Gemini 3 Flash vs Gemini 3 Pro
Complete pricing and performance comparison between Google's Gemini 3 Flash and Google's Gemini 3 Pro.
Quick Verdict
Cheaper
Gemini 3 Flash
4.0x cheaper input, 4.0x cheaper output
Larger Context
Gemini 3 Flash
1.0M vs 1.0M
Higher Quality
Gemini 3 Pro
Score: 48 vs 35
Faster
Gemini 3 Flash
184 vs 120 tok/s
Pricing Comparison
| Spec | Gemini 3 Flash | Gemini 3 Pro | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provider | |||
| Input / 1M tokens | $0.5 | $2 | Gemini 3 Flash is 75% more expensive |
| Output / 1M tokens | $3 | $12 | Gemini 3 Flash is 75% more expensive |
| Context Window | 1.0M | 1.0M | Same |
| Max Output | 66K | 66K |
Performance Benchmarks
| Metric | Gemini 3 Flash | Gemini 3 Pro | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality Index | 35 | 48 | Gemini 3 Pro |
| Output Speed | 184 tok/s | 120 tok/s | Gemini 3 Flash |
| Time to First Token | 0.80s | 26.13s | Gemini 3 Flash |
| Value (Quality/$) | 70.0 | 24.2 | 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 Flash | Gemini 3 Pro | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
Single request 1K in / 300 out | $0.0014 | $0.0056 | Gemini 3 Flash saves $0.0042 |
10 requests 10K in / 3K out | $0.014 | $0.056 | Gemini 3 Flash saves $0.042 |
100 requests 100K in / 30K out | $0.140 | $0.560 | Gemini 3 Flash saves $0.420 |
1,000 requests 1M in / 300K out | $1.40 | $5.60 | Gemini 3 Flash saves $4.20 |
10,000 requests 10M in / 3M out | $14.00 | $56.00 | Gemini 3 Flash saves $42.00 |
1M requests/mo 1B in / 300M out | $1400.00 | $5600.00 | Gemini 3 Flash saves $4200.00 |
Pros & Cons
Gemini 3 Flash Strengths
- +Cheaper input tokens
- +Cheaper output tokens
- +Faster output (184 vs 120 tok/s)
- +Lower latency (faster first token)
Gemini 3 Pro Strengths
- +Higher quality score (48 vs 35)
When to Use Each Model
Choose Gemini 3 Flash for
- →Budget-conscious projects where cost is the primary factor
- →Real-time applications, chat, or autocomplete
Choose Gemini 3 Pro for
- →Tasks requiring maximum accuracy and reasoning
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, Gemini 3 Flash or Gemini 3 Pro?
For input tokens, Gemini 3 Flash is 4.0x cheaper at $0.5/1M tokens. For output tokens, Gemini 3 Flash is 4.0x cheaper at $3/1M tokens. At typical usage (1M input + 300K output), Gemini 3 Flash costs $1.40 vs Gemini 3 Pro at $5.60.
What's the context window difference?
Gemini 3 Flash supports 1.0M context (1,048,576 tokens), while Gemini 3 Pro supports 1.0M (1,048,576 tokens). Gemini 3 Pro can handle 1x more context in a single request.
Which model has better benchmarks?
Quality Index: Gemini 3 Flash scores 35 vs Gemini 3 Pro at 48. Speed: Gemini 3 Flash generates 184 tok/s vs Gemini 3 Pro at 120 tok/s. Time to first token: Gemini 3 Flash at 0.80s vs Gemini 3 Pro at 26.13s.
When should I choose Gemini 3 Flash over Gemini 3 Pro?
Choose Gemini 3 Flash when you need: Cheaper input tokens, Cheaper output tokens, Faster output (184 vs 120 tok/s), Lower latency (faster first token). Choose Gemini 3 Pro when you need: Higher quality score (48 vs 35).
How much would 10,000 API requests cost?
At 1K input + 300 output tokens per request (typical chat): Gemini 3 Flash = $14.00, Gemini 3 Pro = $56.00. At 10K input + 1K output per request (longer conversations): Gemini 3 Flash = $80.00, Gemini 3 Pro = $320.00.