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Models / Gemini 3.8 Flash / Alternatives

Gemini 3.8 Flash alternatives

The best cheaper alternative to Gemini 3.8 Flash is GLM-5.3-Flash: 17 points lower Overall, for 87% less per output token.

The best open-weights alternative is Kimi K3, 4 points lower Overall.

5 models score higher Overall, led by Claude Fable 5.1.

Updated Sep 28, 2026 · Method v1.1 · Higher score, lower price or open weights, best first

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Top 10 of 13 alternatives

  1. Claude Fable 5.1

    Anthropic

    New
    Overall90
    Rank
    #1 Overall
    Best job
    #1 Math
    Price, 1M tokens
    $10 in · $50 out
    Released
    Sep 1, 2026
    Higher score23 points higher Overall · 13.3× the output price
    Compare Claude Fable 5.1 with Gemini 3.8 Flash

  2. Claude Opus 5

    Anthropic

    Overall88
    Rank
    #2 Overall
    Best job
    #1 Coding
    Price, 1M tokens
    $5 in · $25 out
    Released
    Jul 24, 2026
    Higher score21 points higher Overall · 6.7× the output price
    Compare Claude Opus 5 with Gemini 3.8 Flash

  3. GPT-6 Astra

    OpenAI

    New
    Overall85
    Rank
    #3 Overall
    Best job
    #1 Agents
    Price, 1M tokens
    $10 in · $50 out
    Released
    Sep 3, 2026
    Higher score18 points higher Overall · 13.3× the output price
    Compare GPT-6 Astra with Gemini 3.8 Flash

  4. Claude Fable 5

    Anthropic

    Overall77
    Rank
    #4 Overall
    Best job
    #2 Coding
    Price, 1M tokens
    $10 in · $50 out
    Released
    Jun 9, 2026
    Higher score10 points higher Overall · 13.3× the output price
    Compare Claude Fable 5 with Gemini 3.8 Flash

  5. GPT-5.6 Sol

    OpenAI

    Overall69
    Rank
    #5 Overall
    Best job
    #5 Agents
    Price, 1M tokens
    $4 in · $20 out
    Released
    Jul 9, 2026
    Higher score2 points higher Overall · 5.3× the output price
    Compare GPT-5.6 Sol with Gemini 3.8 Flash

  6. Kimi K3

    Moonshot

    Open weights
    Overall63
    Rank
    #8 Overall
    Best job
    #7 Coding
    Price, 1M tokens
    $3 in · $15 out
    Released
    Jul 16, 2026
    Open weights4 points lower Overall · 4.0× the output price
    Compare Kimi K3 with Gemini 3.8 Flash

  7. GLM-5.3-Flash

    Z.ai (Zhipu AI)

    Open weights
    Overall50
    Rank
    #18 Overall
    Best job
    #15 Design
    Price, 1M tokens
    $0.15 in · $0.50 out
    Released
    Aug 20, 2026
    CheaperOpen weights17 points lower Overall · 87% less per output token

  8. DeepSeek V4 Pro 0813

    DeepSeek

    Open weights
    Overall45
    Rank
    #20 Overall
    Best job
    #18 Design
    Price, 1M tokens
    not listed
    Released
    Aug 13, 2026
    Open weights22 points lower Overall

  9. GPT-5.6 Luna

    OpenAI

    Overall42
    Rank
    #25 Overall
    Best job
    #13 Math
    Price, 1M tokens
    $0.20 in · $1.20 out
    Released
    Jul 9, 2026
    Cheaper25 points lower Overall · 68% less per output token

  10. GLM-5.2

    Z.ai (Zhipu AI)

    Open weights
    Overall40
    Rank
    #26 Overall
    Best job
    #16 Design
    Price, 1M tokens
    $1.40 in · $4.40 out
    Released
    Jun 16, 2026
    Open weights27 points lower Overall · 1.2× the output price