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  5. Laguna XS 2.1 (free)vsMercury 2
Updated Jul 2026

Laguna XS 2.1 (free)vsMercury 2

Laguna XS 2.1 (free) is cheaper than Mercury 2 at $0/M vs $0.25/M input tokens.

Laguna XS 2.1 (free) and Mercury 2 compared across 11 shared prompts
SpecLaguna XS 2.1 (free)Mercury 2
Input priceFree$0.25/M tokens
Output priceFree$0.75/M tokens
Context window262K tokens128K tokens
Free API (OpenRouter)Yes (1 provider)No
ReleasedJul 2026Mar 2026
Side by side

Same prompt, both answers

Opening lines from 6 of the 11 prompts both answered. Formatting stripped, words untouched.

Advanced Longevity Plan (Biohacker)

Develop a comprehensive, cutting-edge 3-month longevity plan for a biohacker aiming to optimize longevity, physical and cognitive…

Laguna XS 2.1 (free)828 words
3-Month Longevity & Performance Optimization Plan for a Biohacker Designed for advanced biohackers with a focus on longevity, cognitive sharpness, and peak physical performance. Assumes access to basic medical testing, wearables, and some advanced tools (e.g., neurofeedback apps).
Read the full answer
Mercury 22,100 words
3‑Month “Longevity‑Optimization” Blueprint for the Advanced Bio‑Hacker (All recommendations are research‑backed, but not a substitute for professional medical advice. Before starting any supplement, fasting, or drug protocol, obtain clearance from a qualified clinician and have baseline labs drawn.)
Read the full answer

Explain Like I'm a Specific Expert

Explain how a large language model (like GPT or Claude) learns and generates text to each of these three audiences: 1. **An experienced…

Laguna XS 2.1 (free)610 words
For the Software Engineer Think of training a language model like building a distributed prediction system with an incredibly complex API contract. Instead of training on labeled datasets where you explicitly tell it "this text is sentiment-positive," you're feeding it massive amounts of text and asking it to predict…
Read the full answer
Mercury 2896 words
1. Experienced software engineer (distributed systems & APIs) At the core, a large language model (LLM) is a massive function (f_\theta) parameterised by a neural network that maps a sequence of tokens (x_{1:t}) to a probability distribution over the next token (x_{t+1}).
Read the full answer

Michelin Star Recipe Design

Design an innovative recipe for a multi-component dish worthy of a Michelin 3-star restaurant. The recipe should feature an unusual…

Laguna XS 2.1 (free)602 words
Recipe: "Nocturne of Shadows and Light" Concept: A poetic exploration of ancient flavors (pomegranate, quince) intertwined with modernist techniques (spherification, sous vide) and an unexpected coffee-cocoa depth, harmonizing the boldness of game with the elegance of fruit.
Read the full answer
Mercury 21,688 words
Oceanic Umami Symphony A three‑course‑in‑one plate that travels from the briny deep to the forest floor, marrying fire, earth and sky through unexpected pairings, hyper‑modern techniques and a narrative of balance.
Read the full answer

Historical Counterfactual Analysis

If the transistor had been invented in 1920 instead of 1947, trace the likely technological, economic, and geopolitical implications through…

Laguna XS 2.1 (free)870 words
The Transistor Revolution: A 1920 Timeline Analysis Immediate Impact (1920-1940) Early Military Applications With transistors available 27 years before radar, telecommunications would see revolutionary improvements: Radio warfare: Nations could develop sophisticated radio direction-finding and jamming capabilities by…
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Mercury 22,965 words
Executive summary If a practical point‑contact transistor had been demonstrated in 1920 (instead of 1947) the whole post‑World‑War‑II technological trajectory would have been compressed by roughly 15‑20 years.
Read the full answer

Adversarial Contract Review

Here is a contract for a software consulting engagement: --- SOFTWARE CONSULTING AGREEMENT This Agreement is entered into between TechCorp…

Laguna XS 2.1 (free)635 words
I'll analyze each clause in this software consulting agreement to identify potential risks to the contractor and suggest modifications with legal reasoning. Clause-by-Clause Analysis Clause 1: SCOPE Risk: Unlimited scope creep without additional compensation Modification: Add: "Any modification to the scope requiring…
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Mercury 22,132 words
Below is a clause‑by‑clause risk‑assessment of the sample “Software Consulting Agreement” together with practical revision language that a contractor (or the contractor’s counsel) could propose. The analysis is framed as general information about typical U.S.
Read the full answer

Beginner's Longevity Plan

Outline a simple, actionable 1-month plan for someone starting their journey towards better health and longevity. Focus on 3 key areas…

Laguna XS 2.1 (free)409 words
1-Month Health & Longevity Plan Focus Areas: Diet, Exercise, Sleep Week 1: Start with Foundational Habits Diet: Action: Add 1 serving of fruit or vegetables daily (e.g., a banana with breakfast, a side salad with lunch). Why: Boosts nutrient intake and fiber.
Read the full answer
Mercury 2920 words
One‑Month “Kick‑Start” Blueprint for Health & Longevity Pick three pillars – Nutrition, Movement, Sleep – and build daily habits that are easy to start, track, and keep.
Read the full answer
Our Verdict
Laguna XS 2.1 (free)
Laguna XS 2.1 (free)
Mercury 2
Mercury 2Runner-up

Not enough votes to call it. On the specs, Laguna XS 2.1 (free) has the edge: bigger model tier, newer, bigger context window.

Slight edge

Reviewing agent-written code?See a Brief PR report

API pricing

Cost per 1M tokens

Laguna XS 2.1 (free)
Input
$0.000
Output
$0.000
Mercury 2
Input
$0.25
Output
$0.75
Where to run it

2 hosts

Laguna XS 2.1 (free)1 host
HostInOutContextUptime
PPoolsidefp8$0 in·$0 out·262k·99.8% up
Mercury 21 host
HostInOutContextUptime
Inception$0.25 in·$0.75 out·128k·100% up

Per million tokens. Prices and uptime via OpenRouter, checked 23 Sep 2026.

Research

What we learned reading every model

FAQ

Common questions

Laguna XS 2.1 (free) is developed by Poolside while Mercury 2 is developed by Inception. Laguna XS 2.1 (free) has a 262K token context window vs Mercury 2's 128K. You can compare their actual outputs across 11 challenges on Rival to see how they differ in practice.

It depends on your use case. Laguna XS 2.1 (free) and Mercury 2 each have strengths in different areas. Rival lets you compare their real outputs side-by-side across 11 challenges so you can judge which fits your needs best.

Laguna XS 2.1 (free) costs $0/M input tokens and Mercury 2 costs $0.25/M input tokens. Laguna XS 2.1 (free) is $0.25/M cheaper per input. Check their side-by-side outputs on Rival to see if the price difference is justified by quality.

This page shows a side-by-side comparison of Laguna XS 2.1 (free) and Mercury 2 across shared challenges. You can vote on which model produced the better output in a blind duel. Browsing and voting are free. No account is needed to look; signing in only saves your votes and likes.

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Model pages

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