Glance

Daily Driver Model(s)

  • GPT 5.6 Luna — Max
  • GLM-5.3-Flash — Max
  • Opus 5 — Low
  • GPT 5.6 Sol — Medium

Orchestrator Model(s)

  • GPT 5.6 Sol — High
  • GLM 5.3 — Max
  • Opus 5 — High
  • Kimi K3 — Max

Recommendation(s)

Option 1

ChatGPT/Codex Pro $100/month

Subscriptions
Daily Driver Model(s)
  • GPT 5.6 Luna — Max
  • GPT 5.6 Sol — Medium
Orchestrator Model(s)
  • GPT 5.6 Sol — High

Option 2

Claude Max $100/month

Subscriptions
  • Claude Max $100/month

    Just know that Claude usage limits are famously bad

Daily Driver Model(s)
  • Opus 5 — Low
Orchestrator Model(s)
  • Opus 5 — High

Option 3

Neuralwatt Pro $100/month

Subscriptions
Daily Driver Model(s)
  • GLM-5.3-Flash — Max
  • GLM 5.3 — Max
Orchestrator Model(s)
  • Kimi K3 — Max

Option 4

Ollama Cloud Max $100.

Subscriptions
Daily Driver Model(s)
  • GLM-5.3-Flash — Max
  • GLM 5.3 — Max
Orchestrator Model(s)
  • Kimi K3 — Max

Notes

Other recommendations: Synthetic.new Sub 4-Pack ($120), Glm Coding Plan Pro $80

$240 or less

Quick Glance

Daily Driver Model(s)

  • GPT 5.6 Sol — High
  • GLM 5.3 — Max
  • Opus 5 — High

Orchestrator Model(s)

  • Living on the frontier, no separate orchestrator needed, but you can always check out Fable — XHigh

Recommendation(s)

Option 1

ChatGPT/Codex Pro 20x $200/month

Subscriptions
Daily Driver Model(s)
  • GPT 5.6 Sol — High
Orchestrator Model(s)
  • —

Option 2

Claude Max 20x $200/month

Subscriptions
  • Claude Max 20x $200/month

    Just remember that Claude usage limits are famously bad

Daily Driver Model(s)
  • Opus 5 — High
Orchestrator Model(s)
  • Fable — XHigh

Option 3

Neuralwatt Pro $100/month + Ollama Cloud Max $100

Subscriptions
Daily Driver Model(s)
  • GLM 5.3 — Max
  • Kimi K3 — Max
Orchestrator Model(s)
  • —

Notes

Worth checking out: Synthetic.new Sub 5-Pack $150, Glm Coding Plan Pro $168, Kimi Code Plan Vivace $200

Bonus tips · low-budget playbook

Make every token do a job.