Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite vs Kimi K2.5
Complete pricing and performance comparison between Google's Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite and Moonshot's Kimi K2.5.
Quick Verdict
Cheaper
Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite
2.4x cheaper input, 2.0x cheaper output
Larger Context
Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite
1.0M vs 128K
Higher Quality
Kimi K2.5
Score: 47 vs 34
Faster
Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite
230 vs 34 tok/s
Pricing Comparison
| Spec | Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite | Kimi K2.5 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provider | Moonshot | ||
| Input / 1M tokens | $0.25 | $0.6 | Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite is 58% more expensive |
| Output / 1M tokens | $1.5 | $3 | Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite is 50% more expensive |
| Context Window | 1.0M | 128K | 8x difference |
| Max Output | 66K | 33K |
Performance Benchmarks
| Metric | Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite | Kimi K2.5 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality Index | 34 | 47 | Kimi K2.5 |
| Output Speed | 230 tok/s | 34 tok/s | Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite |
| Time to First Token | 5.17s | 1.35s | Kimi K2.5 |
| Value (Quality/$) | 134.0 | 78.0 | Higher = better value |
Benchmark data from Artificial Analysis. Quality Index is a composite score across reasoning, coding, and knowledge tasks.
Cost at Scale
Estimated cost at different usage levels (3:1 input-to-output token ratio, typical for chat).
| Usage | Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite | Kimi K2.5 | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
Single request 1K in / 300 out | $0.0007 | $0.0015 | Same |
10 requests 10K in / 3K out | $0.0070 | $0.015 | Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite saves $0.0080 |
100 requests 100K in / 30K out | $0.070 | $0.150 | Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite saves $0.080 |
1,000 requests 1M in / 300K out | $0.700 | $1.50 | Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite saves $0.800 |
10,000 requests 10M in / 3M out | $7.00 | $15.00 | Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite saves $8.00 |
1M requests/mo 1B in / 300M out | $700.00 | $1500.00 | Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite saves $800.00 |
Pros & Cons
Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite Strengths
- +Cheaper input tokens
- +Cheaper output tokens
- +Larger context window (1.0M vs 128K)
- +Higher max output tokens
- +Faster output (230 vs 34 tok/s)
Kimi K2.5 Strengths
- +Higher quality score (47 vs 34)
- +Lower latency (faster first token)
When to Use Each Model
Choose Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite for
- →Budget-conscious projects where cost is the primary factor
- →Long documents, large codebases, or multi-turn conversations
- →Generating long-form content or detailed code
- →Real-time applications, chat, or autocomplete
Choose Kimi K2.5 for
- →Tasks requiring maximum accuracy and reasoning
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite or Kimi K2.5?
For input tokens, Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite is 2.4x cheaper at $0.25/1M tokens. For output tokens, Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite is 2.0x cheaper at $1.5/1M tokens. At typical usage (1M input + 300K output), Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite costs $0.700 vs Kimi K2.5 at $1.50.
What's the context window difference?
Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite supports 1.0M context (1,048,576 tokens), while Kimi K2.5 supports 128K (128,000 tokens). Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite can handle 8x more context in a single request.
Which model has better benchmarks?
Quality Index: Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite scores 34 vs Kimi K2.5 at 47. Speed: Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite generates 230 tok/s vs Kimi K2.5 at 34 tok/s. Time to first token: Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite at 5.17s vs Kimi K2.5 at 1.35s.
When should I choose Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite over Kimi K2.5?
Choose Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite when you need: Cheaper input tokens, Cheaper output tokens, Larger context window (1.0M vs 128K), Higher max output tokens, Faster output (230 vs 34 tok/s). Choose Kimi K2.5 when you need: Higher quality score (47 vs 34), Lower latency (faster first token).
How much would 10,000 API requests cost?
At 1K input + 300 output tokens per request (typical chat): Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite = $7.00, Kimi K2.5 = $15.00. At 10K input + 1K output per request (longer conversations): Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite = $40.00, Kimi K2.5 = $90.00.
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