StepFun Step Flash models: priced for volume, not for depth
Stepfun
Services found: 2
| # | AI model | Capabilities | API $/1M (in / out) | Context window | Price / mo | Output $/1M | Overview | Visit site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Step 3.7 Flash Stepfun |    | $0.2 / $1.15 | 262.1K tokens | API only | 1.15 | View | |
| 2 | Step 3.5 Flash Stepfun |  | $0.1 / $0.3 | 262.1K tokens | API only | 0.3 | View |
Browse by need
Stepfun contributes the Step Flash line: 3.7 Flash at $0.20 input and $1.15 output per 1M tokens, and 3.5 Flash at $0.10 and $0.30. Both sit firmly in the volume tier.
These are throughput models — classification, routing, extraction — where per-request cost matters more than depth. At these rates a model call becomes cheaper than maintaining a rules engine.
Volume tierPriced for millions of small requests.
Two generations3.5 for cost, 3.7 for a step up in quality.
Chinese labDomestic focus with international access through resellers.
Models from this vendor
2 Stepfun models in this rating. Prices are input and output per 1M tokens from the vendor official price list; for dirhams multiply by 3.6725. Tap a card to open the model page.
How to choose
- Benchmark against a comparable model from a larger vendor before committing production traffic — line-ups this size get less independent testing.
- Start with Step 3.5 Flash at $0.1 / $0.3 per 1M tokens; it is the cheapest entry point here.
- Move up to Step 3.7 Flash at $0.2 / $1.15 only where the cheaper variant visibly fails, not by default.
- Check the context window against your longest input — the largest here is Step 3.7 Flash at 262.1K tokens.
Common mistakes
Assuming parity with the majorsOn the hardest tasks the frontier labs remain ahead; compare on your own cases.
Skipping the exit planA smaller vendor can change terms or availability faster. Identify a fallback model before you depend on this one.
Who this suits
Cost-driven teamsStep 3.5 Flash at $0.1 / $0.3 undercuts most mainstream options.
EvaluatorsA useful comparison point when benchmarking the models against larger line-ups.
Regional usersRelevant where this vendor platform or language coverage matters more than raw capability.
Related filters
Text & chat228 models for text generation and chat
Vision156 models that read images
Low latency73 small, fast models for volume
MultilingualAll 239 models work beyond English
Alibaba (Qwen)34 models in this rating
OpenAI30 models in this rating
Google DeepMind17 models in this rating
Frequently asked questions
What is Step Flash good for?
High-volume classification and routing rather than long reasoning.
How does it compare with Qwen Flash?
Similar tier; compare on your own task, the gap is small.
Is it open weight?
Parts of the Stepfun line have been published.
How many Stepfun models are in this rating?
2, covering text & chat, vision, video.
Is Stepfun a good default choice?
For most teams no — start with a mainstream vendor and use this one where its pricing or specialisation gives a concrete advantage.
Frequently searched
By capabilityReasoningCodingVisionLong context 1M+Free tierOpen weightsLow latencyRealtime voiceImage generation
By vendorAnthropic (13)OpenAI (30)Google DeepMind (17)xAI (8)Meta (6)DeepSeek (9)Mistral AI (11)Alibaba (Qwen) (34)Z.ai (12)Moonshot AI (5)
Rate this page
Help us improve