Best open-weight LLMs and model families
Model families with downloadable weights, which you can self-host, fine-tune or run through many inference providers.
Ranked by score on our 100-point rubric (how we score). Scores are initial editorial estimates from public information, not hands-on tests. Pricing is labeled verified (checked on the vendor's official pricing page, with date) or unverified. Tools from more than one category appear here; each is scored within its own primary category.
Quick picks
| # | Tool | Tier | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Qwen Alibaba's open-weight model family | A | 79 |
| 2 | DeepSeek Low-cost open-weight reasoning models | A | 76 |
| 3 | Mistral AI European frontier and open-weight models | A | 73 |
| 4 | Kimi Moonshot AI's assistant | B | 69 |
The ranking
-
Wide range of open-weight LLMs, coder and vision models, plus an API via Alibaba Cloud.
- Best for
- You want strong open weights in many sizes.
- Skip it if
- You need a US-hosted vendor.
- Pricing
- Open weights free; API pay-per-token unverified editorial summary, not yet confirmed on an official pricing page
- Platforms
- API · Self-host
-
Chinese lab releasing open-weight LLMs and a very cheap API.
- Best for
- You want strong reasoning at very low cost or to self-host.
- Skip it if
- Data jurisdiction is a concern for you.
- Pricing
- Very low pay-per-token API; free chat app unverified editorial summary, not yet confirmed on an official pricing page
- Platforms
- API · web
-
French lab offering open-weight and commercial models via API, plus Le Chat.
- Best for
- You want strong open-weight options or EU hosting.
- Skip it if
- You need the absolute top benchmark scores.
- Pricing
- Free plan; Pro $14.99/mo (excl. tax); Team $24.99/user/mo; API billed per token ✓ verified on the official pricing page, Oct 18, 2026
- Platforms
- API
-
Assistant from Moonshot AI with long context, search and agentic features, backed by open-weight models.
- Best for
- You want a strong free assistant backed by open models.
- Skip it if
- Data jurisdiction is a concern for you.
- Pricing
- Free tier; paid plans unverified editorial summary, not yet confirmed on an official pricing page
- Platforms
- web · iOS · Android
FAQ
What is the best AI tool for open-weight language models?
Qwen ranks first with 79/100 (A-tier). Alibaba's open-weight model family. Use it when you want strong open weights in many sizes. Next in our ranking: DeepSeek (76/100, A-tier) and Mistral AI (73/100, A-tier).
Which AI tools for open-weight language models have a free tier?
In our pricing data, Qwen (unverified), DeepSeek (unverified), Mistral AI (verified) and Kimi (unverified) list a free tier. "Unverified" means it is an editorial summary we have not yet confirmed on the vendor's official pricing page, so check the vendor before relying on it.
Are there open-source options for open-weight language models?
Yes. Qwen, DeepSeek, Mistral AI and Kimi are listed as open source or open weights. Check each project's license before commercial use.
How are these tools ranked?
Each tool is scored out of 100 on our public rubric: job fit (30), ease (15), value (15), momentum (15), openness and portability (10), trust and maturity (10) and a builder/gamer bonus (5). S-tier is 85+, A-tier 70–84, B-tier 55–69 and C-tier below 55. This guide mixes tools from more than one category, and scores are calibrated within each tool's primary category, so treat cross-category gaps as rough. Current scores are initial editorial estimates from public information, not hands-on tests, and sponsors can't buy points.