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Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite vs Grok 4.3
A straight cost comparison of Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite (Google Gemini) and Grok 4.3 (xAI Grok), per 1,000,000 tokens, verified October 2026.
Rate-by-rate comparison
| Metric | Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite | Grok 4.3 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Input / 1M | $0.30 | $1.25 | Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite |
| Cached input / 1M | $0.03 | $0.20 | Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite |
| Cache write / 1M | — | — | Tie |
| Output / 1M | $2.50 | $2.50 | Tie |
| Context window | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 | Tie |
| Batch API | Yes | Yes | Tie |
| Long-context tier | None | > 200,000 | — |
For per-token metrics, the lower number wins. For context window and batch support, the higher or broader option wins. A dash means the provider does not publish that rate: a missing cache-write fee means writes are not billed per token, while a missing cached-input rate means cache hits bill at the full input rate.
Blended cost: 1M input + 250K output
| Model | Blended cost | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite | $0.925 | Cheaper |
| Grok 4.3 | $1.88 | +$0.95 |
Three workloads, two bills
| Workload | Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite | Grok 4.3 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Support chat 1,000 requests · 4K input / 600 output | $2.70 | $6.50 | Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite |
| RAG with caching 1,000 requests · 50K input (45K cached) / 1K output | $5.36 | $17.80 | Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite |
| Nightly batch job 10,000 requests · 10K input / 2K output | $40 | $87.50 | Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite |
Which one should you pick?
Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite wins on support chat, cached RAG, nightly batch job, while Grok 4.3 wins on none of the three workloads above.
Beyond price, the two differ on input rate ($0.30 vs $1.25); cached-input rate ($0.03 vs $0.20); long-context tier (none vs yes, above 200,000).
Batch mode is available on Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite and Grok 4.3, which halves the nightly job. Both publish cached-input discounts, so a stable system prompt is worth caching on either.
FAQ
Is Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite cheaper than Grok 4.3?
On a blended 1M-input-plus-250K-output workload, Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite is cheaper by 51% ($0.925 vs $1.88). The gap changes for cache-heavy prompts and for batch jobs, as the workload table shows.
Which handles longer prompts, Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite or Grok 4.3?
Both models share the same 1,000,000-token context window. Watch the long-context threshold on Grok 4.3: rates rise once input passes it.
Do both models support prompt caching?
Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite bills cached reads at $0.03 per 1M; Grok 4.3 at $0.20.