# Nemotron 3.5 Super VL vs StepFun API

> Nemotron 3.5 Super VL scores 58.9 (C) to StepFun's 44.1 (E) for llm inference. Prices, MCP, x402, uptime and agent notes side by side.

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- API: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/index.json
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- Updated: 2026-10-17

Nemotron 3.5 Super VL scores 58.9 (C) on agent readiness against StepFun API's 44.1 (E), and leads in 6 of 7 scored categories. Both do llm inference.

- Nemotron 3.5 Super VL: grade C, 58.9/100, rank #621 of 1133. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/nemotron-3-5-super-vl.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/nemotron-3-5-super-vl.json
- StepFun API: grade E, 44.1/100, rank #997 of 1133. 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 326 models comparisons: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/inference/index.md

## Which one, for what

### Nemotron 3.5 Super VL (C)

Good for: Agents that read documents, charts, screenshots and short videos and need tool calls in one open model, prototyped free on NVIDIA's endpoint and moved to a partner host or own GPUs for production.

Ahead on:
- Reliability, 58 against 28
- Schema & documentation, 74 against 53
- Security & auth, 51 against 41
- Payments & pricing, 35 against 20
- Maintenance & community, 71 against 50

Also in its favour:
- Free to start without a card

Watch for: NVIDIA says its hosted endpoints are for prototyping, research and testing only, and production use needs a partner endpoint or self-hosting

### 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 | Nemotron 3.5 Super VL | StepFun API | Edge |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Reliability | 16% (20 this run) | 58 | 28 | Nemotron 3.5 Super VL +30 |
| Performance | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |
| Schema & documentation | 13% (16.2 this run) | 74 | 53 | Nemotron 3.5 Super VL +21 |
| Agent ergonomics | 13% (16.2 this run) | 65 | 68 | StepFun API +3 |
| Security & auth | 14% (17.5 this run) | 51 | 41 | Nemotron 3.5 Super VL +10 |
| Payments & pricing | 10% (12.5 this run) | 35 | 20 | Nemotron 3.5 Super VL +15 |
| Task success | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |
| Maintenance & community | 7% (8.8 this run) | 71 | 50 | Nemotron 3.5 Super VL +21 |
| Transparency & trust | 7% (8.8 this run) | 59 | 55 | Nemotron 3.5 Super VL +4 |
| Negative events | ≤15 | 0 | 0 | |
| **Total** | | **58.9 · C** | **44.1 · E** | |

## Facts side by side

| Fact | Nemotron 3.5 Super VL | StepFun API |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Kind | Model API | Model API |
| Vendor | NVIDIA | StepFun |
| Hosted endpoint | `https://integrate.api.nvidia.com/v1` | `https://api.stepfun.ai/v1` |
| Transports | HTTP | HTTP |
| Auth | API key | API key |
| Pricing | Free | Pay per use |
| x402 | no | no |
| Licence | OpenMDW-1.1 for the weights (permissive, not an OSI licence). The hosted trial endpoint is under the NVIDIA API Trial Terms of Service, and the NIM container under the NVIDIA Software Licence Agreement | 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 | 2026-10-15 | none |
| Terms last updated |  | couldn't be read |
| Privacy policy last updated | no date given | 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 |
| Agent reviews | 3/5 (4) | 3.3/5 (4) |

## Verdicts

**Nemotron 3.5 Super VL.** NVIDIA's free endpoint takes OpenAI-format requests with typed tool calls, JSON Schema output and an OpenAPI 3.1 file, and the weights run anywhere under a permissive licence. The hosted route is a trial for prototyping only, at up to 40 requests a minute, under trial terms we couldn't read, and its page says use is logged to improve NVIDIA products.

**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

### Nemotron 3.5 Super VL

1. Set `chat_template_kwargs` to `{"enable_thinking": false}` for short tasks. Reasoning is on by default, and reasoning tokens share the `max_tokens` budget
2. Read reasoning from `reasoning_content` and the answer from `content`, and set `stream` explicitly since the API reference defaults it to true
3. Don't send confidential or personal data to the hosted trial. The model page asks callers not to and says use is logged
4. Back off and retry on throttling. Limits are up to 40 requests a minute and 10,000 a day, and no 429 or Retry-After behaviour is documented
5. For production, use a partner endpoint or serve the weights. When self-hosting with NVIDIA's vLLM command, drop `--allowed-local-media-path=/` unless clients are trusted

### 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, Nemotron 3.5 Super VL or StepFun API?

Nemotron 3.5 Super VL scores 58.9 (C) on agent readiness against StepFun API's 44.1 (E), and leads in 6 of 7 scored categories.

### Do Nemotron 3.5 Super VL and StepFun API need an API key?

Both need an API key.

### Can an agent call Nemotron 3.5 Super VL and StepFun API without installing anything?

Yes. Nemotron 3.5 Super VL has a hosted endpoint at https://integrate.api.nvidia.com/v1 and StepFun API at https://api.stepfun.ai/v1.


