Best AI model for coding help if you’re not a developer
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The verdict
- Scores 69 on coding, #14 of 33 models we track for this job.
- $1.20 per 1,000 requests.
- Also the cheapest model that passes our test for this job.
- Scores 100 on coding, the highest of 33 models we track for this job.
- $42.00 per 1,000 requests: the extra $40.80 per 1,000 buys 31 more points.
- Reads up to 1,000K tokens at once.
If you don’t code for a living, you need a model that gets it right first time and explains what it did. Mistakes cost you more than the tokens, because you can’t always spot them.
How we tested
The coding score is 60% Arena WebDev (building small web apps) and 40% Arena coding votes. A request is about 3,000 tokens in (your files and question) and 1,500 out.
Scores are provisional until our own test rig runs these tasks. A model “passes our test” for this job at a score of 55 or more.
Scores and cost at your volume
| Model | Score | Passes | 1k requests a month | 10k requests a month | 100k requests a month |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claude Opus 5.5 | 100 | Yes | $42.00 | $420 | $4200 |
| Claude Fable 5.1 | 89 | Yes | $105 | $1050 | $10500 |
| Claude Sonnet 5.5 | 87 | Yes | $21.00 | $210 | $2100 |
| Claude Opus 5 | 84 | Yes | $52.50 | $525 | $5250 |
| Gemini 4 Argon | 84 | Yes | $21.00 | $210 | $2100 |
| GPT-6 Astra | 82 | Yes | $105 | $1050 | $10500 |
| Kimi K3.1 Pro | 79 | Yes | $21.00 | $210 | $2100 |
| GPT-6.1 Sol | 78 | Yes | $21.00 | $210 | $2100 |
| Muse Wonder | 76 | Yes | $42.00 | $420 | $4200 |
| Muse Spark 1.3 | 75 | Yes | $10.13 | $101 | $1013 |
| Qwen3.8 Max | 75 | Yes | $15.00 | $150 | $1500 |
| Kimi K3 · open | 74 | Yes | $31.50 | $315 | $3150 |
One request is about 3,000 tokens in and 1,500 out, at list prices. Try your own numbers in the cost calculator.
Who should pick something else
- If you can’t check the code yourself, take the premium pick: fewer subtle bugs matters more than price.
- For one-off spreadsheet formulas, see the spreadsheets guide; smaller models do fine.
Questions
Which AI is best for coding beginners?
The best overall pick below scores highest on coding among the models we track, at a price that suits occasional use.
Do I need a paid plan?
The costs here are API prices per request. Chat apps price by subscription; the model behind them is what this guide ranks.
Changes to this guide
- 25 Oct 2026: First version, on provisional scores from Arena and Epoch AI.