API cost decision in 10 seconds

NewClaude Haiku 5.5 (batch) vs Gemini 3.5 Flash Lite (batch)

Pick Claude Haiku 5.5 (batch) for lower cost; pick Gemini 3.5 Flash Lite (batch) only if the larger context window matters more.

Page updated: 2026-10-07T20:07:23Z Data confirmed: 2026-10-15T02:07:54Z Prices normalized to USD per 1M tokens Sample workload: 1M input + 500K output

Budget verdict

Pick Claude Haiku 5.5 (batch) for lower cost; pick Gemini 3.5 Flash Lite (batch) only if the larger context window matters more.

On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, Claude Haiku 5.5 (batch) is estimated at $0.17 vs $0.78 for Gemini 3.5 Flash Lite (batch), saving $0.6 (77.4% lower).

Cost-first pickClaude Haiku 5.5 (batch)

Context-first pickGemini 3.5 Flash Lite (batch)

Sample savings$0.677.4%

10x traffic gap$6

Gemini 3.5 Flash Lite (batch) has more context, but Claude Haiku 5.5 (batch) saves $0.6 on the standard workload. At 10x that traffic, the same price gap is about $6. Use the calculator below to replace the sample workload with your own token volume.

Cost sensitivity

Workload Sensitivity

Same prices, different token mixes.

Claude Haiku 5.5 (batch) stays cheaper across input-heavy, balanced, and output-heavy sample workloads.

Workload shape	Token mix	Better pick	Claude Haiku 5.5 (batch)	Gemini 3.5 Flash Lite (batch)
Input-heavy / RAG	5M input + 500K output	Claude Haiku 5.5 (batch)	$0.38	$1.38
Balanced workload	1M input + 1M output	Claude Haiku 5.5 (batch)	$0.3	$1.4
Output-heavy chatbot	1M input + 5M output	Claude Haiku 5.5 (batch)	$1.3	$6.4

Cheaper input Claude Haiku 5.5 (batch) $0.05 vs $0.15 / 1M

Claude Haiku 5.5 (batch) is $0.1 cheaper per 1M input tokens (66.7% lower; 3x difference).

Cheaper output Claude Haiku 5.5 (batch) $0.25 vs $1.25 / 1M

Claude Haiku 5.5 (batch) is $1 cheaper per 1M output tokens (80% lower; 5x difference).

Larger context Gemini 3.5 Flash Lite (batch) 1M vs 1.05M

Gemini 3.5 Flash Lite (batch) has 48.58K more context (1.05x larger).

Sample workload Claude Haiku 5.5 (batch) $0.17 vs $0.78

Claude Haiku 5.5 (batch) is $0.6 cheaper on the standard workload (77.4% lower).

Estimate your workload cost

Your Workload Cost

Prices are normalized to USD per 1M tokens.

Monthly input tokens Monthly output tokens

Claude Haiku 5.5 (batch) Calculating… Estimated API cost

Gemini 3.5 Flash Lite (batch) Calculating… Estimated API cost

Cheaper for this workload Calculating… Difference: calculating…

This estimate uses normalized public API pricing per 1M tokens. It is a planning aid, not a billing quote. Verify provider pricing, limits, and terms before production use.

Quick Decision

Verdict

Claude Haiku 5.5 (batch) has the lower input price; Claude Haiku 5.5 (batch) has the lower output price; Gemini 3.5 Flash Lite (batch) offers the larger context window. For the 1M input plus 500K output sample, Claude Haiku 5.5 (batch) is cheaper for the standard workload.

For a 1M input token plus 500K output token workload, the estimated API cost is $0.17 for Claude Haiku 5.5 (batch) and $0.78 for Gemini 3.5 Flash Lite (batch).

Best Fit

Choose Claude Haiku 5.5 (batch) when you care most about lower input-token price, and lower output-token price.

Choose Gemini 3.5 Flash Lite (batch) when you care most about larger context window.

