Guides

Choosing a Model

How to select the best AI model for your Chipp app

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Hunter Hodnett
Hunter Hodnett CPTO at Chipp
| 1 min read
# ai-models # tutorials # getting-started # advanced

Chipp supports multiple AI models from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and more. Each has different strengths, speeds, and costs. This guide helps you choose the right one.

Quick Recommendations

Use CaseRecommended Model
General purposeGPT-5.4 or Claude Sonnet 4.6
Image analysisGemini 2.5 Pro, GPT-5.4, or Claude Sonnet 4.6
Complex reasoningo3, Claude Opus 4.6, or GPT-5.4 Pro
Fast responsesGemini 2.5 Flash, GPT-5.4 Mini, or Claude Haiku 4.5
Long documentsGemini 2.5 Pro or GPT-4.1 (1M token context)
Cost-sensitiveGemini 2.5 Flash Lite, Gemini 2.5 Flash, or GPT-5.4 Nano

Estimate Your Costs

Use our calculator to estimate monthly AI costs based on your expected usage:

🖩 Pricing Calculator
Input cost $0.00
Output cost $0.00
Total $0.00
With Chipp Pro ($29/mo)
Base price $29.00/mo
Included usage $10.00

Best for General Purpose

These models excel at a wide range of tasks including writing, coding, analysis, and conversation.

gpt-5.4
claude-sonnet-4.6
Gemini 2.5 Pro

Best for Speed

When response time matters most, these models deliver near-instant results without sacrificing quality.

Gemini 2.5 Flash
gpt-5.4-mini
claude-haiku-4.5

Best for Reasoning

For complex problem-solving, multi-step analysis, and tasks requiring deep thinking.

o3
claude-opus-4.6
o3 Pro

Best Value for Long Documents

Process entire codebases, legal contracts, or book-length content with massive context windows.

Gemini 2.5 Pro
GPT-4.1

Model Deep Dives

OpenAI GPT-5.4

GPT-5.4 OpenAI
General purposeCodingAnalysis

Claude Sonnet 4.6

Claude Sonnet 4.6 Anthropic
WritingAnalysisBalanced

Gemini 2.5 Pro

Gemini 2.5 Pro Google
Long contextMultimodalReasoning

OpenAI o3

o3 OpenAI
Deep reasoningMathComplex problems

Claude Haiku 4.5

Claude Haiku 4.5 Anthropic
FastAffordableReliable

Gemini 2.5 Flash

Gemini 2.5 Flash Google
FastAffordableGood quality

Cost-Effective Options

If you’re optimizing for cost, these models offer excellent value:

Compare models:
Gemini 2.5 Flash LiteGemini 2.5 Flashgpt-5.4-nanoclaude-haiku-4.5gpt-5.4-mini

Key Considerations

Vision Support

If your app analyzes images, choose a model with native vision support. Models without vision use a fallback that may be less accurate.

Vision-capable models:

  • All GPT-4.1 and GPT-5.x variants (not o-series reasoning models)
  • All Claude models
  • All Gemini models

No vision support:

  • OpenAI o-series (o1, o3, o4-mini, etc.)

Response Speed

Speed matters for user experience. Faster models keep conversations flowing naturally.

Fastest: GPT-5.4 Nano, Claude Haiku 4.5, Gemini Flash Lite Medium: GPT-5.4, Claude Sonnet 4.6, Gemini 2.5 Flash Slower: Claude Opus 4.6, o1, o3 (reasoning takes time)

Context Window

For processing long documents, choose models with large context windows:

1M tokens: GPT-4.1 variants, GPT-5.x variants, Claude Opus 4.6, Claude Sonnet 4.6, all Gemini models 200k tokens: Claude Haiku 4.5, OpenAI o-series

Reasoning Quality

For complex tasks requiring multi-step reasoning:

Best reasoning: o3 Pro, Claude Opus 4.6, GPT-5.4 Pro Very good: GPT-5.4, Claude Sonnet 4.6, o3, o4-mini Good: GPT-5.4 Mini, Claude Haiku 4.5, Gemini 2.5 Pro

Changing Your Model

  1. Go to your app in the Chipp dashboard
  2. Navigate to Build > Configure
  3. Under Model, select your preferred model
  4. Click Save

Changes take effect immediately for new conversations.

Testing Different Models

Not sure which model works best? Try these approaches:

  1. A/B testing: Create two versions of your app with different models and compare user feedback

  2. Specific prompts: Test your most common use cases with different models to see quality differences

  3. Speed vs. quality: Start with a fast model, then upgrade if users need better responses

Using with MCP

You can manage AI models programmatically using the Chipp MCP Server, including AI-powered model recommendations.

Available Tools

ToolDescription
get_modelGet current model for an app
update_modelChange the AI model for an app
list_available_modelsList all available AI models
recommend_modelGet AI-powered model recommendations

Example Prompts

plaintext
"What model is my FAQ bot using?"
"Switch my support bot to GPT-5.4"
"Which model would you recommend for my customer service app?"
"List all available models with their pricing"

Workflow: AI-Powered Model Selection

plaintext
You: Recommend a model for my customer support bot that needs to be fast
and handle simple FAQ questions

AI: [Calls recommend_model with priority="speed"]

Based on your use case, I recommend:

1. **Gemini 2.5 Flash** (Best choice)
   - Very fast responses (~1.5s)
   - Cost: $0.10/M input, $0.39/M output
   - Great for FAQ and simple queries

2. **GPT-5.4 Nano** (Budget option)
   - Fastest response time
   - Cost: $0.26/M input, $1.63/M output
   - Good for high-volume, simple tasks

Want me to update your app to use Gemini 2.5 Flash?

You: Yes, update it

AI: [Calls update_model]
Updated FAQ Bot to use Gemini 2.5 Flash. Changes take effect
for new conversations.
ℹ️

MCP server access requires a Builder plan or higher. See the MCP Setup Guide to get started.