BenchLM recommendation
Best Value LLM for Knowledge in 2026 — Cost-Adjusted Rankings
As of August 18, 2026, the top model in best value llm for knowledge on the BenchLM leaderboard is DeepSeek V4 Flash 0731 with a score of 218.2.
Last verified: August 18, 2026
Knowledge benchmarks test factual accuracy, expert-level science, and professional comprehension. This ranking divides each model's weighted knowledge score (GPQA, SuperGPQA, MMLU-Pro, HLE, FrontierScience, SimpleQA) by output token price. For RAG pipelines, research assistants, and Q&A systems where accurate knowledge retrieval matters but API costs add up, the value leaders here offer the best accuracy per dollar.
Unless noted otherwise, ranking surfaces on this page use BenchLM's provisional leaderboard lane rather than the stricter sourced-only verified leaderboard.
Bottom line: Knowledge tasks don't require expensive reasoning models. Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite leads value, and DeepSeek Coder 2.0 offers strong raw knowledge at low cost.
DeepSeek V4 Flash 0731 leads this ranking with a score of 218.21, followed by DeepSeek V4 Pro 0813 (88.51) and GPT-5.6 Luna (68). There is a significant gap between the leading models and the rest of the field.
The best open-weight option is MiniMax M3 (ranked #4 with a score of 54.83). While proprietary models lead, open-weight options are within striking distance for teams willing to trade a few points of performance for full model control.
This ranking uses provisional weighted averages across the scoring benchmarks in knowledge. For detailed model profiles, click any model name below. To compare two specific models head-to-head, use the "vs #" links.
What changed
Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite leads knowledge value — most knowledge capability per dollar.
DeepSeek Coder 2.0 strong raw knowledge scores at very low cost.
Gemini 2.5 Flash good knowledge value with broader model capabilities.
How to choose
Full Rankings (37 models)
Key Takeaways
The best value model is DeepSeek V4 Flash 0731 by DeepSeek with a provisional Score/$ ratio of 218.21 (score: 61.1, output: $0.28/1M tokens).
The best open-weight model is MiniMax M3 at position #4.
37 models are included in this ranking.
Score in Context
What these scores mean
Value scores divide the weighted knowledge score by output token price (per 1M tokens). Higher means more capability per dollar. Models with no listed price are excluded.
Known limitations
Value rankings favor cheap models even if absolute performance is modest. A model scoring half as well at one-tenth the price wins on value — but may not meet your quality bar. Always check raw scores alongside value rankings.
Explore More
Know when it’s worth switching models
The model to choose, the cheaper alternative, and the release we would wait on.
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