I Tested Free vs Paid AI Models: The Honest Results
admin Last Sunday, I sat down for a live Q&A with my community and ended up running an impromptu experiment that perfectly captures where we are with AI in 2024. Someone asked about free alternatives to expensive AI coding tools, and instead of just answering, I decided to show them—testing four free large language models against paid ones in real-time. What happened next surprised even me, and it led to a much bigger conversation about how to actually succeed with AI in business without getting lost in the hype.
Key Takeaways
- I tested four free LLM models (Nord Mini, Nex, Nematron, Riverflow) against paid alternatives on OpenRouter for building a website
- The free Nex model performed surprisingly well, while others failed completely or produced blank pages
- Paid models like Opus and Gemini finished coding tasks faster but cost £3-4 per prompt
- Free AI tools are “free” because you’re training their models with your usage—understand this trade-off
- After 21 years in online business, I’ve never seen anyone make money without investing time, money, or both
- Pick ONE mentor/source and focus deeply rather than consuming scattered information from dozens of creators
The Free AI Model Experiment Nobody Asked For (But Everyone Needed)
It started with a simple question about whether expensive AI tools are worth it. Rather than give my opinion, I logged into OpenRouter—a platform I’ve been using to compare AI models—and set up a direct comparison.
I gave four free models the exact same prompt: “Build me a website like okyanus.com.” No detailed instructions, no hand-holding. Just a basic task anyone might try.
Here’s what happened:
- Nex: “Honestly, I’ve never tested a free LLM model this good in my life.” It produced working code and handled the task competently.
- Nord Mini: Finished quickly but threw an error immediately. I had to click “try fix” to get it started again.
- Nvidia’s Nematron: Produced a completely blank white page. “I wasn’t expecting this from Nvidia,” I admitted.
- Riverflow: Also delivered a blank page. “This is what you get with free sometimes,” I noted.
Then I ran the same prompt through paid models—Opus and Gemini. They cost roughly £3-4 per prompt but finished faster and more reliably. “If I added a paid model alongside the free ones, it would have finished while the others were still generating,” I observed.
The lesson? Free models can work, but you need patience, troubleshooting skills, and realistic expectations. For production work where time is money, paid models still win.
Why “Free” AI Isn’t Really Free (And Why That’s Okay)
Someone in the chat asked why companies give away these powerful models. I explained the business model clearly: “They’re not doing this out of the goodness of their hearts.”
Behind these free tools are millions of dollars in infrastructure costs. Companies like Meta, Nvidia, and various AI labs open-source their models or offer free tiers because:
- Your usage provides training feedback that improves the model
- Public testing helps identify bugs and edge cases
- Once the model reaches maturity, they monetize through enterprise versions or API pricing
“This is commerce,” I told my audience. “They’re training these systems with your help, then eventually selling them. That’s the game.”
I’ve seen this pattern for 21 years. The people who succeed aren’t those looking for permanently free solutions—they’re the ones who leverage free tiers to learn, earn, then reinvest in better tools.
The Hard Truth About Making Money Online
The conversation shifted when someone implied that educators who charge for their knowledge are somehow exploiting people. I shared something I’ve never really detailed before: my own origin story and why I teach.
“I made a promise to myself years ago,” I explained. “When I was going through difficult times financially, I told myself: if I ever make it, I’ll teach others.” That wasn’t a marketing line—it’s why I still do free YouTube streams alongside my paid programs.
But I was direct about the economics: “I’ve been in this for 21 years, and I’ve never seen anyone make money without spending money—or spending massive amounts of time.” Every video I create costs £100-200 in backend tools, software, and infrastructure. The alternative is spending 30 hours manually doing what automation handles in five minutes.
“You want to make money but don’t want to spend a penny?” I asked. “If you can do that, please share it with me too. I haven’t found that formula in two decades.”
