What is the best alternative to Gemini 3.6 Flash?

Kimi K3.1 Pro is the closest model that scores higher on the BenchLeader Index (61.5 against 61.3). For less money, DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 scores 59.2 at $0.525 per 1M tokens.

Is there a cheaper alternative to Gemini 3.6 Flash?

Yes: DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 (59.2, $0.525), Qwen3.6 Plus (59.1, $1.13) and Gemini 3 Flash (58.9, $1.13), each within 4 Index points and cheaper than Gemini 3.6 Flash's $1.50.

Is there an open-source alternative to Gemini 3.6 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 3.6 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 3.6 Flash alternatives

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

As of 2 Nov 2026, Gemini 3.6 Flash by Google scores 61.3 on the BenchLeader Index at $1.50 per 1M tokens blended. Kimi K3.1 Pro scores higher (61.5); DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 is the best cheaper model within 4 points (59.2 at $0.525); 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 3.6 Flash on the Index.

Kimi K3.1 Pro Moonshot AI compare61.5 · $4.00
Muse Spark 1.2 Meta compare61.6 · $2.00
Gemini 3.8 Flash Google compare61.9 · $1.50

Cheaper, nearly as good

Within 4 Index points, for less per token.

DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 DeepSeek59.2 · $0.525
Qwen3.6 Plus Alibaba59.1 · $1.13
Gemini 3 Flash Google58.9 · $1.13
Kimi K2.5 Moonshot AI58.7 · $1.20
GPT-5.6 Luna OpenAI58.5 · $0.45

Faster

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

Muse Spark 1.2 Meta compare61.6 · $2.00
Grok 4.20 Multi-Agent SpaceXAI58.4 · $1.56

Open weights

The best models whose weights you can run yourself.

Kimi K3 Moonshot AI62.1 · $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 3.6 Flash (this model)	61.3	$1.50	197	–
Kimi K3	62.1	$6.00	66	open weights
Gemini 3.8 Flash	61.9	$1.50	131	scores higher
Muse Spark 1.2	61.6	$2.00	296	scores higher, faster
Kimi K3.1 Pro	61.5	$4.00	31	scores higher
GLM-5	60.2	$1.55	62	open weights
GLM 5.2	60.1	$2.15	89	open weights
DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017	59.2	$0.525	170	cheaper
Qwen3.6 Plus	59.1	$1.13	54	cheaper
Gemini 3 Flash	58.9	$1.13	207	cheaper
Kimi K2.5	58.7	$1.20	67	cheaper
GPT-5.6 Luna	58.5	$0.45	113	cheaper
Grok 4.20 Multi-Agent	58.4	$1.56	362	faster

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 3.6 Flash?: Kimi K3.1 Pro is the closest model that scores higher on the BenchLeader Index (61.5 against 61.3). For less money, DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 scores 59.2 at $0.525 per 1M tokens.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Gemini 3.6 Flash?: Yes: DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 (59.2, $0.525), Qwen3.6 Plus (59.1, $1.13) and Gemini 3 Flash (58.9, $1.13), each within 4 Index points and cheaper than Gemini 3.6 Flash's $1.50.
Is there an open-source alternative to Gemini 3.6 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 3.6 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.