Command A Reasoning vs Step 1 (32K)
Command A Reasoning comes out ahead, 27 to 18 on our weighted score, though Step 1 (32K) is 10% cheaper per token.
- Our pick
CohereCommand A Reasoning
27/100- ECI—
- Price$2.50 / $10.00
- Context256K
StepFunStep 1 (32K)
18/100- ECI—
- Price$2.05 / $9.59
- Context33K
Add a model
Make it a three-way comparison.
Command A Reasoning is our pick
Command A Reasoning is the better all-round choice, scoring 27/100 against Step 1 (32K) (18). It leads on inputs & features and context window. Step 1 (32K) wins on price. The score weighs price 50%, inputs & features 30%, context window 20%. None of the shared benchmarks cover every model here yet, so capability is left out of this verdict.
- CapabilityNot enough dataNo independent benchmark covers every model here yet
- Lowest priceStep 1 (32K)Step 1 (32K) $3.94 · Command A Reasoning $4.38 per 1M tokens (3:1 blend)
- Longest contextCommand A ReasoningCommand A Reasoning 256,000 · Step 1 (32K) 32,768 tokens
- Widest inputsSame inputsCommand A Reasoning: Text · Step 1 (32K): Text
- Self-hostingCommand A ReasoningPublishes downloadable weights
| Measure | Weight | Command A Reasoning | Step 1 (32K) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | 50% | 19 | 22 |
| Inputs & features | 30% | 35 | 25 |
| Context window | 20% | 36 | 0 |
| Overall | 100% | 27/100 | 18/100 |
Left out because at least one model lacks the data: capability. The remaining weights were rescaled.
Every spec in one table
Highlighted cells lead their row. Dashes mean the data is not published.
| Specification | Command A ReasoningCohere | Step 1 (32K)StepFun |
|---|---|---|
| Capability | ||
| Capabilities Index (ECI) | — | — |
| ECI rank | — | — |
| Price per million tokens | ||
| Input | $2.50 | $2.05 (best) |
| Output | $10.00 | $9.59 (best) |
| Cached input | — | $0.41 |
| Blended (3:1) | $4.38 | $3.94 (best) |
| Long-context rate | Same rate | Same rate |
| Price source | Official Cohere API | Official StepFun (Global) API |
| Limits | ||
| Context window | 256,000 tokens (best) | 32,768 tokens |
| Max output | 32,000 tokens | 32,768 tokens (best) |
| Inputs and features | ||
| Text | Yes | Yes |
| Images | No | No |
| PDFs | No | No |
| Audio | No | No |
| Video | No | No |
| Reasoning | Yes | No |
| Tool calling | Yes | Yes |
| Structured output | No | No |
| Availability | ||
| Weights | Open | Proprietary |
| API model ID | command-a-reasoning-08-2025 | step-1-32k |
| API providers | 3 (best) | 1 |
| Released | Aug 21, 2025 | Jan 1, 2025 |
| Knowledge cutoff | Jun 1, 2024 | Jun 2024 |
What would a month cost?
Enter your expected volume in millions of tokens. List prices only; caching and batch discounts would lower these.
- Command A Reasoning$45.00
- Step 1 (32K)$39.68
Which should you choose?
Which is better: Command A Reasoning or Step 1 (32K)?
Command A Reasoning is the better all-round choice, scoring 27/100 against Step 1 (32K) (18). It leads on inputs & features and context window. Step 1 (32K) wins on price. The score weighs price 50%, inputs & features 30%, context window 20%. None of the shared benchmarks cover every model here yet, so capability is left out of this verdict.
Which is cheaper, Command A Reasoning or Step 1 (32K)?
Step 1 (32K) is cheaper at $2.05 input / $9.59 output per million tokens (official StepFun (Global) API price). Command A Reasoning costs $2.50 input / $10.00 output per million tokens (official Cohere API price). At a typical mix of three input tokens to one output token, that is $3.94 per million tokens for Step 1 (32K) versus $4.38 for Command A Reasoning (1.1× as much).
Which scores higher on benchmarks?
There is no independent benchmark that covers both models yet. Command A Reasoning has not been scored yet and Step 1 (32K) has not been scored yet.
Which is better for coding?
There are no published SWE-bench Verified results for Command A Reasoning and Step 1 (32K) yet, so there is no like-for-like coding score. Test both on a sample of your own tasks. Both support tool calling for agent workflows.
Which has the bigger context window?
Command A Reasoning has the largest context window at 256,000 tokens, against 32,768 for Step 1 (32K). Maximum output per response: Command A Reasoning up to 32,000, Step 1 (32K) up to 32,768 tokens.
Which can read images, PDFs, audio or video?
Command A Reasoning accepts text; Step 1 (32K) accepts text. They handle the same number of input types.
Are any of these open source?
Command A Reasoning publishes its weights and can be self-hosted; Step 1 (32K) is proprietary.
Which is newer?
Command A Reasoning is the newest, released Aug 21, 2025. Step 1 (32K) came out Jan 1, 2025. Knowledge cutoff: Command A Reasoning Jun 1, 2024, Step 1 (32K) Jun 2024.
How do you decide the winner?
Each model gets a 0–100 score on capability (50%, independent benchmark results); price (25%, blended price per million tokens (3 input : 1 output), log scale); inputs & features (15%, image, PDF, audio and video input, tool calling, structured output and reasoning); context window (10%, maximum tokens per request, log scale). Dimensions missing for any model are dropped and the remaining weights rescaled, so every model is judged on the same evidence. Specs and prices come from public model listings and the labs’ own API pages; capability scores come from independent benchmark runs. Data updated Oct 4, 2026.
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