Best model for your job # Best AI model for research > For research, GPT-6 Astra scores highest on the current data (69.0), weighting knowledge 40%, reasoning 30%, long context 30%. The cheapest model in the top 1 - Canonical page: https://noometry.com/best/for/research - Last updated: 2026-10-10 - Title: Best AI model for research (October 2026) | Noometry For research, GPT-6 Astra scores highest on the current data (69.0), weighting knowledge 40%, reasoning 30%, long context 30%. The cheapest model in the top 10 is Gemini 3.8 Flash at $0.75 / $3.75 per million tokens. Last verified October 10, 2026 Weights: [Knowledge](https://noometry.com/best/knowledge) 40%, [Reasoning](https://noometry.com/best/reasoning) 30%, [Long Context](https://noometry.com/best/long-context) 30%. Research work needs broad expert knowledge, careful reasoning and long reading. Best AI model for research | # | Model | Provider | Fit | Knowledge | Reasoning | Long Context | Input $/M | Output $/M | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | [GPT-6 Astra](https://noometry.com/models/gpt-6-astra) | OpenAI | **69.0** | 75.3 | 85.1 | 44.5 | $10 | $50 | | 2 | [Gemini 3.8 Flash](https://noometry.com/models/gemini-3-8-flash) | Google | **66.9** | 74.8 | 76.9 | 46.3 | $0.75 | $3.75 | | 3 | [GPT-6.1 Sol](https://noometry.com/models/gpt-6-1-sol) | OpenAI | **66.7** | 71.8 | 81.9 | 44.9 | $2 | $10 | | 4 | [Claude Fable 5.1](https://noometry.com/models/claude-fable-5-1) | Anthropic | **64.9** | 69.6 | 76.7 | 46.7 | $10 | $50 | | 5 | [Claude Opus 5.5](https://noometry.com/models/claude-opus-5-5) | Anthropic | **64.7** | 66.4 | 80.2 | 47.1 | $4 | $20 | | 6 | [Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview](https://noometry.com/models/gemini-3-1-pro-preview) | Google | **64.4** | 71.8 | 71.7 | 47.4 | $2 | $12 | | 7 | [Claude Opus 5](https://noometry.com/models/claude-opus-5) | Anthropic | **63.8** | 66.8 | 77.2 | 46.5 | $5 | $25 | | 8 | [Gemini 3.7 Flash](https://noometry.com/models/gemini-3-7-flash) | Google | **62.6** | 69.7 | 70.0 | 45.7 | $0.75 | $3.75 | | 9 | [GPT-5.5](https://noometry.com/models/gpt-5-5) | OpenAI | **62.1** | 64.4 | 72.8 | 48.3 | $5 | $30 | | 10 | [Claude Fable 5](https://noometry.com/models/claude-fable-5) | Anthropic | **61.8** | 62.2 | 76.8 | 46.3 | $10 | $50 | | 11 | [GPT-5.6 Sol](https://noometry.com/models/gpt-5-6-sol) | OpenAI | **61.8** | 64.3 | 74.8 | 45.4 | $4 | $20 | | 12 | [GPT-6 Sol](https://noometry.com/models/gpt-6-sol) | OpenAI | **61.0** | 64.8 | 74.0 | 43.1 | $2 | $10 | | 13 | [GPT-5.4](https://noometry.com/models/gpt-5-4) | OpenAI | **59.8** | 65.3 | 61.8 | 50.3 | $2.50 | $15 | | 14 | [Gemini 3.5 Flash](https://noometry.com/models/gemini-3-5-flash) | Google | **59.0** | 66.3 | 62.8 | 45.4 | $1.50 | $9 | | 15 | [Gemini 3.6 Flash](https://noometry.com/models/gemini-3-6-flash) | Google | **58.3** | 67.8 | 58.8 | 45.1 | $0.75 | $3.75 | | 16 | [Kimi K3](https://noometry.com/models/kimi-k3) (open weights) | Moonshot AI | **57.9** | 63.2 | 63.0 | 45.8 | $3 | $15 | | 17 | [Claude Opus 4.8](https://noometry.com/models/claude-opus-4-8) | Anthropic | **57.6** | 61.3 | 64.7 | 45.4 | $5 | $25 | | 18 | [Grok 4.6](https://noometry.com/models/grok-4-6) | xAI | **57.1** | 63.3 | 61.4 | 44.5 | $2 | $6 | | 19 | [Claude Opus 4.6](https://noometry.com/models/claude-opus-4-6) | Anthropic | **56.5** | 61.9 | 57.8 | 48.1 | $5 | $25 | | 20 | [Claude Sonnet 5.5](https://noometry.com/models/claude-sonnet-5-5) | Anthropic | **56.4** | 66.0 | 54.0 | 45.9 | $2 | $10 | | 21 | [GPT-5.6 Terra](https://noometry.com/models/gpt-5-6-terra) | OpenAI | **56.0** | 61.2 | 60.7 | 44.4 | $2 | $12 | | 22 | [Grok 4.5](https://noometry.com/models/grok-4-5) | xAI | **55.2** | 62.3 | 56.1 | 44.8 | $2 | $6 | | 23 | [Claude Opus 4.7](https://noometry.com/models/claude-opus-4-7) | Anthropic | **55.0** | 62.6 | 53.8 | 46.2 | $5 | $25 | | 24 | [GPT-5](https://noometry.com/models/gpt-5) | OpenAI | **55.0** | 56.6 | 38.3 | 69.5 | $1.25 | $10 | | 25 | [Gemini 3 Pro](https://noometry.com/models/gemini-3-pro) | Google | **54.7** | 64.4 | 52.5 | 44.0 | — | — | Sponsored placements are available on pages like this one. [Advertise on Noometry](https://noometry.com/advertise) Top two head to head: [GPT-6 Astra vs Gemini 3.8 Flash](https://noometry.com/compare/gemini-3-8-flash-vs-gpt-6-astra) ## Frequently asked questions ### What is the best ai model for research? For research, GPT-6 Astra scores highest on the current data (69.0), weighting knowledge 40%, reasoning 30%, long context 30%. The cheapest model in the top 10 is Gemini 3.8 Flash at $0.75 / $3.75 per million tokens. ### How is this shortlist built? Research work needs broad expert knowledge, careful reasoning and long reading. 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(2026). Best AI model for research. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://noometry.com/best/for/research Quote Noometry with a link back to this page. It is also available in [Markdown](https://noometry.com/md/best/for/research.md).