API cost decision in 10 seconds

NewFugu Ultra v2 vs NewLing 3.0 Flash VL (free)

Pick Ling 3.0 Flash VL (free) for lower cost; pick Fugu Ultra v2 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 Ling 3.0 Flash VL (free) for lower cost; pick Fugu Ultra v2 only if the larger context window matters more.

On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, Ling 3.0 Flash VL (free) is estimated at $0 vs $20 for Fugu Ultra v2, saving $20 (100% lower).

Cost-first pickLing 3.0 Flash VL (free)
Context-first pickFugu Ultra v2
Sample savings$20100%
10x traffic gap$200

Fugu Ultra v2 has more context, but Ling 3.0 Flash VL (free) saves $20 on the standard workload. At 10x that traffic, the same price gap is about $200. Use the calculator below to replace the sample workload with your own token volume.

Cost sensitivity

Workload Sensitivity

Same prices, different token mixes.

Ling 3.0 Flash VL (free) stays cheaper across input-heavy, balanced, and output-heavy sample workloads.

Workload shapeToken mixBetter pickFugu Ultra v2Ling 3.0 Flash VL (free)
Input-heavy / RAG5M input + 500K outputLing 3.0 Flash VL (free)$40$0
Balanced workload1M input + 1M outputLing 3.0 Flash VL (free)$35$0
Output-heavy chatbot1M input + 5M outputLing 3.0 Flash VL (free)$155$0
Cheaper input Ling 3.0 Flash VL (free) $5 vs $0 / 1M

Ling 3.0 Flash VL (free) is free for input tokens while Fugu Ultra v2 costs $5 per 1M tokens.

Cheaper output Ling 3.0 Flash VL (free) $30 vs $0 / 1M

Ling 3.0 Flash VL (free) is free for output tokens while Fugu Ultra v2 costs $30 per 1M tokens.

Larger context Fugu Ultra v2 1M vs 262.14K

Fugu Ultra v2 has 737.86K more context (3.81x larger).

Sample workload Ling 3.0 Flash VL (free) $20 vs $0

Ling 3.0 Flash VL (free) is free for the standard workload while the other model is estimated at $20.

Estimate your workload cost

Your Workload Cost

Prices are normalized to USD per 1M tokens.
Fugu Ultra v2 Calculating… Estimated API cost
Ling 3.0 Flash VL (free) 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

Ling 3.0 Flash VL (free) has the lower input price; Ling 3.0 Flash VL (free) has the lower output price; Fugu Ultra v2 offers the larger context window. For the 1M input plus 500K output sample, Ling 3.0 Flash VL (free) is cheaper for the standard workload.

For a 1M input token plus 500K output token workload, the estimated API cost is $20 for Fugu Ultra v2 and $0 for Ling 3.0 Flash VL (free).

Best Fit

Choose Fugu Ultra v2 when you care most about larger context window.

Choose Ling 3.0 Flash VL (free) when you care most about lower input-token price, and lower output-token price.

Decision Notes
  • On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, Ling 3.0 Flash VL (free) is estimated at $0 vs $20 for Fugu Ultra v2, saving $20 (100% lower).
  • Ling 3.0 Flash VL (free) is free for the standard workload while the other model is estimated at $20.
  • Ling 3.0 Flash VL (free) is free for input tokens while Fugu Ultra v2 costs $5 per 1M tokens.
  • Ling 3.0 Flash VL (free) is free for output tokens while Fugu Ultra v2 costs $30 per 1M tokens.
  • Fugu Ultra v2 has 737.86K more context (3.81x larger).
Head-to-Head Specs
FeatureNewFugu Ultra v2
(Sakana)
NewLing 3.0 Flash VL (free)
(inclusionAI)
Input Price
prompt tokens per 1M
$5$0
Completion Price
per 1M tokens
$30$0
Sample Workload Cost
1M input + 500K output
$20$0
Context Window1M262.14K
Release Date

Use-Case Decision Matrix

Use caseBetter pickWhy
Budget-constrained productionLing 3.0 Flash VL (free)On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, Ling 3.0 Flash VL (free) is estimated at $0 vs $20 for Fugu Ultra v2, saving $20 (100% lower).
High-volume input processingLing 3.0 Flash VL (free)Lower prompt-token price matters most when prompts, retrieved passages, or documents dominate the bill.
Long responses and chatbotsLing 3.0 Flash VL (free)Lower output-token price matters most when assistants generate many completion tokens.
RAG or long-document workFugu Ultra v2A larger context window leaves more room for retrieved passages, conversation history, or source files.

Related Alternatives

Same-provider lower-cost swaps
  • Sakana Namazu can replace Fugu Ultra v2 when lower sample workload cost matters most: $2.95.
  • Fugu Max can replace Fugu Ultra v2 when lower sample workload cost matters most: $5.

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

Sakana catalog

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

Open Sakana models

inclusionAI catalog

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

Open inclusionAI models
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Ling 3.0 Flash VL (free)

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