Selecting the right AI model impacts both conversation quality and token costs. While it's tempting to choose the cheapest option, the wrong model can hurt your results and waste money through poor performance.
Why Model Choice Matters
The AI model you select directly affects how intelligent and natural your conversations sound. A cheaper model might save tokens per message, but if it generates poor responses that prospects ignore, you're actually wasting money.
Quality conversations lead to better response rates, which means more meetings booked per token spent. Think of it like hiring an SDR - you could hire the cheapest person available, but if they can't hold good conversations, you'll get terrible results.
Current Best Choice: Claude Sonnet 4
Best overall option (as of July 21st, 2025): Claude Sonnet 4 offers the optimal balance of conversation quality and cost efficiency.
Key strengths:
Handles complex prospect questions effectively
Maintains natural conversation flow
Excellent value for tokens consumed
Reliable performance across different industries
Important note: This recommendation changes every 2-3 months as new models are released. What's optimal today might not be optimal in the future.
Available Model Categories
Anthropic Models (Claude family): Generally excellent for conversational AI with strong reasoning capabilities and natural language understanding.
OpenAI Models (GPT family): Well-rounded performance across different conversation types with good general knowledge.
Google Models (Gemini family): Strong analytical capabilities and good conversation flow.
X AI Models (Grok family): Varied performance characteristics for different use cases.
Model Selection Strategy
Start with the baseline: Use Claude Sonnet 4 as your default choice since it currently offers the best performance-to-cost ratio.
Test thoroughly: Use the Sandbox to ensure AI responses meet your quality standards before launching campaigns.
Monitor and adjust: Track these key metrics when switching models:
Response rates from prospects
Conversation quality and flow
Meeting booking success rates
Overall ROI per campaign
Tip: Sometimes paying more per token results in better overall ROI through improved conversion rates.
Optimization Tips
Always test new models in the Sandbox before going live. Pay attention to how the AI handles objections, answers prospect questions, and maintains conversation flow.
Track results over time and be prepared to adjust your model choice as new options become available or as your targeting evolves.
Focus on ROI, not just token costs. The cheapest model per token isn't necessarily the cheapest model per booked meeting.
Remember: optimize for overall campaign success rather than just minimizing token costs. The right model choice can significantly impact your outreach ROI.