What is the best alternative to Kimi K3?

Gemini 3.7 Flash is the closest model that scores higher on the BenchLeader Index (62.2 against 62.1). For less money, GPT-6.1 Sol scores 67.2 at $4.00 per 1M tokens.

Is there a cheaper alternative to Kimi K3?

Yes: GPT-6.1 Sol (67.2, $4.00), Gemini 4 Argon (65.9, $4.00) and GPT-6.1 Terra (65.2, $2.00), each within 4 Index points and cheaper than Kimi K3's $6.00.

How are these alternatives chosen?

From the models ranked on the BenchLeader Index today: the ones just above Kimi K3, 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.

Moonshot AI

Kimi K3 alternatives

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

As of 2 Nov 2026, Kimi K3 by Moonshot AI scores 62.1 on the BenchLeader Index at $6.00 per 1M tokens blended. Gemini 3.7 Flash scores higher (62.2); GPT-6.1 Sol is the best cheaper model within 4 points (67.2 at $4.00); GPT-5.6 Sol is at least 1.5× as fast at a similar score.

Scores higher

The closest models above Kimi K3 on the Index.

Gemini 3.7 Flash Google compare62.2 · $1.50
Muse Spark 1.1 Meta compare62.2 · $2.00
Qwen3.6 Max Alibaba compare62.4 · $2.96

Cheaper, nearly as good

Within 4 Index points, for less per token.

GPT-6.1 Sol OpenAI compare67.2 · $4.00
Gemini 4 Argon Google compare65.9 · $4.00
GPT-6.1 Terra OpenAI compare65.2 · $2.00
Claude Sonnet 5.5 Anthropic compare65.1 · $4.00
GPT-6 Sol OpenAI compare63.5 · $4.00

Faster

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

GPT-5.6 Sol OpenAI compare65.4 · $8.00
GPT-6.1 Terra OpenAI compare65.2 · $2.00
Claude Sonnet 5.5 Anthropic compare65.1 · $4.00

Every alternative side by side

Model	Index	$ / 1M blended	Tokens / s	Why
Kimi K3 (this model)	62.1	$6.00	66	–
GPT-6.1 Sol	67.2	$4.00	87	cheaper
Gemini 4 Argon	65.9	$4.00	83	cheaper
GPT-5.6 Sol	65.4	$8.00	127	faster
GPT-6.1 Terra	65.2	$2.00	107	cheaper, faster
Claude Sonnet 5.5	65.1	$4.00	137	cheaper, faster
GPT-6 Sol	63.5	$4.00	149	cheaper
Qwen3.6 Max	62.4	$2.96	–	scores higher
Gemini 3.7 Flash	62.2	$1.50	91	scores higher
Muse Spark 1.1	62.2	$2.00	206	scores higher

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 Kimi K3?: Gemini 3.7 Flash is the closest model that scores higher on the BenchLeader Index (62.2 against 62.1). For less money, GPT-6.1 Sol scores 67.2 at $4.00 per 1M tokens.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Kimi K3?: Yes: GPT-6.1 Sol (67.2, $4.00), Gemini 4 Argon (65.9, $4.00) and GPT-6.1 Terra (65.2, $2.00), each within 4 Index points and cheaper than Kimi K3's $6.00.
How are these alternatives chosen?: From the models ranked on the BenchLeader Index today: the ones just above Kimi K3, 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.