Models

There are a ton of LLM models out there, and with Pickaxe you have access to all of them. You can easily switch between models at any time to find the best fit for each agent — no need to rebuild your system every time a new model is released.

Picking the right model can make a big difference. Some models are cheaper, some are smarter, and some are better suited for actions. The best choice depends on your specific use case, and Pickaxe makes it easy to experiment.

Not sure where to start? Choosing a Model walks you through a simple framework for picking the right one, plus our current tier-by-tier recommendations.

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Comparing models

We share as much data as we can to help you make informed decisions. Visit pickaxe.co/models to:

• See the average cost of each model
• Compare response times
• Check context window sizes and output limits
• View popularity across the Pickaxe platform
• Compare models side by side to find the right balance of quality, speed, and cost

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Reasoning controls

Many models can now "think" before they answer, and Pickaxe gives you a dial for it. On reasoning-capable models, a Reasoning dropdown appears next to the model in the Agent Builder with effort levels from Fastest ($) up to Maximum ($$$$$) — and on some models simply On or Off.

Higher effort means smarter, more careful answers at a higher cost per response; lower effort means faster, cheaper replies. The available levels vary by model, and reasoning works alongside Actions, so a thinking model can still call your tools. You can filter the model selector by the Reasoning capability to see every model that supports it.

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Why model flexibility matters

AI models are evolving fast, with new options launching regularly. Building on Pickaxe means you're never locked in — when a better or cheaper model comes along, you can switch to it in seconds without changing anything else about your agent.