{
  "metadata": {
    "name": "apiroute.dev Best Route V1 guide",
    "version": "1.0",
    "status": "static_client_side_guide",
    "generated_at": "2026-05-19T00:00:00.000Z",
    "note": "This endpoint documents the client-side recommendation logic used by the apiroute.dev homepage. It is not a server-side recommendation API."
  },
  "inputs": {
    "use_cases": [
      "general",
      "coding",
      "rag",
      "translation",
      "vision",
      "agents"
    ],
    "priorities": [
      "cheapest",
      "balanced",
      "premium"
    ],
    "requirements": [
      "require_vision",
      "require_function_calling",
      "prefer_prompt_caching"
    ],
    "cost_inputs": [
      "prompt_tokens",
      "expected_output_tokens",
      "cache_share"
    ]
  },
  "routes": {
    "cheapest": "Lowest estimated total cost among matching models.",
    "balanced": "Best mix of use-case fit, quality score, context reserve, caching preference, and cost.",
    "premium": "Highest quality score among matching models."
  },
  "signals": {
    "hard_filters": [
      "context_window",
      "max_output_tokens",
      "supports_vision",
      "supports_function_calling"
    ],
    "scoring_inputs": [
      "input_cost_per_1m",
      "output_cost_per_1m",
      "cache_read_cost_per_1m",
      "context_window",
      "supports_prompt_caching",
      "supports_vision",
      "supports_function_calling",
      "model_name_heuristics"
    ]
  },
  "recommended_flow": [
    "Fetch https://apiroute.dev/api/live-prices.",
    "Filter models by context window, output limit, and required capabilities.",
    "Estimate cost from prompt tokens, expected output tokens, and cache share.",
    "Select cheapest, balanced, or premium route depending on the user's priority.",
    "Verify provider pages before production routing or purchasing decisions."
  ]
}