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  5. Laguna XS 2.1 (free)vsNemotron 3.5 Lightning
Updated Aug 2026

Laguna XS 2.1 (free)vsNemotron 3.5 Lightning

Laguna XS 2.1 (free) is cheaper than Nemotron 3.5 Lightning at $0/M vs $0.08/M input tokens.

Laguna XS 2.1 (free) and Nemotron 3.5 Lightning compared across 11 shared prompts
SpecLaguna XS 2.1 (free)Nemotron 3.5 Lightning
Input priceFree$0.08/M tokens
Output priceFree$0.2/M tokens
Context window262K tokens1.0M tokens
Weights—Open
Free API (OpenRouter)Yes (1 provider)Yes (1 provider)
ReleasedJul 2026Aug 2026
Side by side

Same prompt, both answers

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

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.
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Nemotron 3.5 Lightning869 words
Dish Name: The Alchemy of the Tundra: A Study in Contrasts Conceptual Narrative: This dish is a meditation on the extremes of the Arctic landscape and the human desire to tame it. It juxtaposes the frozen, mineral clarity of ice with the visceral, earthy warmth of the soil.
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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.
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Nemotron 3.5 Lightning896 words
Here is a simple, actionable 1-month plan designed to build sustainable habits without overwhelming you. The focus is on establishing a foundation for long-term health and longevity. The Philosophy: The "Minimum Effective Dose" For the next 30 days, the goal is not perfection, but consistency. Aim for 80% adherence.
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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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Nemotron 3.5 Lightning1,176 words
This is a fascinating counterfactual scenario. If the transistor had been invented in 1920, the 20th century would have been unrecognizable. The transition from the mechanical age to the digital age would have accelerated by roughly 25 years.
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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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Nemotron 3.5 Lightning1,682 words
This contract is heavily skewed in favor of the Client (TechCorp Solutions Inc.) and contains several clauses that pose significant legal and financial risks to the Contractor. Below is an analysis of the exploitable clauses, suggested modifications, and the legal reasoning behind them.
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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…
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Nemotron 3.5 Lightning1,103 words
For the Experienced Software Engineer You’re used to debugging race conditions and optimizing latency; the idea that an LLM is "just predicting the next word" feels like a cop-out, especially when the output can be eerily coherent.
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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).
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Nemotron 3.5 Lightning931 words
This is a comprehensive 3-month longevity optimization protocol designed for the advanced biohacker. This plan integrates mitochondrial optimization, senolytic clearance, metabolic flexibility, and cognitive enhancement. Disclaimer: This plan is for educational purposes only.
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Our Verdict
Laguna XS 2.1 (free)
Laguna XS 2.1 (free)
Nemotron 3.5 Lightning
Nemotron 3.5 Lightning

Not enough votes to call it. On the specs, nothing separates them.

Too close to call

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
Nemotron 3.5 Lightning
Input
$0.08
Output
$0.20
Where to run it

5 hosts, cheapest first

Laguna XS 2.1 (free)1 host
HostInOutContextUptime
PPoolsidefp8$0 in·$0 out·262k·99.8% up
Nemotron 3.5 Lightning4 hosts
HostInOutContextUptime
DDarkbloomint4$0.07 in·$0.18 out·262k·99.9% upCCoreWeavebf16$0.07 in·$0.20 out·262k·99.1% upPPhala$0.07 in·$0.20 out·262k·99.8% upDDeepInfrabf16$0.08 in·$0.20 out·262k·99.8% 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 Nemotron 3.5 Lightning is developed by NVIDIA. Laguna XS 2.1 (free) has a 262K token context window vs Nemotron 3.5 Lightning's 1.0M. 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 Nemotron 3.5 Lightning 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 Nemotron 3.5 Lightning costs $0.08/M input tokens. Laguna XS 2.1 (free) is $0.08/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 Nemotron 3.5 Lightning 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

Laguna XS 2.1 (free) logo
Laguna XS 2.1 (free)11 outputs, specs and price
Nemotron 3.5 Lightning logo
Nemotron 3.5 Lightning58 outputs, specs and price
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