Kimi K2.6 vs Kimi K3
Price, context window & benchmark comparison
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Compare different models
Verdict: Kimi K2.6 is 3.5× cheaper than Kimi K3 on a typical 3:1 input/output mix. Kimi K3 scores higher on the Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index (43.6 vs 27). Kimi K3 has the larger context window (1M vs 262K).
| Kimi K2.6 | Kimi K3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Input price / 1M | $0.95 | $3.00 |
| Output price / 1M | $4.00 | $15.00 |
| Blended price (3:1) | $1.71 | $6.00 |
| Cached input / 1M | $0.16 | $0.30 |
| Context window | 262K | 1M |
| Max output | 236K | 944K |
| Intelligence index | 27 | 43.6 |
| Coding index | 61.8 | 76.2 |
| Providers | 22 | 20 |
| Best provider uptime (30m) | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| Vision input | Yes | Yes |
| Reasoning | Yes | Yes |
| Tool calling | Yes | Yes |
| Released | 2026-04-20 | 2026-07-16 |
| Retirement | — | — |
Cost calculator
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Kimi K2.6 or Kimi K3?
Kimi K2.6 is 3.5× cheaper than Kimi K3 on a typical 3:1 input/output mix.
Kimi K2.6 vs Kimi K3: which has a bigger context window?
Kimi K2.6: 262,144 tokens. Kimi K3: 1,048,576 tokens.
How much would 1 million requests cost?
At 2,000 input + 500 output tokens per request: Kimi K2.6 ≈ $3,900, Kimi K3 ≈ $13,500.
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