Re:Closed AI models dominate the price-performance frontier
by rbehrends on Friday November 06, 2026 @02:25AM
(#50389242)
In theory, yes. In practice, this comes with a few caveats.
First, OpenCode and Command Code offer you basically 6x-10x usage for some models (not all, though, look at the exact rates per model). That's a very similar model.
Second, while Anthropic subscriptions on paper offer the most generous usage per dollar spent [1], this comes with a few caveats. First, they are the most expensive of all models in cost/task. Second, if you use Claude Code non-interactively (claude -p "..." or SDK/ACP mode), they apparently charge you 70% more usage; you have to use their CLI tool in the terminal to get the full benefit of a subscription. Also, Anthropic has the lowest cache TTL at 5 minutes, which can really hurt for interactive use. Contrast that with OpenAI's default of 30 minutes (and according to a recent post by Tibo, apparently 12 hours for subscriptions, though I haven't verified it myself) or the fact that DeepSeek caches prompts for three days (which is a major reason for their extremely high cache hit rate and how cheap they are in practice), and it doesn't look like THAT great of a deal in comparison anymore. It is of course still good value for money, just not as great as it may look at first glance.
[1] At least before the recent usage bump to OpenAI's Pro plans, though that doesn't seem to include the Plus plan if that is what you are on.
First, OpenCode and Command Code offer you basically 6x-10x usage for some models (not all, though, look at the exact rates per model). That's a very similar model.
Second, while Anthropic subscriptions on paper offer the most generous usage per dollar spent [1], this comes with a few caveats. First, they are the most expensive of all models in cost/task. Second, if you use Claude Code non-interactively (claude -p "..." or SDK/ACP mode), they apparently charge you 70% more usage; you have to use their CLI tool in the terminal to get the full benefit of a subscription. Also, Anthropic has the lowest cache TTL at 5 minutes, which can really hurt for interactive use. Contrast that with OpenAI's default of 30 minutes (and according to a recent post by Tibo, apparently 12 hours for subscriptions, though I haven't verified it myself) or the fact that DeepSeek caches prompts for three days (which is a major reason for their extremely high cache hit rate and how cheap they are in practice), and it doesn't look like THAT great of a deal in comparison anymore. It is of course still good value for money, just not as great as it may look at first glance.
[1] At least before the recent usage bump to OpenAI's Pro plans, though that doesn't seem to include the Plus plan if that is what you are on.