text model comparison
GPT-5.6 Sol vs Kimi K3
GPT-5.6 Sol and Kimi K3 are both current text models, from OpenAI and Moonshot Kimi. Kimi K3 is 25% cheaper per 1M input tokens than GPT-5.6 Sol, $3 vs $4. On Arena Text, GPT-5.6 Sol scores 1485 Elo and Kimi K3 1488 Elo (Arena, measured October 8, 2026). Both accept about 1.05M tokens of context (1,050,000 and 1,048,576).
Data verified October 12, 2026 · Dataset 2026-10-12
Side by side
Standard-tier prices in effect today. The better value in each row is highlighted.
| Fact | GPT-5.6 Sol | Kimi K3 |
|---|---|---|
| Price per 1M input tokens | $4 | $3 (better) |
| Price per 1M output tokens | $20 | $15 (better) |
| Cost of 10M input and 2M output tokens | $80 | $60 (better) |
| Arena Text | 1485 Elo (#10 of 39) | 1488 Elo (#7 of 39) (better) |
| GPQA Diamond | 93.5% (#11 of 37) (better) | 93.1% (#15 of 37) |
| FrontierMath Tiers 1-3 (v2) | 89.1% (#6 of 37) (better) | 72.2% (#19 of 37) |
| SimpleQA Verified | 69.7% (#7 of 34) (better) | 50.6% (#18 of 34) |
| Provider | OpenAI | Moonshot Kimi |
| Release date | July 9, 2026 | July 16, 2026 |
| Access | API only | API and open weights |
| Context window | 1,050,000 tokens | 1,048,576 tokens |
| Max output | 128,000 tokens | Not reported |
| Input | text, image | text, image |
| Output | text | text |
When to choose each
GPT-5.6 Sol
Best for
- Frontier capability evaluations for complex API workflows
- Long-horizon coding and research agents that use computer use or MCP tools
Watch out for
- Not in the pinned LiveBench snapshot; its independent scores here come from Epoch AI's own GPQA Diamond, FrontierMath and SimpleQA Verified runs
Kimi K3
Best for
- Teams that want a frontier-scale model they can also self-host, with one architecture across both paths
- Long-context work at mid-tier hosted pricing
Watch out for
- Hosted rates match Claude Sonnet 5 exactly at $3 / $15 while offering a larger context window, so the comparison turns on capability rather than price
- Running the open weights shifts cost to infrastructure, which the token rates recorded here do not represent
- Moonshot’s self-reported results place it ahead of Claude Opus 4.8 and GPT-5.5 but behind Claude Fable 5 and GPT-5.6 Sol; none of this was reproduced independently here
GPT-5.6 Sol vs Kimi K3 FAQ
Which is cheaper, GPT-5.6 Sol or Kimi K3?
Kimi K3 is 25% cheaper per 1M input tokens than GPT-5.6 Sol, $3 vs $4. For 10M input and 2M output tokens, GPT-5.6 Sol costs $80 and Kimi K3 $60 at standard rates.
Which scores higher on independent benchmarks, GPT-5.6 Sol or Kimi K3?
Kimi K3 leads on Arena Text, 1488 Elo to 1485 Elo; GPT-5.6 Sol leads on GPQA Diamond, 93.5% to 93.1%; GPT-5.6 Sol leads on FrontierMath Tiers 1-3 (v2), 89.1% to 72.2%. Scores are independent evaluations, not either vendor's launch figures.
Which has the larger context window, GPT-5.6 Sol or Kimi K3?
Both accept about 1.05M tokens of context (1,050,000 and 1,048,576).
Can I run GPT-5.6 Sol or Kimi K3 myself?
Kimi K3 is released as open weights you can run yourself; GPT-5.6 Sol is available through its provider's API only.
Related comparisons
Production evaluation
Choosing between GPT-5.6 Sol and Kimi K3?
Public benchmarks narrow the shortlist. We run both on your own tasks, data and cost limits, then build the routing and review controls to run the winner in production.
- A head-to-head evaluation on your real workload
- Routing between models by cost and difficulty