AI Models · Open-Source vs Paid

Kimi K3 (batch) Open vs Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview Paid

Kimi K3 (batch) vs Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview compared — price per token, context window, multimodality, openness and which to choose. Can the open-source model replace the paid one? Full 2026 breakdown.

Prices & specs refreshed from live data · olud.ai

Open-model prices = cheapest provider via OpenRouter; official maker rates may be higher.

Kimi K3 (batch)OpenMoonshot AI
$3 /M input
$15 /M outputNo per-token fees if you self-host
TypeOpen-weight
Context window1M tokens
MultimodalYes
Self-hostYes
Gemini 3.1 Pro PreviewPaidGoogle
$2 /M input
$12 /M outputManaged API (no infra to run)
TypeProprietary
Context window1M tokens
MultimodalYes
Self-hostNo
Choose Kimi K3 (batch) if you want to self-host, keep your data private and skip per-token fees — it's open-weight and runs on your own hardware. Choose Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview if you want frontier capability through a managed API with zero infrastructure to run.

Kimi K3 (batch) vs Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview specs

SpecKimi K3 (batch)Gemini 3.1 Pro PreviewWinner
MakerMoonshot AIGoogle
TypeOpen-weightProprietaryKimi K3 (batch)
Context window1M tokens1M tokens= Tie
Input price$3/M · free self-host$2/MGemini 3.1 Pro Preview
Output price$15/M · free self-host$12/MGemini 3.1 Pro Preview
Vision / multimodalYesYes= Tie
Tool / function callingYesYes= Tie
Self-hostableYesNo (API only)Kimi K3 (batch)
LicenseModified MITProprietaryKimi K3 (batch)

Price gap & when to choose each

Choose Kimi K3 (batch) if…
  • You want to self-host or run on your cloud
  • You prioritize data privacy & control
  • You are building open or reproducible AI
Choose Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview if…
  • You want frontier performance through a managed API
  • You want the lower output price
  • You value reliability & ecosystem
  • You don't want to manage infrastructure

Feature comparison

CapabilityKimi K3 (batch)Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview
Open weights (downloadable)
Self-hostable
Runs fully offline
Vision / multimodal
Tool / function calling
1M+ context window

Benchmarks: Kimi K3 (batch) vs Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview

Independent benchmark scores measured by Artificial Analysis. Higher is better (except latency).

Kimi K3 (batch)
Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview
Intelligence index
43.8
30.4
Coding index
76.2
68.8
GPQA
93.5%
94.1%
Humanity's Last Exam
46.9%
47%
Long Context Reasoning
88.7%
82%
SciCode
59.5%
58.7%
τ-Bench Banking
46%
21.4%
Terminal-Bench
85%
73.8%
IFBench
77.1%
τ²-Bench
95.6%
Terminal-Bench Hard
53.8%
Speed
37.2 tok/s
125.2 tok/s
Latency
2.99s
24.48s
Intelligence per $
7.3
6.8

Benchmark data by Artificial Analysis.

How Kimi K3 (batch) and Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview score

🏆 Best value & openness: Kimi K3 (batch) (4.6 vs 3.2 / 5)
CriterionKimi K3 (batch)Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview
Cost-efficiency3.03.5
Context window5.05.0
Openness5.01.5
Self-hosting5.01.0
Multimodality5.05.0

Scores come from live data — output price (cost), context length, open vs closed weights (openness & self-hosting) and vision/tool support (multimodality). Raw task quality isn't scored here; it depends on your benchmark — see the verdict.

What each model is

Kimi K3 (batch) Open

Moonshot AI · Open-weight

Kimi K3 is a 2.8T parameter open-weight multimodal reasoning model from Moonshot AI. It is suited for complex coding, knowledge work, and long-horizon agentic workflows, and is particularly strong at...

Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview Paid

Google · Proprietary

Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview is Google’s frontier reasoning model, delivering enhanced software engineering performance, improved agentic reliability, and more efficient token usage across complex workflows. Building on the multimodal foundation.

Other models in these families

These variants are tracked but not compared here — one page per family keeps the comparison readable.

Other variants tracked
Kimi K3Kimi K2.6Kimi K2.7 CodeKimi K2.5Kimi K2 ThinkingKimi K2 0905Kimi K2 0711
Other variants tracked
Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview (batch)Gemini 2.5 ProGemini 2.5 Pro (batch)Gemini 2.5 Pro Preview 05-06Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview Custom ToolsNano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image Preview)

Frequently asked questions

Is Kimi K3 (batch) as good as Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview?

Kimi K3 (batch) is open-weight and competitive on many tasks, but Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview may still lead on the hardest reasoning and agentic work. The gap keeps narrowing — benchmark both on your actual use case before deciding.

Can I run Kimi K3 (batch) locally?

Yes. Kimi K3 (batch) has open weights, so you can self-host it on your own GPUs or run it via a low-cost API. Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview is API-only and cannot be self-hosted.

Kimi K3 (batch) vs Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview — which should I pick in 2026?

Choose Kimi K3 (batch) if you want to self-host, keep your data private and skip per-token fees — it's open-weight and runs on your own hardware. Choose Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview if you want frontier capability through a managed API with zero infrastructure to run.

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