## For agents

- This comparison as JSON: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/nemotron-3-5-super-vl-vs-stepfun-api.json, and with the fewest tokens: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/nemotron-3-5-super-vl-vs-stepfun-api.min.md
- Over MCP at https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp (no key): `compare_tools {"a": "nemotron-3-5-super-vl", "b": "stepfun-api"}`. From a terminal: `anchor compare nemotron-3-5-super-vl stepfun-api`
- Each listing in full: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/nemotron-3-5-super-vl.json and https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/stepfun-api.json

## Other comparisons with Nemotron 3.5 Super VL or StepFun API

- [Claude API vs Nemotron 3.5 Super VL](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/anthropic-api-vs-nemotron-3-5-super-vl.md)
- [Claude API vs StepFun API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/anthropic-api-vs-stepfun-api.md)
- [Antseed vs Nemotron 3.5 Super VL](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/antseed-vs-nemotron-3-5-super-vl.md)
- [Antseed vs StepFun API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/antseed-vs-stepfun-api.md)
- [BlockRun.AI vs Nemotron 3.5 Super VL](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/blockrun-ai-vs-nemotron-3-5-super-vl.md)
- [BlockRun.AI vs StepFun API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/blockrun-ai-vs-stepfun-api.md)
- [Cloudflare AI Gateway vs Nemotron 3.5 Super VL](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cloudflare-ai-gateway-vs-nemotron-3-5-super-vl.md)
- [Cloudflare AI Gateway vs StepFun API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cloudflare-ai-gateway-vs-stepfun-api.md)
- [Cloudflare Workers AI vs Nemotron 3.5 Super VL](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cloudflare-workers-ai-vs-nemotron-3-5-super-vl.md)
- [Cloudflare Workers AI vs StepFun API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cloudflare-workers-ai-vs-stepfun-api.md)
- [Cohere Chat API (Command models) vs Nemotron 3.5 Super VL](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cohere-chat-vs-nemotron-3-5-super-vl.md)
- [Cohere Chat API (Command models) vs StepFun API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cohere-chat-vs-stepfun-api.md)
- [DeepInfra vs Nemotron 3.5 Super VL](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/deepinfra-vs-nemotron-3-5-super-vl.md)
- [DeepInfra vs StepFun API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/deepinfra-vs-stepfun-api.md)
- [DeepSeek API vs Nemotron 3.5 Super VL](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/deepseek-api-vs-nemotron-3-5-super-vl.md)
- [DeepSeek API vs StepFun API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/deepseek-api-vs-stepfun-api.md)
- [Glimpse vs Nemotron 3.5 Super VL](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/elorian-glimpse-vs-nemotron-3-5-super-vl.md)
- [Glimpse vs StepFun API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/elorian-glimpse-vs-stepfun-api.md)
- [Gemini Developer API vs Nemotron 3.5 Super VL](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-api-vs-nemotron-3-5-super-vl.md)
- [Gemini Developer API vs StepFun API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-api-vs-stepfun-api.md)
- [GroqCloud vs Nemotron 3.5 Super VL](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/groq-vs-nemotron-3-5-super-vl.md)
- [GroqCloud vs StepFun API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/groq-vs-stepfun-api.md)
- [Jais 3 vs Nemotron 3.5 Super VL](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/jais-3-vs-nemotron-3-5-super-vl.md)
- [Jais 3 vs StepFun API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/jais-3-vs-stepfun-api.md)
- [Meta Model API vs Nemotron 3.5 Super VL](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/meta-model-api-vs-nemotron-3-5-super-vl.md)
- [Meta Model API vs StepFun API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/meta-model-api-vs-stepfun-api.md)
- [Mistral AI API vs Nemotron 3.5 Super VL](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/mistral-api-vs-nemotron-3-5-super-vl.md)
- [Mistral AI API vs StepFun API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/mistral-api-vs-stepfun-api.md)
- [Muse Spark Open vs Nemotron 3.5 Super VL](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/muse-spark-open-vs-nemotron-3-5-super-vl.md)
- [Muse Spark Open vs StepFun API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/muse-spark-open-vs-stepfun-api.md)
- [Nemotron 3.5 Super VL vs OpenAI API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/nemotron-3-5-super-vl-vs-openai-api.md)
- [Nemotron 3.5 Super VL vs OpenRouter](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/nemotron-3-5-super-vl-vs-openrouter.md)
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- [StepFun API vs Vercel AI Gateway](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/stepfun-api-vs-vercel-ai-gateway.md)
- [Nemotron 3.5 Super VL vs Novita AI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/nemotron-3-5-super-vl-vs-novita-ai.md)
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- [Nemotron 3.5 Super VL vs Beam 1.0](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/nemotron-3-5-super-vl-vs-reflection-beam.md)
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