Best Nous Reasoning Models

Quick answer · Updated June 2026

The best Nous model for reasoning is Hermes 4 405B — 18.6 intelligence with extended step-by-step thinking. Hermes 4 70B (16.0) is next.

18.6Intelligence

31 t/sSpeed

$1.00Input /M

131KContext

Large language models with extended reasoning / thinking, ranked by intelligence. The best models for complex multi-step reasoning, math and analysis.

Frequently asked

What is the best Nous model for reasoning?

The best Nous model for reasoning is Hermes 4 405B — 18.6 intelligence with extended step-by-step thinking. Hermes 4 70B (16.0) is next.

What's a good alternative to Hermes 4 405B?

Hermes 4 70B (16.0) is the closest alternative on this metric. See the full ranking above for the tradeoffs.

How many Nous models are there?

modelgrep tracks 5 Nous models with live benchmarks, speed, latency and per-provider pricing, led on intelligence by Hermes 4 405B. 2 of them qualify for this ranking.

More Nous rankings

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All rankings

Small & Fast LLMs Smartest LLMs Best LLMs for Coding Best LLMs for Design & Frontend Fastest LLMs Lowest-Latency LLMs Cheapest LLMs Best Free LLMs Best Vision LLMs Best LLMs for Agents Best Open-Source LLMs Longest-Context LLMs