Zukko Blog
Guides to Claude Code, Cursor, Codex and the Claude and GPT APIs: setup, token savings and troubleshooting.
LM Studio vs Ollama: which to pick for running local models
6 min · · models
Both programs run models on your computer and expose an OpenAI-compatible API. We cover the differences and count when local running loses to the cloud.
Claude Haiku vs Sonnet vs Opus: how the lines differ and what the API has
5 min · · models
Haiku, Sonnet and Opus set three levels of size, price and strength. We explain the lines, the Claude list in the gateway API and a light-model replacement when Haiku is not in the catalog.
Fine-tuning or RAG: what to choose to make a model work with your data
6 min · · models
Fine-tuning changes how a model behaves, while RAG and long context give it facts. We compare three approaches by cost, effort and freshness and give a rule for choosing.
Claude Desktop in Russia: What It Is and What to Use Instead
5 min · · payments
The Anthropic desktop app is tied to an account and a subscription. Here is what it does and three working replacements on a gateway key with payment from Russia.
Flowise vs n8n: LLM chains or process automation
6 min · · автоматизация
Flowise builds chains and agents around a model, n8n connects services on a schedule or an event. We show setup, model connection and a cost estimate.
LlamaIndex vs LangChain: what to pick for RAG and agents in 2026
5 min · · development
Both libraries do RAG and agents but grow from different ideas. We compare the approaches, show minimal code with one model and price a request.
GLM-5.3-Flash vs GPT-5.6-Luna: the Cheapest Models in the API
5 min · · сравнение
The two cheapest models on Zukko differ in price, context window, and /v1/responses support. We do the cost math and show how to compare them on your data.
Migrating from OpenRouter to Zukko: what to change in code and config
5 min · · development
Moving from OpenRouter to Zukko's OpenAI-compatible API comes down to the address, key and model names. Every change, OpenRouter-specific parameters and a rollout plan.
GPT-5.6 Sol or Claude Sonnet 5? Same price on Zukko, how to choose
4 min · · models
On Zukko both models cost the same and work in either API format. What actually differs, and how to compare the models on your own tasks.
Sonnet 5 or Opus 5.5? Same price on Zukko, so test on your own tasks
4 min · · models
On Zukko both models cost the same, so you choose by results on your tasks. Here is how to run an A/B test and what to measure.
Claude Opus 5.5 overview: API access, pricing and testing on your tasks
5 min · · models
How to call Claude Opus 5.5 via Zukko, what a request costs by formula, and how to decide on your own tasks whether you need this model.
OpenAI API proxy: how to choose an API gateway and what to ask
7 min · · API keys
How an API gateway differs from a network proxy, the criteria for choosing one, questions to ask before your first payment, and how to check yourself that charges match the math.
GPT or Claude in 2026: comparing price, index, caching and API format
6 min · · сравнение
Comparing Claude and GPT models on what can be measured: price, intelligence index, caching, API format and tool support — and how to decide on your own data.
Cursor alternatives in 2026: eight tools that work with your own API key
6 min · · IDE
Eight AI coding tools: how they differ according to their own docs, and how to connect each one to a single API key.
Local LLM or API: hardware, quality, cost, and privacy
6 min · · сравнение
Ollama on your own machine or a model through an API? A comparison by hardware, context, quality, cost, and privacy — with a calculation and one codebase for both.
AI model API prices in October 2026: Claude, GPT, Gemini, DeepSeek
7 min · · сравнение
A price table for 21 models: the official vendor price and the Zukko price for input, output and cache as of October 7, 2026, how to read it, and what a typical monthly volume costs.
AI model ranking 2026: intelligence index and price as of October
6 min · · models
A ranking of Claude, GPT, Gemini, DeepSeek, Qwen and GLM models by intelligence index, with per-token prices as of October 7, 2026 — and why a composite score doesn't replace testing on your own tasks.
Chinese LLMs via API: DeepSeek, Qwen and GLM with one key
6 min · · models
Seven DeepSeek, Qwen and GLM models in one table: prices, context, images and index. Plus paying from Russia and switching between them with one key.
GPT-6 Sol or GPT-6.1 Sol: choosing by price, cache and index
6 min · · models
Two models from one line with the same context window and different prices. We compare the table and work out plain requests and a cached agent.
Claude Fable 5.1 or Opus 5.5: when the pricier model is worth it
6 min · · сравнение
Fable 5.1 costs 8.7 times more per token than Opus 5.5, and its strength index is lower. When it is still worth testing, and how to tell whether it pays off.
Claude Opus 5.5 or GPT-6 Astra: prices, index and agent session cost
7 min · · сравнение
Two flagships compared on what can be checked: price list, cache, strength index and the cost of one long agent session, with formulas.
GPT-6.1 Sol or Claude Sonnet 5: price, cache, API format, choice
6 min · · сравнение
Sonnet 5 is cheaper on input and output, Sol on cache. We work out where each one costs less and show how to compare quality on your own tasks.
DeepSeek or Gemini Flash: V4.1 Flash vs 3.8 Flash on price and strength
6 min · · сравнение
Two popular low-cost models with a 1M context. What prices and the intelligence index say, where caching changes the math, and how to decide on your data.
Model intelligence index: how to choose an AI model for a task
6 min · · models
Every model in the catalog has an intelligence index and a price. How to read the two together, and why the final word belongs to a test on your own tasks.