Best AI Coding Models Compared: Claude, GPT, Gemini, Grok & GLM (2025)

Choosing the right AI model for coding can dramatically impact your productivity, code quality, and development costs. With the rapid evolution of large language models, developers now have more choices than ever—each with distinct strengths and trade-offs.

In this guide, we'll compare the leading AI coding models available in 2025: Claude 4.5 (Opus, Sonnet, Haiku), GPT 5.1 Codex, Gemini 3 (Pro & Flash), Grok Code, and GLM 4.7. Whether you're building complex systems, running agentic workflows, or just need quick code completions, this comparison will help you find the perfect fit.

Pro Tip: All of these models are available in Onuro, so you can switch between them seamlessly based on your task requirements and budget.

Quick Comparison Overview

Model	Quality	Speed	Price	Best For
Claude 4.5 Opus	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	Medium	$$$$$	Cutting-edge quality
Claude 4.5 Sonnet	⭐⭐⭐⭐½	Fast	$$$	Interactive coding
Claude 4.5 Haiku	⭐⭐⭐½	Very Fast	$$	Quick tasks
GPT 5.1 Codex	⭐⭐⭐⭐½	Slow	$$	Long-running tasks
Gemini 3 Pro	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Fast	$$	Balanced option
Gemini 3 Flash	⭐⭐⭐½	Very Fast	$	Non-agentic tasks
Grok Code	⭐⭐⭐½	Very Fast	$	Agentic coding
GLM 4.7	⭐⭐⭐½	Medium	$	Budget agentic

Claude 4.5 Family (Anthropic)

Claude 4.5 Opus

Most Powerful

Claude 4.5 Opus is the most powerful coding model available today—by a significant margin. It excels at complex reasoning, understanding intricate codebases, and producing high-quality, well-architected solutions. If you need the absolute best results and cost is not your primary concern, Opus is the clear choice.

Strengths

• Unmatched code quality and accuracy
• Superior reasoning for complex problems
• Excellent at understanding large codebases
• Best for architectural decisions

Considerations

• Most expensive option
• May be overkill for simple tasks
• Slower than smaller models

Claude 4.5 Sonnet

Best Balance

Claude 4.5 Sonnet is arguably the second most powerful model for coding tasks. It offers an excellent balance between quality and cost, making it ideal for interactive coding sessions where you need quick, high-quality responses without the premium price tag of Opus.

Strengths

• Excellent price/performance ratio
• Fast enough for interactive use
• Near-Opus quality for most tasks
• Great for day-to-day coding

Considerations

• Still pricier than budget options
• Slight quality drop from Opus on complex tasks

Claude 4.5 Haiku

Haiku is Anthropic's speed-optimized model, designed for quick tasks and high-volume operations. While not as capable as its larger siblings, it's fast and affordable for simpler coding tasks.

Strengths

• Very fast response times
• Cost-effective for simple tasks
• Good for code explanations

Considerations

• Limited for complex coding
• Less accurate on nuanced problems

GPT 5.1 Codex (OpenAI)

GPT 5.1 Codex

Best Value Power

GPT 5.1 Codex is very powerful with an excellent price/performance ratio. It's particularly well-suited for large-scoped, long-running tasks where you can afford to wait for results. The trade-off? It's notably slower than other options.

Strengths

• Excellent price/performance ratio
• Very capable for complex tasks
• Great for batch processing
• Strong reasoning capabilities

Considerations

• Significantly slower than alternatives
• Not ideal for interactive coding
• Latency can disrupt workflow

Best Use Case: Large refactoring projects, code migrations, complex feature implementations where you can submit the task and work on something else while waiting.

Gemini 3 Family (Google)

Gemini 3 Pro

Gemini 3 Pro is a powerful and balanced option from Google. It performs well across a variety of coding tasks and offers competitive pricing. However, it doesn't quite lead in any particular category—it's a solid all-rounder without a standout specialty.

Strengths

• Good balance of quality and speed
• Competitive pricing
• Solid multimodal capabilities
• Reliable for general coding

Considerations

• Not a leader in any specific area
• Jack of all trades, master of none
• May feel underwhelming vs specialists

Gemini 3 Flash

Gemini 3 Flash is impressively intelligent for its price and speed. It's an excellent choice for non-agentic tasks where you need quick, smart responses. However, it struggles in agentic environments where autonomous decision-making is required.

Strengths

• Excellent price/intelligence ratio
• Very fast responses
• Great for code explanations
• Good for simple completions

Considerations

• Poor performance in agentic workflows
• Struggles with multi-step tasks
• Not recommended for autonomous coding

⚠️ Note: If you're using an AI coding agent or autonomous workflow, consider Grok Code or GLM instead of Gemini Flash.

Grok Code (xAI)

Grok Code

Best Mini Model

Grok Code is the best mini model for simple agentic coding. It's cheap, fast, and performs surprisingly well across a variety of tasks. If you need an affordable AI that can handle autonomous coding workflows without breaking the bank, Grok Code is your go-to.

Strengths

• Very affordable pricing
• Fast response times
• Great for agentic workflows
• Good overall performance
• Best-in-class for budget agents

Considerations

• Less capable on complex reasoning
• Not suitable for enterprise-scale tasks
• Quality gap vs premium models

GLM 4.7

GLM 4.7 offers excellent price/performance for agentic coding, actually performing a bit better than Grok Code on many tasks. The trade-off is that it's slower relative to its price point, which may impact your workflow if speed is critical.

Strengths

• Great price/performance ratio
• Better quality than Grok Code
• Good for agentic workflows
• Competitive budget option

Considerations

• Slower than expected for price tier
• Speed may frustrate some workflows
• Less ecosystem support

Our Recommendations

Claude 4.5 Opus — Cutting Edge Quality

When you need the absolute best results and quality is paramount. Perfect for complex architectural decisions, difficult debugging, and mission-critical code.

Claude 4.5 Sonnet — Interactive Coding

The sweet spot for day-to-day development. Great balance of price and performance for an interactive coding experience where you're actively collaborating with AI.

Grok Code — Budget Agentic Assistant

Best choice for cheap, fast agentic coding workflows. When you need an AI that can work autonomously without burning through your budget.

GPT 5.1 Codex — Long-Running Tasks

Ideal for large-scoped projects where you can queue up work and let it process. Great value for complex tasks where immediate response isn't required.

Gemini 3 Pro — Balanced Option

A solid all-rounder when you want decent performance across the board. Good choice if you don't have specific requirements but want reliability.

GLM 4.7 — Quality Budget Agent

When you want slightly better performance than Grok Code for agentic tasks and can tolerate the slower speed. Great price/quality ratio.

Try All These Models in Onuro

Switch between Claude, GPT, Gemini, Grok, and GLM seamlessly. Find the perfect model for each task without switching tools.

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Conclusion

The best AI coding model depends entirely on your specific needs. For cutting-edge quality, Claude 4.5 Opus remains unmatched. For daily interactive coding, Claude 4.5 Sonnet offers the best balance. Budget-conscious developers running agentic workflows should consider Grok Code or GLM 4.7.

The good news? You don't have to choose just one. With Onuro, you can switch between all these models based on your current task, budget, and performance requirements. Experiment with different models to find what works best for your workflow.