Which AI models should a small team test for coding?
A current shortlist for software work, with the evidence behind it and a way to watch your own model.
Where to start today
Claude Fable 5.1 leads this published-evidence mix. Start a comparison here if you're reconsidering your setup. A higher index isn't proof that switching will improve your work.
Coding carries three quarters of this mix. Reasoning contributes the remaining quarter. This is a starting point for a team doing implementation and debugging; change the priorities if your work differs.
| Rank | Model | Index | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Claude Fable 5.1 | 83.17 | 8 |
| 2 | Claude Opus 5.5 | 80.68 | 7 |
| 3 | GPT-6 Astra | 77.40 | 9 |
| 4 | Claude Fable 5 | 76.45 | 10 |
| 5 | Claude Sonnet 5.5 | 73.39 | 5 |
Leading open-weight option: DeepSeek V4.1 Flash. Downloadable weights don't imply an unrestricted licence or affordable hosting.
Adjust the mix and save it to watch your current model. No account needed. Get the weekly email for reports and confirmed releases; we skip quiet weeks.
Before you switch
Compare a candidate with your current model on a recent bug and a feature that crosses files. Keep the prompts, tools and time budget the same. Check whether the tests pass, how much repair you do, and the actual cost before changing your default.
What this evidence misses
These benchmarks don't measure performance in your repository, with your tools, or over a long session. Agent and reasoning settings vary between published tests. Use the ranking to decide what to try, not what to ship.
Each capability needs at least two published tests to earn a rank. Coverage and test settings can differ between models; small score gaps may be noise. The comparison with your current model uses shared tests. Prices and production latency aren't included in this mix.
Published benchmark sources: ARC-AGI-2 · Chess Puzzles · DeepSWE · FrontierCode · GSO-Bench · LiveBench: Coding + Agentic Coding · LiveBench: Reasoning · MirrorCode · Mystery Game Puzzles · SimpleBench
What changed
- Oct 19, 2026: A fresh model comparison for coding and document work
- Oct 12, 2026: A fresh model comparison for coding
Last report check: Oct 19, 2026. Only reports affecting this guide appear above.