API cost decision in 10 seconds

🔥Gemini 3 Flash Preview vs Cogito v2.1 671B

Pick Cogito v2.1 671B for lower cost; pick Gemini 3 Flash Preview only if the larger context window matters more.

Page updated:  Data confirmed:  Prices normalized to USD per 1M tokens Sample workload: 1M input + 500K output

Budget verdict

Pick Cogito v2.1 671B for lower cost; pick Gemini 3 Flash Preview only if the larger context window matters more.

On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, Cogito v2.1 671B is estimated at $1.88 vs $2 for Gemini 3 Flash Preview, saving $0.12 (6.2% lower).

Cost-first pickCogito v2.1 671B
Context-first pickGemini 3 Flash Preview
Sample savings$0.126.2%
10x traffic gap$1.25

Gemini 3 Flash Preview has more context, but Cogito v2.1 671B saves $0.12 on the standard workload. At 10x that traffic, the same price gap is about $1.25. Use the calculator below to replace the sample workload with your own token volume.

Cost sensitivity

Workload Sensitivity

Same prices, different token mixes.

Cost winner changes by workload shape: input-heavy / RAG favors Gemini 3 Flash Preview, balanced workload favors Cogito v2.1 671B, and output-heavy chatbot favors Cogito v2.1 671B.

Workload shapeToken mixBetter pickGemini 3 Flash PreviewCogito v2.1 671B
Input-heavy / RAG5M input + 500K outputGemini 3 Flash Preview$4$6.88
Balanced workload1M input + 1M outputCogito v2.1 671B$3.5$2.5
Output-heavy chatbot1M input + 5M outputCogito v2.1 671B$15.5$7.5
Cheaper input Gemini 3 Flash Preview $0.5 vs $1.25 / 1M

Gemini 3 Flash Preview is $0.75 cheaper per 1M input tokens (60% lower; 2.5x difference).

Cheaper output Cogito v2.1 671B $3 vs $1.25 / 1M

Cogito v2.1 671B is $1.75 cheaper per 1M output tokens (58.3% lower; 2.4x difference).

Larger context Gemini 3 Flash Preview 1.05M vs 128K

Gemini 3 Flash Preview has 920.58K more context (8.19x larger).

Sample workload Cogito v2.1 671B $2 vs $1.88

Cogito v2.1 671B is $0.12 cheaper on the standard workload (6.2% lower).

Estimate your workload cost

Your Workload Cost

Prices are normalized to USD per 1M tokens.
Gemini 3 Flash Preview Calculating… Estimated API cost
Cogito v2.1 671B 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

Gemini 3 Flash Preview has the lower input price; Cogito v2.1 671B has the lower output price; Gemini 3 Flash Preview offers the larger context window. For the 1M input plus 500K output sample, Cogito v2.1 671B is cheaper for the standard workload.

For a 1M input token plus 500K output token workload, the estimated API cost is $2 for Gemini 3 Flash Preview and $1.88 for Cogito v2.1 671B.

Best Fit

Choose Gemini 3 Flash Preview when you care most about lower input-token price, and larger context window.

Choose Cogito v2.1 671B when you care most about lower output-token price.

Decision Notes
  • On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, Cogito v2.1 671B is estimated at $1.88 vs $2 for Gemini 3 Flash Preview, saving $0.12 (6.2% lower).
  • Cogito v2.1 671B is $0.12 cheaper on the standard workload (6.2% lower).
  • Gemini 3 Flash Preview is $0.75 cheaper per 1M input tokens (60% lower; 2.5x difference).
  • Cogito v2.1 671B is $1.75 cheaper per 1M output tokens (58.3% lower; 2.4x difference).
  • Gemini 3 Flash Preview has 920.58K more context (8.19x larger).
Head-to-Head Specs
Feature🔥Gemini 3 Flash Preview
(Google)
Cogito v2.1 671B
(Deep Cogito)
Input Price
prompt tokens per 1M
$0.5$1.25
Completion Price
per 1M tokens
$3$1.25
Sample Workload Cost
1M input + 500K output
$2$1.88
Context Window1.05M128K
Release Date
Popularity#7

Use-Case Decision Matrix

Use caseBetter pickWhy
Budget-constrained productionCogito v2.1 671BOn the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, Cogito v2.1 671B is estimated at $1.88 vs $2 for Gemini 3 Flash Preview, saving $0.12 (6.2% lower).
High-volume input processingGemini 3 Flash PreviewLower prompt-token price matters most when prompts, retrieved passages, or documents dominate the bill.
Long responses and chatbotsCogito v2.1 671BLower output-token price matters most when assistants generate many completion tokens.
RAG or long-document workGemini 3 Flash PreviewA 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 Flash Preview when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.
  • Gemma 4 31B (free) can replace Gemini 3 Flash Preview when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.
  • Lyria 3 Pro Preview can replace Gemini 3 Flash Preview when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.
  • Lyria 3 Clip Preview can replace Gemini 3 Flash Preview when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.
Larger context near this budget
  • Llama 4 Scout offers 10M context with $0.23 sample workload cost.
  • Grok 4.20 offers 2M context with $2.5 sample workload cost.
  • Owl Alpha offers 1.05M context with $0 sample workload cost.

Cheaper alternatives

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Larger context alternatives

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Provider catalogs

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

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Google catalog

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

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Deep Cogito catalog

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Gemini 3 Flash Preview

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