What is the best alternative to Gemini 3.5 Flash?

Claude Opus 4.6 is the closest model that scores higher on the BenchLeader Index (62.6 against 62.5). For less money, GPT-6.1 Terra scores 65.2 at $2.00 per 1M tokens.

Is there a cheaper alternative to Gemini 3.5 Flash?

Yes: GPT-6.1 Terra (65.2, $2.00), Qwen3.6 Max (62.4, $2.96) and Gemini 3.7 Flash (62.2, $1.50), each within 4 Index points and cheaper than Gemini 3.5 Flash's $3.38.

Is there an open-source alternative to Gemini 3.5 Flash?

The best open-weights models on the BenchLeader Index are Kimi K3 (62.1), GLM-5 (60.2) and GLM 5.2 (60.1). You can download and run them yourself; check each licence on its model page.

How are these alternatives chosen?

From the models ranked on the BenchLeader Index today: the ones just above Gemini 3.5 Flash, cheaper ones within 4 points, ones at least 1.5× as fast within 4 points, and the best open-weights models. Prices are list prices blended three input tokens to one output.

Google

Gemini 3.5 Flash alternatives

Data as of 2 Nov 2026 · ranked on the BenchLeader Index

As of 2 Nov 2026, Gemini 3.5 Flash by Google scores 62.5 on the BenchLeader Index at $3.38 per 1M tokens blended. Claude Opus 4.6 scores higher (62.6); GPT-6.1 Terra is the best cheaper model within 4 points (65.2 at $2.00); Muse Spark 1.2 is at least 1.5× as fast at a similar score; Kimi K3 is the best open-weights option (62.1).

Scores higher

The closest models above Gemini 3.5 Flash on the Index.

Claude Opus 4.6 Anthropic compare62.6 · $10.00
GPT-5.3-Codex OpenAI compare62.9 · $4.81
Muse Wonder Full Meta compare62.9 · –

Cheaper, nearly as good

Within 4 Index points, for less per token.

GPT-6.1 Terra OpenAI compare65.2 · $2.00
Qwen3.6 Max Alibaba compare62.4 · $2.96
Gemini 3.7 Flash Google compare62.2 · $1.50
Muse Spark 1.1 Meta compare62.2 · $2.00
Gemini 3.8 Flash Google compare61.9 · $1.50

Faster

At least 1.5× the output speed, within 4 points.

Muse Spark 1.2 Meta compare61.6 · $2.00

Open weights

The best models whose weights you can run yourself.

Kimi K3 Moonshot AI compare62.1 · $6.00
GLM-5 Zhipu AI60.2 · $1.55
GLM 5.2 Zhipu AI60.1 · $2.15

Every alternative side by side

Model	Index	$ / 1M blended	Tokens / s	Why
Gemini 3.5 Flash (this model)	62.5	$3.38	190	–
GPT-6.1 Terra	65.2	$2.00	107	cheaper
GPT-5.3-Codex	62.9	$4.81	114	scores higher
Muse Wonder Full	62.9	–	–	scores higher
Claude Opus 4.6	62.6	$10.00	35	scores higher
Qwen3.6 Max	62.4	$2.96	–	cheaper
Gemini 3.7 Flash	62.2	$1.50	91	cheaper
Muse Spark 1.1	62.2	$2.00	206	cheaper
Kimi K3	62.1	$6.00	66	open weights
Gemini 3.8 Flash	61.9	$1.50	131	cheaper
Muse Spark 1.2	61.6	$2.00	296	faster
GLM-5	60.2	$1.55	62	open weights
GLM 5.2	60.1	$2.15	89	open weights

Prices are list prices blended three input tokens to one output; speeds are measured medians, credited on each model page. The Index is BenchLeader's own, from independent benchmarks.

Questions people ask

What is the best alternative to Gemini 3.5 Flash?: Claude Opus 4.6 is the closest model that scores higher on the BenchLeader Index (62.6 against 62.5). For less money, GPT-6.1 Terra scores 65.2 at $2.00 per 1M tokens.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Gemini 3.5 Flash?: Yes: GPT-6.1 Terra (65.2, $2.00), Qwen3.6 Max (62.4, $2.96) and Gemini 3.7 Flash (62.2, $1.50), each within 4 Index points and cheaper than Gemini 3.5 Flash's $3.38.
Is there an open-source alternative to Gemini 3.5 Flash?: The best open-weights models on the BenchLeader Index are Kimi K3 (62.1), GLM-5 (60.2) and GLM 5.2 (60.1). You can download and run them yourself; check each licence on its model page.
How are these alternatives chosen?: From the models ranked on the BenchLeader Index today: the ones just above Gemini 3.5 Flash, cheaper ones within 4 points, ones at least 1.5× as fast within 4 points, and the best open-weights models. Prices are list prices blended three input tokens to one output.