Decide what your agent must complete.
Group tasks by the behavior they require. This makes the model shortlist smaller and the cost comparison more useful.
| Agent work | Model requirement | What to measure |
|---|---|---|
| Routine summaries | Follows format and preserves key facts | Accepted summaries and cost per run |
| Tool workflows | Reliable calls in the selected API format | Completed workflows and extra attempts |
| Long conversations | Sufficient context for the retained history | Completion as history grows |
| Complex reasoning | Meets task-specific quality criteria | Accepted outcomes and total task cost |
Use specifications to narrow the list, then test the client.
For recurring summaries, measure one run and multiply by the actual schedule. For a tool workflow, include a complete tool round trip and recovery from a rejected action. For long conversations, test the retained history as well as a fresh session. A publisher input specification alone does not establish OpenClaw tool behavior.
| Keep with your result | Record |
|---|---|
| Client and configuration | Client version, exact model ID and API adapter |
| Acceptance | Completed workflow and expected tool result |
| Cost | All requests, retries and billed token categories |
| Reproducibility | Test date, instructions and sanitized failure details |
Compare models that meet those requirements.
Filter by publisher or image input, then compare each model’s context limit and agent API. Inspect the current rates and compare candidates with the same tasks.
Input types and context limits describe the publisher’s model. The agent API column gives the recommended request format. Open a model for its configuration and source links.
Codimixa rates checked: 2026-10-31T15:06:07.868Z. Publisher references checked: October 20, 2026.
Test repeated use before making a default.
Run a small representative sample across the tasks the agent will repeat. Record the accepted result, failed attempts and total API cost. Include tasks that require tools, not only conversational replies.
Use a lower rate across the work you keep.
Selected model rates start at 0.3× the matching official API reference. Apply the specific model’s rates to your measured task frequency to estimate the ongoing cost.
A FEW DETAILS
Before you continue
Should every task use the same model?
A single default is easier to manage. Add a separate model only when a task’s requirements or measured cost justify the extra configuration.
Is the cheapest token rate enough to choose?
Also measure whether the model finishes the workflow. Extra turns or failed tool calls can consume more tokens than the initial price comparison suggests.