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Picking an LLM API

Comparison · 2025-01-12 · 1 min read

Compare OpenAI, Anthropic, Together, Groq, and open-source options.

  • llm
  • api
  • comparison

When building an AI feature, choosing an LLM API affects cost, latency, and control.

Criteria

  1. Latency: Groq and some dedicated providers offer very low latency. OpenAI and Anthropic are typically 200–500 ms.
  2. Cost: Open-source via Together, Replicate, or Groq can be cheaper per token. OpenAI and Anthropic have free tiers and usage-based pricing.
  3. Features: Function calling, vision, long context, and fine-tuning vary by provider.
  4. Vendor lock-in: Use a unified SDK (e.g. Vercel AI SDK) to swap providers without rewriting app code.

Suggested flow

  • Prototype: OpenAI or Anthropic for speed.
  • Scale / cost: Add Groq or Together for high-volume or open models.
  • Privacy / on-prem: Ollama or self-hosted open models.

Use the Compare page on db.fyi to see APIs side by side.