Decision Notes

On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, Claude Haiku 5.5 (batch) is estimated at $0.17 vs $0.78 for Gemini 3.5 Flash Lite (batch), saving $0.6 (77.4% lower).
Claude Haiku 5.5 (batch) is $0.6 cheaper on the standard workload (77.4% lower).
Claude Haiku 5.5 (batch) is $0.1 cheaper per 1M input tokens (66.7% lower; 3x difference).
Claude Haiku 5.5 (batch) is $1 cheaper per 1M output tokens (80% lower; 5x difference).
Gemini 3.5 Flash Lite (batch) has 48.58K more context (1.05x larger).

Head-to-Head Specs

Feature	NewClaude Haiku 5.5 (batch) (Anthropic)	Gemini 3.5 Flash Lite (batch) (Google)
Input Price prompt tokens per 1M	$0.05	$0.15
Completion Price per 1M tokens	$0.25	$1.25
Sample Workload Cost 1M input + 500K output	$0.17	$0.78
Context Window	1M	1.05M
Release Date	2026-10-07	2026-07-21

Use-Case Decision Matrix

Use case	Better pick	Why
Budget-constrained production	Claude Haiku 5.5 (batch)	On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, Claude Haiku 5.5 (batch) is estimated at $0.17 vs $0.78 for Gemini 3.5 Flash Lite (batch), saving $0.6 (77.4% lower).
High-volume input processing	Claude Haiku 5.5 (batch)	Lower prompt-token price matters most when prompts, retrieved passages, or documents dominate the bill.
Long responses and chatbots	Claude Haiku 5.5 (batch)	Lower output-token price matters most when assistants generate many completion tokens.
RAG or long-document work	Gemini 3.5 Flash Lite (batch)	A larger context window leaves more room for retrieved passages, conversation history, or source files.

Related Alternatives

Same-provider lower-cost swaps

Gemma 4 26B A4B (free) can replace Gemini 3.5 Flash Lite (batch) when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.
Gemma 4 31B (free) can replace Gemini 3.5 Flash Lite (batch) when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.
Lyria 3 Pro Preview can replace Gemini 3.5 Flash Lite (batch) when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.
Lyria 3 Clip Preview can replace Gemini 3.5 Flash Lite (batch) when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.

Larger context near this budget

Llama 4 Scout offers 1.31M context with $0.47 sample workload cost.
MiMo-V2.6-Flash offers 1.05M context with $0.28 sample workload cost.
GPT-6 Luna offers 1.05M context with $0.35 sample workload cost.
GPT-6 Luna Pro offers 1.05M context with $0.35 sample workload cost.

Popular competitors

DeepSeek V4.1 Flash · DeepSeek · #1
Step 5 Preview · StepFun · #2
GLM 5.3 Flash · Z.ai · #3
MiMo-V2.6-Flash · Xiaomi · #4

Cheaper alternatives

Review low-cost models sorted by a standard 1M input plus 500K output workload.

Open cheapest models

Larger context alternatives

Find models with larger context windows for RAG, long documents, and codebase review.

Open largest context models

Provider catalogs

Compare models within provider hubs before choosing a final API vendor.

Open provider hubs

Anthropic catalog

Review all tracked Anthropic models before deciding whether this matchup is the right shortlist.

Open Anthropic models

Google catalog

Check other Google models with comparable pricing, context, or release timing.

Open Google models

Claude Haiku 5.5 (batch)

Claude Haiku 5.5 is Anthropic's small, fast model for high-volume, cost-sensitive work such as summarization, subagents, and browser use. It succeeds Claude Haiku 4.5 with stronger coding, computer use, and...

Gemini 3.5 Flash Lite (batch)

Gemini 3.5 Flash Lite is a high-efficiency model from Google with upgraded agentic capabilities. It is suited for subagents that execute focused tasks within complex, multi-agent workflows.