# Meta Model API vs StepFun API

> Meta Model scores 52.2 (D) to StepFun's 44.1 (E) for llm inference. Prices, MCP, x402, uptime and agent notes side by side.

- Canonical: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/meta-model-api-vs-stepfun-api
- Markdown: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/meta-model-api-vs-stepfun-api.md (~2,700 tokens)
- Slim: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/meta-model-api-vs-stepfun-api.min.md (~630 tokens, same facts, less prose, for token-sensitive contexts)
- JSON: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/meta-model-api-vs-stepfun-api.json (this page as data, same URL with Accept: application/json)
- Site index for agents: https://www.anchorterminal.com/llms.txt (full text: https://www.anchorterminal.com/llms-full.txt)
- API: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/index.json
- Updated: 2026-10-12

Meta Model API scores 52.2 (D) on agent readiness against StepFun API's 44.1 (E), and leads in 4 of 7 scored categories. Both do llm inference.

- Meta Model API: grade D, 52.2/100, rank #757 of 993. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/meta-model-api.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/meta-model-api.json
- StepFun API: grade E, 44.1/100, rank #905 of 993. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/stepfun-api.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/stepfun-api.json
- Best model APIs and inference for AI agents: https://www.anchorterminal.com/best/inference/index.md
- All 171 models comparisons: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/inference/index.md

## Which one, for what

### Meta Model API (D)

Good for: Long-running agent and coding work over text, images, video, audio and PDFs with a 1M-token context, where training must stay off by default.

Ahead on:
- Reliability, 40 against 28
- Schema & documentation, 60 against 53
- Agent ergonomics, 75 against 68
- Security & auth, 64 against 41

Watch for: Muse Wonder is labelled a preview, and no deprecation policy or notice period was found

### StepFun API (E)

Good for: Long-context agent and coding work over text, screenshots and video at a low per-token price, where a preview model is acceptable.

Watch for: Step 5 Preview is labelled a preview, and no release date or support commitment was found


## Score by category

| Category | Weight | Meta Model API | StepFun API | Edge |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Reliability | 16% (20 this run) | 40 | 28 | Meta Model API +12 |
| Performance | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |
| Schema & documentation | 13% (16.2 this run) | 60 | 53 | Meta Model API +7 |
| Agent ergonomics | 13% (16.2 this run) | 75 | 68 | Meta Model API +7 |
| Security & auth | 14% (17.5 this run) | 64 | 41 | Meta Model API +23 |
| Payments & pricing | 10% (12.5 this run) | 20 | 20 | even |
| Task success | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |
| Maintenance & community | 7% (8.8 this run) | 46 | 50 | StepFun API +4 |
| Transparency & trust | 7% (8.8 this run) | 52 | 55 | StepFun API +3 |
| Negative events | ≤15 | 0 | 0 | |
| **Total** | | **52.2 · D** | **44.1 · E** | |

## Facts side by side

| Fact | Meta Model API | StepFun API |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Kind | Model API | Model API |
| Vendor | Meta | StepFun |
| Hosted endpoint | `https://api.meta.ai/v1` | `https://api.stepfun.ai/v1` |
| Transports | HTTP | HTTP |
| Auth | API key | API key |
| Pricing | Pay per use | Pay per use |
| x402 | no | no |
| Licence | Closed service under the Meta Model API Terms of Service (last updated 9 October 2026), with Meta Platforms, Inc., or Meta Platforms Ireland Limited in the European Region, as the contracting party. | Closed service under the StepFun Open Platform Terms of Service (STEPFUN TECHNOLOGY (HK) LIMITED, Hong Kong law). |
| Read-only variant documented | no | no |
| llms.txt | yes | yes |
| Last release | 2026-10-12 | none |
| Terms last updated |  | couldn't be read |
| Privacy policy last updated | couldn't be read | couldn't be read |
| Customer content may train models |  | couldn't be read |
| Terms restrict automated access |  | couldn't be read |
| Terms restrict benchmarking |  | couldn't be read |
| Terms or service can change without notice |  | couldn't be read |
| Arbitration or class-action waiver |  | couldn't be read |

## Verdicts

**Meta Model API.** Meta Model API serves Muse Wonder, in preview since 12 October 2026, and Muse Spark with 1M-token context, constrained JSON Schema output, automatic prompt caching and per-token prices published without a login. Standard-mode content is not used for training. There's no free allowance, status history, OpenAPI file, deprecation policy or way to force a tool call.

**StepFun API.** StepFun's API serves Step 5 Preview with a 1M-token context, video input, strict JSON Schema output and published per-token prices, documented in Markdown with an llms.txt. The model is a preview with no release date found, there's no free allowance or SLA, and the terms and privacy policy leave room to train on customer data.

## Before you call either

### Meta Model API

1. Use `muse-wonder-1.0` for long multi-step work and `muse-spark-1.3` for cheaper, high-volume calls. Both take the same requests
2. Keep personal or confidential data away from `-contributor` model IDs. Meta may train on that content
3. Honour Retry-After on 429 and 503, which is 60 seconds for `service_overloaded`, and check `GET https://api.meta.ai/v1/status`, which needs no key
4. Pass the key to the OpenAI SDK explicitly or set `OPENAI_API_KEY`. The SDK doesn't read `MODEL_API_KEY`
5. Leave `tool_choice` at `auto`. The docs say `none` and `required` are not supported

### StepFun API

1. Set `max_tokens` yourself. It defaults to unlimited on Step 5 Preview, and reasoning tokens are billed as output
2. Use `response_format` with `type: json_schema` and `strict: true` when the shape matters. JSON Mode alone isn't schema-checked
3. Back off and retry on 429, 500, 503 and 504. The docs give no Retry-After header or backoff schedule
4. Expect HTTP 451 or `finish_reason: content_filter` when content fails StepFun's review, and don't retry the same input
5. Use api.stepfun.ai for the international platform. api.stepfun.com is the China platform with yuan pricing

## Questions

### Which is better for AI agents, Meta Model API or StepFun API?

Meta Model API scores 52.2 (D) on agent readiness against StepFun API's 44.1 (E), and leads in 4 of 7 scored categories.

### Do Meta Model API and StepFun API need an API key?

Both need an API key.

### Can an agent call Meta Model API and StepFun API without installing anything?

Yes. Meta Model API has a hosted endpoint at https://api.meta.ai/v1 and StepFun API at https://api.stepfun.ai/v1.


## For agents

- This comparison as JSON: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/meta-model-api-vs-stepfun-api.json, and with the fewest tokens: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/meta-model-api-vs-stepfun-api.min.md
- Over MCP at https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp (no key): `compare_tools {"a": "meta-model-api", "b": "stepfun-api"}`. From a terminal: `anchor compare meta-model-api stepfun-api`
- Each listing in full: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/meta-model-api.json and https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/stepfun-api.json

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