Kimi K2.5 vs MiniMax M2.5
Complete pricing and performance comparison between Moonshot's Kimi K2.5 and MiniMax's MiniMax M2.5.
Quick Verdict
Cheaper
MiniMax M2.5
2.0x cheaper input, 2.5x cheaper output
Larger Context
Kimi K2.5
128K vs 128K
Higher Quality
Kimi K2.5
Score: 47 vs 42
Faster
MiniMax M2.5
48 vs 46 tok/s
Pricing Comparison
| Spec | Kimi K2.5 | MiniMax M2.5 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provider | Moonshot | MiniMax | |
| Input / 1M tokens | $0.6 | $0.3 | MiniMax M2.5 is 50% more expensive |
| Output / 1M tokens | $3 | $1.2 | MiniMax M2.5 is 60% more expensive |
| Context Window | 128K | 128K | Same |
| Max Output | 33K | 33K |
Performance Benchmarks
| Metric | Kimi K2.5 | MiniMax M2.5 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality Index | 47 | 42 | Kimi K2.5 |
| Output Speed | 46 tok/s | 48 tok/s | MiniMax M2.5 |
| Time to First Token | 1.05s | 2.47s | Kimi K2.5 |
| Value (Quality/$) | 78.0 | 139.7 | 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 | Kimi K2.5 | MiniMax M2.5 | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
Single request 1K in / 300 out | $0.0015 | $0.0007 | Same |
10 requests 10K in / 3K out | $0.015 | $0.0066 | MiniMax M2.5 saves $0.0084 |
100 requests 100K in / 30K out | $0.150 | $0.066 | MiniMax M2.5 saves $0.084 |
1,000 requests 1M in / 300K out | $1.50 | $0.660 | MiniMax M2.5 saves $0.840 |
10,000 requests 10M in / 3M out | $15.00 | $6.60 | MiniMax M2.5 saves $8.40 |
1M requests/mo 1B in / 300M out | $1500.00 | $660.00 | MiniMax M2.5 saves $840.00 |
Pros & Cons
Kimi K2.5 Strengths
- +Higher quality score (47 vs 42)
- +Lower latency (faster first token)
MiniMax M2.5 Strengths
- +Cheaper input tokens
- +Cheaper output tokens
- +Faster output (48 vs 46 tok/s)
When to Use Each Model
Choose Kimi K2.5 for
- →Tasks requiring maximum accuracy and reasoning
Choose MiniMax M2.5 for
- →Budget-conscious projects where cost is the primary factor
- →Real-time applications, chat, or autocomplete
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, Kimi K2.5 or MiniMax M2.5?
For input tokens, MiniMax M2.5 is 2.0x cheaper at $0.3/1M tokens. For output tokens, MiniMax M2.5 is 2.5x cheaper at $1.2/1M tokens. At typical usage (1M input + 300K output), Kimi K2.5 costs $1.50 vs MiniMax M2.5 at $0.660.
What's the context window difference?
Kimi K2.5 supports 128K context (128,000 tokens), while MiniMax M2.5 supports 128K (128,000 tokens). MiniMax M2.5 can handle 1x more context in a single request.
Which model has better benchmarks?
Quality Index: Kimi K2.5 scores 47 vs MiniMax M2.5 at 42. Speed: Kimi K2.5 generates 46 tok/s vs MiniMax M2.5 at 48 tok/s. Time to first token: Kimi K2.5 at 1.05s vs MiniMax M2.5 at 2.47s.
When should I choose Kimi K2.5 over MiniMax M2.5?
Choose Kimi K2.5 when you need: Higher quality score (47 vs 42), Lower latency (faster first token). Choose MiniMax M2.5 when you need: Cheaper input tokens, Cheaper output tokens, Faster output (48 vs 46 tok/s).
How much would 10,000 API requests cost?
At 1K input + 300 output tokens per request (typical chat): Kimi K2.5 = $15.00, MiniMax M2.5 = $6.60. At 10K input + 1K output per request (longer conversations): Kimi K2.5 = $90.00, MiniMax M2.5 = $42.00.