Current Model Recommendations (Updated July 25, 2026)
LaoZhang API supports 200+ mainstream AI models. This page highlights current text, reasoning, image, and video choices, including GPT-5.6 Sol / Terra / Luna, Claude Opus 5 / Fable 5 / Sonnet 5, Gemini 3.6 Flash / 3.5 Flash-Lite, Grok 4.5, GPT-Image-2, Nano Banana 2 / Lite, and Seedance 2.0.Distinguish provider releases from account availability
A provider announcement does not mean every LaoZhang API token group can already call that model. Confirm model IDs, token type, region, price, and billing behavior on the live console model list. Product names are not automatically valid API model IDs.
🔥 Currently Recommended Models
Recommendations below combine provider information available through July 25, 2026 with LaoZhang API’s current integration status. For the complete model list and live pricing, visit the model catalog and pricing page or console pricing page.Context figures below use each provider’s native API limit. LaoZhang API or another gateway may expose a lower limit for a particular route, region, or plan.
Model Categories
🤖 OpenAI Series
GPT-5.6 Series (Latest) 🔥
GPT-5.5 Series (Previous-Generation Compatibility)
GPT-5.1 Series (November 2025) 🔥
GPT-5 Series (August 2025)
Reasoning Models
GPT-4 Series
Image Generation
Video Generation
🎭 Claude Series (Anthropic)
Claude 5 Latest Series 🔥
Claude 4.8 / 4.7 / 4.6 / Haiku Compatibility Series
Claude 4.5 Series (Classic High Performance)
Claude 4 Series (May 2025)
Claude 3.7 Series (February 2025)
Claude 3.5 Series (Classic)
🌟 Google Gemini Series
Gemini 3.6 / 3.5 Series (Latest) 🔥
For new projects, evaluate
gemini-3.6-flash as the main Flash route and gemini-3.5-flash-lite for cost- and latency-sensitive high-volume work. Keep gemini-3.5-flash and gemini-3.1-flash-lite for existing integrations, and use only model IDs available in the console.Gemini 2.5 Series (2025)
Latest Gemini Image Models (Nano Banana) 🔥
Gemini 2.0 Series (Shut Down)
gemini-2.0-flash-001 and gemini-2.0-flash-lite-001 were shut down in June 2026. Do not use these IDs for new integrations.
Gemini 1.5 Series (Historical Compatibility)
Gemini 1.5 is no longer recommended for new integrations. Prefergemini-3.6-flash, gemini-3.5-flash-lite, gemini-3.1-pro-preview, or the stable gemini-2.5-pro.
🚀 xAI Grok Series
Grok Imagine Image and Video
These are official xAI model IDs. Confirm whether the corresponding image or video token group is available in the LaoZhang API console.
