Research guide

Best AI models for research

This page ranks reasoning-oriented models that can hold larger prompts and source sets, making them better candidates for research, synthesis, and analytical workflows.

Live signalReasoning support for deeper analysis and synthesis
Live signalLarge context windows for notes, sources, and long prompts
Live signalPaid pricing visibility for repeated research traffic
Live signalUseful for planning, synthesis, and multi-step analytical tasks
Fast answer

Start with the live shortlist, then validate the route

There is overlap, but research pages weight reasoning and long-context analysis more heavily than tool-heavy coding workflows.

Data source and freshness

Catalog-backed, not a static price sheet

TVP refreshes this page from the live OpenRouter model catalog. This render used 428 public model records and was synchronized Jul 14, 2026, 9:34 PM UTC. Pricing, availability, and context values can change.

Verify the exact route before sending production traffic, then use the linked model and provider pages as the source for current values. Read the TVP data methodology.

Shortlist

Top live candidates right now

x-ai

xAI: Grok 4.20

Grok 4.20 is a reasoning model from xAI with industry-leading speed and agentic tool calling capabilities. It combines the lowest hallucination rate on the market with strict prompt adherance, delivering...

Context2,000,000
Input$1.25
Output$2.50

2,000,000 token context and analytical capability make this a stronger fit for research and synthesis.

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  • tools
  • structured
x-ai

xAI: Grok 4.20 Multi-Agent

Grok 4.20 Multi-Agent is a variant of xAI’s Grok 4.20 designed for collaborative, agent-based workflows. Multiple agents operate in parallel to conduct deep research, coordinate tool use, and synthesize information...

Context2,000,000
Input$1.25
Output$2.50

2,000,000 token context and analytical capability make this a stronger fit for research and synthesis.

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  • structured
openai

OpenAI: GPT-5.6 Luna

GPT-5.6 Luna is a fast, cost-efficient model in OpenAI's GPT-5.6 series. It is suited for high-volume, latency-sensitive tasks such as chat, classification, and lightweight agentic workflows, providing capable reasoning for...

Context1,050,000
Input$1.00
Output$6.00

1,050,000 token context and analytical capability make this a stronger fit for research and synthesis.

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  • tools
  • structured
openai

OpenAI: GPT-5.6 Luna Pro

GPT-5.6 Luna Pro is the same underlying model as [GPT-5.6 Luna](TVP catalog), served with `reasoning.mode` set to `pro` for higher-quality responses on complex tasks. Learn more in OpenAI's docs: https://developers.openai.com/api/docs/guides/reasoning#reasoning-mode

Context1,050,000
Input$1.00
Output$6.00

1,050,000 token context and analytical capability make this a stronger fit for research and synthesis.

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  • image
  • text
  • tools
  • structured
openai

OpenAI: GPT-5.4

GPT-5.4 is OpenAI’s latest frontier model, unifying the Codex and GPT lines into a single system. It features a 1M+ token context window (922K input, 128K output) with support for...

Context1,050,000
Input$2.50
Output$15.00

1,050,000 token context and analytical capability make this a stronger fit for research and synthesis.

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  • image
  • file
  • tools
  • structured
FAQ

What buyers usually ask

Are research models the same as coding models?

There is overlap, but research pages weight reasoning and long-context analysis more heavily than tool-heavy coding workflows.

Why compare price on research models?

Research workflows can become expensive quickly because they often require long prompts and multiple passes. Live pricing helps keep the shortlist realistic.

Next step

Use the guide, then validate the route in live TVP data.

TVP keeps the shortlist connected to the current catalog, provider coverage, and token pricing so buyers can move from research to routing without starting over.