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Gemini 3.8 Flash vs Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite
A straight cost comparison of Gemini 3.8 Flash (Google Gemini) and Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite (Google Gemini), per 1,000,000 tokens, verified October 2026.
Rate-by-rate comparison
| Metric | Gemini 3.8 Flash | Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Input / 1M | $0.75 | $0.30 | Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite |
| Cached input / 1M | $0.075 | $0.03 | Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite |
| Cache write / 1M | — | — | Tie |
| Output / 1M | $3.75 | $2.50 | Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite |
| Context window | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 | Tie |
| Batch API | Yes | Yes | Tie |
| Long-context tier | > 200,000 | None | — |
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 3.8 Flash | $1.69 | +$0.762 |
| Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite | $0.925 | Cheaper |
Three workloads, two bills
| Workload | Gemini 3.8 Flash | Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Support chat 1,000 requests · 4K input / 600 output | $5.25 | $2.70 | Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite |
| RAG with caching 1,000 requests · 50K input (45K cached) / 1K output | $10.91 | $5.36 | Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite |
| Nightly batch job 10,000 requests · 10K input / 2K output | $75 | $40 | Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite |
Which one should you pick?
Gemini 3.8 Flash wins on none of the three workloads above, while Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite wins on support chat, cached RAG, nightly batch job.
Beyond price, the two differ on input rate ($0.75 vs $0.30); output rate ($3.75 vs $2.50); cached-input rate ($0.075 vs $0.03); long-context tier (yes, above 200,000 vs none).
Batch mode is available on Gemini 3.8 Flash and Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite, which halves the nightly job. Both publish cached-input discounts, so a stable system prompt is worth caching on either.
FAQ
Is Gemini 3.8 Flash cheaper than Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite?
On a blended 1M-input-plus-250K-output workload, Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite is cheaper by 45% ($0.925 vs $1.69). The gap changes for cache-heavy prompts and for batch jobs, as the workload table shows.
Which handles longer prompts, Gemini 3.8 Flash or Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite?
Both models share the same 1,000,000-token context window. Watch the long-context threshold on Gemini 3.8 Flash: rates rise once input passes it.
Do both models support prompt caching?
Gemini 3.8 Flash bills cached reads at $0.075 per 1M; Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite at $0.03.