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Choosing the Right AI Model

This page helps you choose the right AI model for your task. Models are listed from lowest cost and fastest to most advanced and expensive. Start at the top and move down only if your task requires more reasoning or complexity.

Model Cost Usage
Codestral Lightweight Default choice for most trading indicators, cBots, panels, and utility tooling builds.
DeepSeek Coder Lightweight Fast iteration model for general coding, simple indicators, bug fixes, and refactoring tasks.
Mistral Large Standard Advanced reasoning for larger trading systems, shared components, and architectural changes.
GPT 5.1 Codex Mini Standard Medium complexity algorithmic trading strategies, indicator development, and code conversions.
Claude Haiku 4.5 Advanced Multi-step logic, explanation heavy workflows, and structured trading tool builds.
GPT-5.2 Codex Advanced Complex algorithmic trading strategies, advanced indicators, and difficult build scenarios.
Claude Sonnet 4.6 Advanced High complexity trading strategies, indicator conversions, and cross platform algorithm builds.

AI Models

Codestral

Codestral, developed by Mistral AI, is a specialised open-weight generative AI model built specifically for code generation, completion, and interaction. It supports over 80 programming languages, including Python and C#, and is optimised for fast, high-quality, production-ready code output.

Founded in April 2023 by former DeepMind and Meta researchers, Mistral AI is known for delivering high-performance, cost-efficient models with a strong focus on developer usability and transparency. Codestral is recommended for most trading tool build tasks. For more complex or advanced work, a higher-capability model may be more suitable.

Baseline Build Cost & Speed

A single-turn baseline trading robot generated from the example database using Codestral typically costs from £0.01.

Codestral offers low-latency responses suitable for rapid iteration and day-to-day development.

This provides a clean starting point. Additional features, refinements, and follow-up requests will incur further usage.

Best for

  • Default and recommended model for most cTrader indicators and cBots.
  • Produces clean, compile-ready baseline builds.
  • Ideal for day-to-day development and rapid iteration.

DeepSeek Coder

DeepSeek is an AI research company focused on efficient, open, and cost-effective large language models, with a strong emphasis on technical and programming tasks. Its DeepSeek Coder models are optimised for code generation, transformation, and debugging, delivering solid results at very low cost compared to Western flagship models.

DeepSeek Coder is well suited to straightforward trading tool development where cost control is a priority. It performs reliably for simple to medium-complexity cTrader indicators and cBots, especially when the logic is clear and well defined. While it may be slower and less refined than premium models for complex strategy design, it provides excellent value for baseline builds and iterative experimentation.

Baseline Build Cost & Speed

A single-turn baseline trading robot generated from the example database using DeepSeek typically costs from £0.01.

Best for

  • Low-cost baseline cTrader indicators and simple trading robots.
  • Indicator conversion to cTrader from another platform.
  • Clear, rule-based strategies with limited branching logic.
  • Rapid prototyping and testing ideas before moving to a more advanced model.
  • Users prioritising minimal credit usage over advanced reasoning.

Mistral Large

Mistral AI is a European AI company known for building high-performance large language models with strong reasoning capabilities and competitive pricing. Its models are designed to balance transparency, efficiency, and technical depth, making them well suited to advanced engineering and analytical workloads.

Mistral Large is a high-capability model intended for complex trading tool development where deeper reasoning is required. It performs well on advanced cTrader indicators and cBots involving layered conditions, multiple indicators, state management, and non-trivial trade logic. Compared to cheaper models, it is slower and more expensive, but produces more considered outputs, particularly when strategy rules are ambiguous or highly detailed.

Baseline Build Cost & Speed

A single-turn baseline trading robot generated from the example database using Mistral Large typically costs from £0.02

Best for

  • Complex cTrader indicators and trading robots with layered logic.
  • Advanced strategy design involving multiple indicators and conditions.
  • Refactoring or extending large, existing codebases safely.
  • Cases where accuracy and reasoning quality matter more than build cost.

