Laguna XS.2 (free) is free for input tokens while Gemini 3.6 Flash (batch) costs $0.38 per 1M tokens.
API cost decision in 10 seconds
Gemini 3.6 Flash (batch) vs Laguna XS.2 (free)
Pick Laguna XS.2 (free) for lower cost; pick Gemini 3.6 Flash (batch) only if the larger context window matters more.
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Data confirmed:
Prices normalized to USD per 1M tokens
Sample workload: 1M input + 500K output
Budget verdict
Pick Laguna XS.2 (free) for lower cost; pick Gemini 3.6 Flash (batch) only if the larger context window matters more.
On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, Laguna XS.2 (free) is estimated at $0 vs $1.31 for Gemini 3.6 Flash (batch), saving $1.31 (100% lower).
Cost-first pickLaguna XS.2 (free)
Context-first pickGemini 3.6 Flash (batch)
Sample savings$1.31100%
10x traffic gap$13.12
Gemini 3.6 Flash (batch) has more context, but Laguna XS.2 (free) saves $1.31 on the standard workload. At 10x that traffic, the same price gap is about $13.12. Use the calculator below to replace the sample workload with your own token volume.
Cost sensitivity
Workload Sensitivity
Laguna XS.2 (free) stays cheaper across input-heavy, balanced, and output-heavy sample workloads.
| Workload shape | Token mix | Better pick | Gemini 3.6 Flash (batch) | Laguna XS.2 (free) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Input-heavy / RAG | 5M input + 500K output | Laguna XS.2 (free) | $2.81 | $0 |
| Balanced workload | 1M input + 1M output | Laguna XS.2 (free) | $2.25 | $0 |
| Output-heavy chatbot | 1M input + 5M output | Laguna XS.2 (free) | $9.75 | $0 |
Laguna XS.2 (free) is free for output tokens while Gemini 3.6 Flash (batch) costs $1.88 per 1M tokens.
Gemini 3.6 Flash (batch) has 786.43K more context (4x larger).
Laguna XS.2 (free) is free for the standard workload while the other model is estimated at $1.31.
Estimate your workload cost
Your Workload Cost
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
Laguna XS.2 (free) has the lower input price; Laguna XS.2 (free) has the lower output price; Gemini 3.6 Flash (batch) offers the larger context window. For the 1M input plus 500K output sample, Laguna XS.2 (free) is cheaper for the standard workload.
For a 1M input token plus 500K output token workload, the estimated API cost is $1.31 for Gemini 3.6 Flash (batch) and $0 for Laguna XS.2 (free).
Choose Gemini 3.6 Flash (batch) when you care most about larger context window.
Choose Laguna XS.2 (free) when you care most about lower input-token price, and lower output-token price.
- On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, Laguna XS.2 (free) is estimated at $0 vs $1.31 for Gemini 3.6 Flash (batch), saving $1.31 (100% lower).
- Laguna XS.2 (free) is free for the standard workload while the other model is estimated at $1.31.
- Laguna XS.2 (free) is free for input tokens while Gemini 3.6 Flash (batch) costs $0.38 per 1M tokens.
- Laguna XS.2 (free) is free for output tokens while Gemini 3.6 Flash (batch) costs $1.88 per 1M tokens.
- Gemini 3.6 Flash (batch) has 786.43K more context (4x larger).
| Feature | Gemini 3.6 Flash (batch) (Google) | Laguna XS.2 (free) (Poolside) |
|---|---|---|
| Input Price prompt tokens per 1M | $0.375 | $0 |
| Completion Price per 1M tokens | $1.875 | $0 |
| Sample Workload Cost 1M input + 500K output | $1.31 | $0 |
| Context Window | 1.05M | 262.14K |
| Release Date |
Use-Case Decision Matrix
| Use case | Better pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Budget-constrained production | Laguna XS.2 (free) | On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, Laguna XS.2 (free) is estimated at $0 vs $1.31 for Gemini 3.6 Flash (batch), saving $1.31 (100% lower). |
| High-volume input processing | Laguna XS.2 (free) | Lower prompt-token price matters most when prompts, retrieved passages, or documents dominate the bill. |
| Long responses and chatbots | Laguna XS.2 (free) | Lower output-token price matters most when assistants generate many completion tokens. |
| RAG or long-document work | Gemini 3.6 Flash (batch) | A larger context window leaves more room for retrieved passages, conversation history, or source files. |
Related Alternatives
- Gemma 4 26B A4B (free) can replace Gemini 3.6 Flash (batch) when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.
- Gemma 4 31B (free) can replace Gemini 3.6 Flash (batch) when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.
- Lyria 3 Pro Preview can replace Gemini 3.6 Flash (batch) when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.
- Lyria 3 Clip Preview can replace Gemini 3.6 Flash (batch) when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.
- DeepSeek V4 Flash 0731 offers 1.31M context with $0.17 sample workload cost.
- DeepSeek V4 Flash Latest offers 1.31M context with $0.11 sample workload cost.
- Llama 4 Scout offers 1.31M context with $0.25 sample workload cost.
- MiMo-V2.5 offers 1.05M context with $0.28 sample workload cost.
- DeepSeek V4 Flash 0731 · DeepSeek · #1
- MiMo-V2.5 · Xiaomi · #2
- Hy3 · Tencent · #3
- Ox Alpha · stealth · #4
Cheaper alternatives
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