🔍 DeepSeek Series
🐘 Chinese Models
Alibaba Qwen 3.8 / 3.7 Series (Latest) 🔥
Legacy aliases such as
qwq-*, qwen-max, qwen-plus, and qwen-turbo may remain useful for existing projects, but they no longer represent the latest Qwen generation. Check the LaoZhang API console for callable IDs.Alibaba Qwen Coder 3 Series (Coding) 🔥
Other Chinese Models
💰 Pricing Information
Billing Method
- Pay-as-you-go: Charged based on actual token usage
- No minimum charge: Use what you pay for, balance never expires
- Real-time deduction: Fees deducted immediately after each call
Pricing Advantage
- Direct from official sources with competitive rates
- Enterprise pricing terms available through support
- New users receive $0.5 free trial credit
View Real-time Pricing
Visit LaoZhang API Console Pricing Page to view the latest prices for all models.🛠️ Usage Recommendations
Model Selection Guide
Programming Development- Primary: GPT-5.6 Sol, Claude Opus 5, Claude Sonnet 5, Grok 4.5
- Alternatives: GPT-5.6 Terra, Claude Opus 4.8, Gemini 3.6 Flash, Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview, Qwen3 Coder 480B
- Primary: GPT-5.6 Sol, Claude Opus 5, Claude Sonnet 5
- Alternatives: GPT-5.6 Terra, Grok 4.5, Gemini 3.6 Flash, Qwen 3.7 Max, Kimi K3
- Primary: Gemini 3.6 Flash, Claude Sonnet 5, Claude Haiku 4.5
- Alternatives: GPT-5.6 Terra, Grok 4.3, Gemini 3.5 Flash, Gemini 2.5 Flash
- Cost-focused: Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite, GPT-5.6 Luna, Gemini 2.5 Flash-Lite
- Top quality: GPT-Image-2, Gemini 3 Pro Image (Nano Banana Pro), Flux Kontext Max
- Balanced: Gemini 3.1 Flash Image (Nano Banana 2), GPT-Image-2 VIP
- Cost-focused: Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite Image (Nano Banana 2 Lite), Gemini 2.5 Flash Image
- Primary: Seedance 2.0,
veo-3.1-generate-preview, Wan 2.7, Sora 2 Pro - Fast iteration: Seedance 2.0 Fast,
veo-3.1-fast-generate-preview - OpenAI route: current official forwarding uses
sora-2/sora-2-pro; oldsora_video2*and character aliases are only for migration diagnostics
- Primary: Claude Opus 5, Claude Fable 5, GPT-5.6 Sol, Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview
- Alternatives: GPT-5.6 Terra, Claude Sonnet 5, Grok 4.3, Gemini 3.6 Flash
Cost Optimization Tips
- Tiered Usage: Use lower-cost models for simple tasks, premium models for complex ones
- Test and Optimize: Test with smaller models first, then scale up as needed
- Batch Processing: Choose Nano or Mini versions for large volumes of similar tasks
- Cache and Reuse: Cache results for repeated queries
🔗 Related Resources
- Model Comparison Testing - Image generation comparison
- Real-time Pricing - Latest pricing information
- Model Catalog and Pricing - Current
claude-opus-5price, cache-read price, groups, and compatible endpoints - API Documentation - Detailed interface specifications
- Quick Start - Integration guide
- OpenAI GPT-5.6 Model Directory - Official Sol, Terra, and Luna model IDs and context details
- OpenAI GPT-5.6 Guide - Alias, reasoning effort, and Pro-mode details
- OpenAI Image Generation Guide - GPT-Image-2 size, quality, and output constraints
- Anthropic Claude Fable 5 Announcement - Official model ID and availability scope
- Anthropic Claude Opus 4.8 Announcement - Official model ID and 1M context details
- Anthropic Claude Sonnet 5 Announcement - Official model ID and release status
- Google Gemini 3.6 Flash - Official capabilities and context details for the latest stable Flash model
- Google Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite - Official details for the latest stable lightweight model
- Google Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite Image - Official 1K and 14-aspect-ratio details for Nano Banana 2 Lite
- xAI Grok 4.5 Model Page - Official model ID and context details
- xAI Grok Imagine Image Quality - Current high-quality image model and aliases
- xAI Grok Imagine Video 1.5 - Current video model and its image-input-only limitation
- DeepSeek API Changelog - V4 models and legacy alias retirement dates
- Alibaba Cloud Model Studio Text Models - Qwen, DeepSeek, Kimi, and GLM parameters
- Moonshot Kimi Model List - Official K3 and K2.7 Code IDs and context limits
- Zhipu GLM-5.2 Documentation - Native context and output limits
- MiniMax Model Release Notes - MiniMax M3 release and capabilities
- Sora 2 Official API Forwarding - Current LaoZhang API route and token requirements
- Veo 3.1 Official API Forwarding - Current LaoZhang API model IDs and token requirements
Model list is continuously updated. We promptly add newly released excellent models. For specific model needs or bulk requirements, please contact support.