Overview
Reasoning models use explicit step-by-step thinking to solve complex problems. Unlike standard models that generate immediate responses, reasoning models “think” through problems methodically, making them ideal for analytical tasks.What Are Reasoning Models?
Reasoning models employ a different approach:- Explicit Thinking - Show their thought process
- Multi-Step Analysis - Break problems into steps
- Self-Correction - Refine answers progressively
- Higher Token Usage - Require more tokens (2000+ minimum)
- Slower Response - Take longer but more accurate
Think of reasoning models as “showing their work” like in math class - they explain how they reached the answer, not just what the answer is.
Available Reasoning Models
OpenAI O-Series
O1
6 credits • Deepest reasoning
- 200K context window
- 3000 min completion tokens
- Speed: Slow (10-20s)
- Best for: Complex problems, deep analysis
O1 Mini
3 credits • Faster reasoning
- 128K context window
- 2000 min completion tokens
- Speed: Medium (5-10s)
- Best for: Balanced reasoning tasks
O3 Mini
3 credits • Next-gen compact
- 128K context window
- 2000 min completion tokens
- Speed: Medium (5-10s)
- Best for: Advanced reasoning
GPT-5.1
4 credits • Enhanced reasoning
- 200K context window
- 2000 min completion tokens
- Speed: Medium
- Best for: General reasoning tasks
Anthropic Extended Thinking
Claude 3 Opus Extended Thinking
6 credits • Deep analytical reasoning
- 200K context window
- 2500 min completion tokens
- Speed: Slow
- Best for: Strategic planning, research
Google Flash Thinking
Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking
3 credits • Fast reasoning
- 1,000,000 token context window
- 2000 min completion tokens
- Speed: Medium (4-6s)
- Best for: Analytical tasks with large context
xAI Grok Reasoning
Grok 3 Reasoning
4 credits • Enhanced analytical
- 128K context window
- 2000 min completion tokens
- Speed: Medium
- Best for: Problem-solving, analysis
DeepSeek R1
DeepSeek R1
2 credits • Most affordable reasoning
- 64K context window
- 2000 min completion tokens
- Speed: Medium
- Best for: Cost-effective reasoning
Groq Reasoning Models
DeepSeek Llama 70B (Groq)
2 credits • Fast reasoning on LPU
- 64K context window
- 2000 min completion tokens
- Speed: Fast (ultra-fast inference)
- Best for: Efficient reasoning at speed
Qwen QWQ 32B (Groq)
2 credits • Multilingual reasoning
- 32K context window
- 2000 min completion tokens
- Speed: Fast
- Best for: Multilingual analytical tasks
Reasoning Model Comparison
| Model | Credits | Context | Speed | Reasoning Depth | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| O1 | 6 | 200K | Slow | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Most thorough |
| Claude 3 Opus Extended | 6 | 200K | Slow | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Strategic thinking |
| Grok 3 Reasoning | 4 | 128K | Medium | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Problem-solving |
| GPT-5.1 | 4 | 200K | Medium | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | General reasoning |
| O1 Mini | 3 | 128K | Medium | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Fast reasoning |
| O3 Mini | 3 | 128K | Medium | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Next-gen reasoning |
| Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking | 3 | 1M | Medium | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Large context reasoning |
| DeepSeek R1 | 2 | 64K | Medium | ⭐⭐⭐ | Budget reasoning |
| DeepSeek Llama 70B (Groq) | 2 | 64K | Fast | ⭐⭐⭐ | Speed + reasoning |
| Qwen QWQ (Groq) | 2 | 32K | Fast | ⭐⭐⭐ | Multilingual |
When to Use Reasoning Models
Perfect For
Mathematical Problems
Mathematical Problems
Solving complex math, physics, or engineering problems that require step-by-step work.
Code Debugging
Code Debugging
Analyzing code to find bugs, understand logic, and suggest improvements.
Strategic Planning
Strategic Planning
Business analysis, market research, competitive analysis.Best models: O1, Claude 3 Opus Extended
Scientific Analysis
Scientific Analysis
Research paper analysis, experimental design, data interpretation.Best models: O1, Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking
Logic Puzzles
Logic Puzzles
Solving riddles, logic games, complex reasoning challenges.Best models: O1 Mini, DeepSeek R1 (budget option)
Not Ideal For
- Simple conversations
- Quick factual questions
- Creative writing (use GPT-5 or Claude Opus instead)
- High-volume simple queries (too slow and expensive)
- Real-time chat applications (too slow)
Usage Examples
OpenAI O1 - Deep Analysis
DeepSeek R1 - Budget Reasoning
Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking - Large Context
Override Reasoning Mode
All reasoning models support these modes:| Mode | Description | Credit Multiplier |
|---|---|---|
auto | Automatically selects best approach | Varies |
standard | Quick, straightforward answers | 1x |
stepwise | Breaks problems into steps with sources | Up to 2x |
react | Deep thinking with reflection cycles | Up to 5x |
interactive | Uses tools to gather info and perform calculations | Up to 10x |
Best Practices
Set Appropriate Token Limits
Handle Longer Wait Times
Cost Optimization
Cache Common Analyses
Performance Comparison
Speed vs Accuracy Tradeoff
| Model | Avg Response Time | Accuracy | Cost Efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|
| O1 | 10-20s | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Low (6 credits) |
| O1 Mini | 5-10s | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Medium (3 credits) |
| DeepSeek R1 | 5-8s | ⭐⭐⭐ | High (2 credits) |
| Gemini Flash Thinking | 4-6s | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | High (3 credits) |
| Groq DeepSeek Llama | 2-4s | ⭐⭐⭐ | Very High (2 credits) |
Troubleshooting
Responses too slow
Responses too slow
Expected: Reasoning models take longerSolutions:
- Use O1 Mini instead of O1
- Use DeepSeek R1 for faster reasoning
- Try Groq’s reasoning models for ultra-fast
- Add progress indicators for users
High costs
High costs
Cause: Reasoning models use more tokens and creditsSolutions:
- Use only for complex tasks
- Try DeepSeek R1 (2 credits)
- Cache results for common queries
- Use standard models for simple tasks
Not showing thinking process
Not showing thinking process
Note: Some models show thinking, others don’tDetails:
- O1 series: Shows detailed thinking
- DeepSeek R1: Shows reasoning steps
- Claude Extended: Implicit thinking
- Gemini Thinking: Shows analysis process
Token limit errors
Token limit errors
Cause: Insufficient max_reply_tokensSolutions:
- Set minimum 2000 tokens
- Use 3000+ for O1
- Use 2500+ for Claude Extended
- Check model-specific requirements