Doubao Seed 1.6 Flash
Doubao 1.6 Flash
Very possibly the cheapest usable model in the world right now.
Updated
The read
Seed 1.6 Flash exists to make token cost a rounding error, and it succeeds: the input price is low enough that running it across an entire dataset barely registers, and throughput is high. It is a previous-generation small model and it answers like one, so it belongs on mechanical work with a checkable right answer rather than anywhere near a customer-facing judgement call.
Where it shines
- Among the lowest per-token prices available anywhere
- Very high throughput for batch work
- Long context despite the tiny price
Worth knowing first
- Previous-generation quality, and it shows on anything subtle
- Chinese-hosted, with the data policy questions that brings
Index score
71.2
Provisional. This score is read from the product's public capability, not from the one-prompt rebuild the fully reviewed entries went through, so treat it as a placing rather than a verdict.
- Rank
- 48 of 53
- Builds
- LLMs
- Category
- Small and fast
- Output
- Text and images in, text out
- Pricing
- Paid only
- Best for
- Bulk processing where cost dominates every other concern
Scores are our own editorial judgement, weighted craft 55, speed 10, control 15 and value 20.
Also worth a look
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- 31Mistral Small 4Mistral Small 4ProvisionalThe best small open model to build a product on, and the licence has no catch.Small and fastFree tier78.1
