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Choosing the Right AI Model

This page helps you choose the right AI model for your task. Models are grouped into Lightweight and Advanced tiers.

  • Lightweight models are fast and low cost, ideal for most development tasks.
  • Advanced models provide deeper reasoning and better results for complex strategies and large code changes.

For most users, a Lightweight model is recommended as the starting point.

Lightweight Models

Model Cost Tier Usage
DeepSeek Lowest Cost Recommended default for most trading indicators and cBots.
Gemini Flash Lowest Cost Ultra-fast model for simple coding tasks and quick iterations.
Codestral Low Cost Reliable coding model optimised for structured code generation.
Mistral Pro Low Cost Balanced reasoning model suitable for larger builds.
GPT 5.1 Codex Mini Low Cost Lightweight OpenAI coding model with strong reliability.

DeepSeek

DeepSeek is an efficient AI coding model designed for programming tasks and technical workflows. It offers excellent results at extremely low cost compared to premium models.

It performs particularly well for cTrader indicators and automated trading robots where logic is clearly defined.

Baseline Build Cost

A single-turn baseline trading robot typically costs around £0.01 or less using DeepSeek.

Best for

  • Default recommended model
  • Building cTrader indicators
  • Building trading robots
  • Refactoring code
  • Rapid iteration and prototyping

Gemini Flash

Gemini Flash Lite is Google’s high-speed lightweight model designed for extremely fast responses and minimal compute cost.

It works best for small tasks and quick code generation where deep reasoning is not required.

Baseline Build Cost

A typical baseline build using Gemini Flash costs well below £0.01.

Best for

  • Small coding tasks
  • Quick fixes and debugging
  • Rapid experimentation
  • Fast responses with minimal credit usage

Codestral

Codestral, developed by Mistral AI, is a specialised coding model built for software development workflows.

It performs consistently well for structured code generation and is a dependable model for trading tool development.

Baseline Build Cost

A baseline trading robot typically costs around £0.01 using Codestral.

Best for

  • Structured code generation
  • Trading robot builds
  • Indicator development
  • General coding workflows

Mistral Pro

Mistral Pro is a more capable reasoning model from Mistral designed for deeper logic and architectural tasks.

It performs well when strategies involve multiple indicators or complex rule sets.

Baseline Build Cost

A typical baseline build costs around £0.01–£0.02.

Best for

  • Multi-indicator strategies
  • Structured trading logic
  • Larger cBot builds
  • Moderate complexity projects

GPT 5.1 Codex Mini

GPT Codex Mini is OpenAI’s lightweight coding model designed for practical software development workflows.

It offers strong reliability and good reasoning while remaining relatively cost efficient.

Baseline Build Cost

A baseline trading robot typically costs around £0.02–£0.03.

Best for

  • Reliable code generation
  • Complex indicators
  • Multi-step trading logic
  • Safe refactoring of existing code

Advanced Models

Advanced models provide stronger reasoning and improved output quality but cost significantly more.

These models should generally be used only when lightweight models struggle with complexity.

Model Cost Tier Usage
Claude Haiku 4.5 Advanced Fast reasoning model with strong instruction following.
Gemini Pro Advanced Google's advanced reasoning model for complex builds.
GPT 5.3 Codex Premium OpenAI flagship coding model for difficult tasks.
Claude Sonnet 4.6 Premium High reasoning capability for complex algorithmic systems.

Claude Haiku 4.5

Claude Haiku provides strong reasoning and excellent instruction following while remaining relatively fast.

It is useful when structured logic or explanation-heavy workflows are required.

Best for

  • Multi-step logic
  • Code explanations
  • Structured trading system builds

Gemini Pro

Gemini Pro is Google’s advanced reasoning model designed for more complex programming tasks.

Compared to Flash, it provides deeper analysis and better handling of large prompts.

Best for

  • Complex trading strategies
  • Multi-component systems
  • Larger code generation tasks

GPT 5.3 Codex

GPT Codex is OpenAI’s most capable coding model and excels at complex reasoning and software architecture.

It is suitable for difficult algorithmic trading strategies and large codebases.

Best for

  • Advanced trading strategies
  • Complex algorithm design
  • Edge-case handling
  • Difficult refactoring tasks

Claude Sonnet 4.6

Claude Sonnet is a high-capability reasoning model focused on consistency and structured outputs.

It performs well on complex systems where careful logical reasoning is required.

Best for

  • Large trading robots
  • Multi-layer trading strategies
  • Advanced algorithm design
  • Cross-platform trading system builds

Summary

  • Start with DeepSeek or Gemini Flash for most tasks.
  • Lightweight models handle 90% of development workflows.
  • Move to advanced models only when complexity requires deeper reasoning.
  • Advanced models cost significantly more and should be used deliberately.