GPT 5.1 Codex Mini

OpenAI is a leading artificial intelligence research and deployment company best known for developing the GPT family of large language models. These models are widely used for software development, automation, data analysis, and natural language tasks, with a strong focus on reliability, safety, and real-world applicability.

GPT Codex Mini is OpenAI’s lightweight dedicated coding, cost-efficient model designed for high-volume, practical workloads. It delivers strong code generation quality at a significantly lower cost than flagship models, making it well suited for everyday tasks such as building and modifying cTrader indicators and cBots, debugging code, and handling iterative development workflows. It is a reliable default choice when performance, speed, and cost control all matter.

Baseline Build Cost & Speed

A single-turn baseline trading robot generated from the example database using GPT 5.1 Codex Mini typically costs from £0.03.

Best for

  • Building complete cTrader indicators and cBots from structured requirements.
  • Handling multi step trading logic, entry rules, exits, and risk management.
  • Safely extending or modifying existing trading code without breaking core logic.
  • A dependable default for most trading tool builds when requirements are still evolving.

Claude Haiku 4.5

Anthropic is an AI research company focused on building reliable, interpretable, and safety-oriented language models. Its Claude model family is known for strong instruction following, clean outputs, and consistent behaviour in structured technical tasks.

Claude Haiku 4.5 is a fast, lightweight model optimised for low-latency responses while maintaining solid code quality. It is particularly effective for iterative trading tool development where speed matters, such as making incremental changes, fixing build errors, or adding features to existing cTrader indicators and cBots. While it does not reason as deeply as larger models, it is highly efficient and predictable for well-scoped

Baseline Build Cost & Speed

A single-turn baseline trading robot generated from the example database using Claude Haiku typically costs from £0.05.

Best for

  • Fast iteration on existing cTrader indicators and cBots.
  • Fixing compile errors and applying targeted code changes.
  • Adding parameters, alerts, or small logic extensions.
  • Users prioritising response speed and workflow efficiency over deep reasoning.

GPT-5.2 Codex

OpenAI develops the GPT series of large language models, widely used for advanced reasoning, software development, and complex problem solving. These models are positioned at the high end of capability, prioritising correctness, depth, and consistency over speed and cost.

GPT-5.2 Codex is OpenAI’s most capable coding model and is designed for complex, high-stakes trading tool development. It excels when building sophisticated cTrader indicators and cBots involving nuanced strategy logic, ambiguous requirements, or non-standard behaviour. Compared to lighter models, it is slower and more expensive, but it produces more robust designs and is better at anticipating edge cases and logical flaws.

Baseline Build Cost & Speed

A single-turn baseline trading robot generated from the example database using GPT-5.2 typically costs from £0.10.

Best for

  • Complex cTrader indicators and trading robots with advanced decision logic.
  • Strategies with ambiguous or loosely defined rules that require interpretation.
  • High-risk logic such as trade management, position sizing, and state handling.
  • Final builds or critical changes where correctness matters more than cost or speed.

Claude Sonnet 4.6

Anthropic develops the Claude family of language models, with a strong focus on reasoning quality, instruction adherence, and reliability in professional and technical use cases. This is the most expensive and latest advanced model.

Claude Sonnet 4.6 is a balanced, high-capability model positioned between fast lightweight models and top-tier flagship models. It offers stronger reasoning and code structure than Haiku while remaining more responsive and cost-efficient than the largest models. For trading tool development, it performs well on moderately complex cTrader indicators and cBots that require clear logic, good structure, and careful handling of conditions.

Baseline Build Cost & Speed

A single-turn baseline trading robot generated from the example database using Claude Sonnet typically costs from £0.15.

Best for

  • Medium to advanced cTrader indicators and trading robots.
  • Multi-indicator strategies with clear but non-trivial logic.
  • Refactoring or extending existing trading tools with confidence.
  • Users who want higher reasoning quality than fast models.

Summary

  • Models are ordered from cheapest and fastest to most advanced.
  • Most users should start with Codestral for basic and medium projects.
  • Use advanced models deliberately when complexity demands it.