Orbit supports three AI providers. Here's how to choose the right one for your workflow.
Provider comparison
OpenAI
- Best for: Resume tailoring, general tasks, speed
- Recommended model: GPT-4o-mini (fast, cheap, good quality)
- Premium model: GPT-4o (best quality, 10x more expensive)
- Strengths: Fastest response times, best structured output (JSON), widest model selection
- Cost: Lowest with GPT-4o-mini
Anthropic (Claude)
- Best for: Scout Chat coaching, nuanced advice, long conversations
- Recommended model: Claude Haiku 4.5 (fast, affordable, great quality)
- Premium model: Claude Sonnet 4 (exceptional at complex reasoning)
- Strengths: Best conversational quality, most empathetic coaching tone, excellent at understanding context
- Cost: Slightly more than OpenAI mini, but better conversation quality
xAI (Grok)
- Best for: Users who prefer the xAI ecosystem
- Strengths: Competitive pricing, good general quality
- Cost: Comparable to OpenAI
Best practices
Start with one provider. Pick OpenAI (GPT-4o-mini) or Anthropic (Claude Haiku) and use it for everything. Both are excellent.
You only need one key. Orbit uses a single provider for all AI features. There's no benefit to configuring multiple keys — you select one provider in Settings and all features use it.
Model selection matters more than provider. The difference between GPT-4o-mini and GPT-4o (same provider, different models) is bigger than the difference between GPT-4o-mini and Claude Haiku (different providers, similar tier).
When to use which model
| Task | Best Model | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Daily Scout Chat | GPT-4o-mini or Claude Haiku | Fast, cheap, good enough |
| Important resume tailor | Claude Sonnet or GPT-4o | Better at keyword optimization |
| Interview prep | Any model works well | Structured output, all handle it |
| Coaching conversations | Claude Haiku or Sonnet | More empathetic, nuanced |
| Quick AI drafts | GPT-4o-mini | Speed matters most here |
Switching providers
You can switch providers at any time in Settings > Preferences. Your chat history is preserved — only future messages use the new provider.
Our recommendation
For most users: Start with Anthropic Claude Haiku 4.5. It offers the best balance of quality, speed, and cost for job search coaching. It's $1-3/month for typical usage.
On a tight budget: Use OpenAI GPT-4o-mini. It's the cheapest option at ~$0.50-1.50/month.
For best quality: Use Claude Sonnet 4 for resume tailoring and coaching, and switch to Claude Haiku for everyday chat. This costs $3-8/month but produces noticeably better results for important tasks.