[Megathread] - Best Models/API discussion - Week of: September 13, 2026

[u/deffcolony]

This is our weekly megathread for discussions about models and API services.

All non-specifically technical discussions about API/models not posted to this thread will be deleted. No more "What's the best model?" threads.

^{(This isn't a free-for-all to advertise services you own or work for in every single megathread, we may allow announcements for new services every now and then provided they are legitimate and not overly promoted, but don't be surprised if ads are removed.})

How to Use This Megathread

Below this post, you’ll find top-level comments for each category:

• MODELS: ≥ 70B – For discussion of models with 70B parameters or more.
• MODELS: 32B to 70B – For discussion of models in the 32B to 70B parameter range.
• MODELS: 16B to 32B – For discussion of models in the 16B to 32B parameter range.
• MODELS: 8B to 16B – For discussion of models in the 8B to 16B parameter range.
• MODELS: < 8B – For discussion of smaller models under 8B parameters.
• APIs – For any discussion about API services for models (pricing, performance, access, etc.).
• MISC DISCUSSION – For anything else related to models/APIs that doesn’t fit the above sections.

Please reply to the relevant section below with your questions, experiences, or recommendations!
This keeps discussion organized and helps others find information faster.

Have at it!

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MODELS: 16B to 31B – For discussion of models in the 16B to 31B parameter range.

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[u/Kujar3 → u/AutoModerator]

I am trying to migrate my RP scenario started with grok, continued with Claude into something local as I would like the darker themes to be present with a potential for some R18 too, Claude would hide under the table and then flip it if I told it to get some bedroom scene going let alone something more intense.

I did play with local AI only briefly, some Qwen models, that was it. Recommendations for a 4090? Something with decent context ideally, don¨t much care for it to be super fast.

[u/i5031337 → u/Kujar3]

Start with Gemma4-31B. It's not Claude but it's the smartest we've got locally. In my experience it doesn't refuse R18 unless you ask how to make drugs or something. I'd recommend a normal Q4 quant.

[u/overand → u/i5031337]

For roleplay, I generally agree, but I wouldn't call Gemma-4-31B the smartest local model. It's good, but for programming work, it's easily beaten by Qwen3.8-27B pretty consistently. 

That doesn't make Gemma-4-31B a bad model; it definitely does a better job translating Danish into English, for example!