My Three Non-Negotiable Rules for Beginners
Toward the end of the stream, someone asked for advice for complete beginners. I gave three specific recommendations based on watching hundreds succeed and thousands fail:
1. Pick ONE Source and Ignore the Rest
“I know hundreds of people who watch eBay videos from me, from five other creators, from everyone—and then their account gets suspended and they message me.” The problem? They mixed conflicting advice. “Choose one person who’s achieved what you want, understand their teaching, and focus only on them. Time is everything.”
2. Embrace the Two-Year Timeline
I shared my own eBay story: “I didn’t make money for two years when I started.” My first sale came after 24 months of consistent work, and it covered those two years of effort. “If you go in thinking you’ll make £1,000 tomorrow because you bought a course, you’ll fail. This is a business. It’s an investment.”
3. Sell Quality, Not Quantity
“I’d rather list one product and sell 100 units than list 100 products and sell one.” The people who spam hundreds of un-researched products are doing “a sloppy job.” Spend 2-3 hours finding one quality product, and your store will grow healthier and faster.
Why Your Voice (and Your Belief) Matters More Than AI Tools
Someone asked about using AI voice clones for content. I explained my choice to use my own voice: “I chose my own voice because it gives me confidence. But you can use whatever voice you want.”
The deeper point? AI tools are just tools. I see too many people obsessing over which model to use, which software to buy, which automation to build—while ignoring the fundamentals. “Focus on the business, not the tools,” I emphasized. “The voice, the software, the AI model—these are secondary to whether you actually understand what problem you’re solving.”
I told the story of a 13-year-old who messaged me about starting out, and how my own son is 12 and already engaging with online business concepts. “Kids this age want to learn and build things. I was doing this as a kid too.” The barrier isn’t age, education, or English fluency—it’s willingness to start and persistence to continue.
FAQ
What’s the best free AI model for coding right now?
Based on my live testing, Nex performed exceptionally well for a free model on OpenRouter, completing website code that actually functioned. Nord Mini worked but needed error fixes. Nvidia’s Nematron and Riverflow both failed to produce working pages from the same prompt. Results vary by task, so I recommend testing multiple free models yourself.
Is OpenRouter better than using AI tools directly?
OpenRouter is valuable for comparing models side-by-side and accessing both free and paid options in one place. I use it to benchmark performance before committing to any tool. However, for daily production work, dedicated platforms like Cursor (which includes 20+ LLM models with automatic switching) may be more efficient.
How much should beginners spend on AI tools?
Start with free tiers and open-source options. I used Filmora for years at roughly $88/year, but AI has reduced my need for many paid tools. My rule: invest in tools only after you’ve validated you can earn with free versions. Never go into debt for software before you have revenue.
Why do you give away so much information for free?
I made a personal commitment during financially difficult years to teach if I ever succeeded. Beyond that, teaching creates genuine connections—I’ve been invited to people’s homes worldwide from this community. However, my time for one-on-one help requires payment; my YouTube videos and free content are there for self-starters who want to learn without paying.
Conclusion
The AI landscape in 2024 is simultaneously overwhelming and full of genuine opportunity. Free models like Nex can handle real tasks. Paid models save time but cost money. The tools matter less than your commitment to using them consistently.
After 21 years building online businesses and now living in London working with cutting-edge AI developments, my core advice hasn’t changed: find what you genuinely enjoy, focus deeply on learning from one trusted source, and give yourself at least two years before judging your progress. The people who succeed aren’t necessarily the smartest or best-funded—they’re the ones who persist when others quit.
AI will change dramatically in the next year. Meta’s new smart glasses already let you interact with AI through normal conversation. We’re at the very beginning. But the fundamentals of building something valuable, solving real problems, and serving actual customers? Those remain unchanged. Master those, and the specific AI tools you use become almost irrelevant.
Watch the full video (in Turkish — English subtitles available):
Tools & Community
- TurkoLister — the AI listing tool I use to turn Amazon products into optimized eBay UK listings in about 60 seconds (from £4.99/month, £1 one-week trial).
- AI & E-commerce Community — my Turkish-speaking community ($19/month) with weekly live sessions.
- Subscribe on YouTube — new experiments every week.
