Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite
Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite is the lowest-priced Gemini 3 text model on the Gemini API, built for high-frequency, lightweight tasks such as high-volume agent steps and simple data extraction. It became generally available on May 7, 2026.
Specifications
- Context window
- 1Mabout 786,000 words, or 1,570 pages
- Max output
- 64Ktokens per response
- Input price
- $0.25per 1M tokens
- Output price
- $1.50per 1M tokens
- Cached input
- $0.025per 1M tokens
- Weights
- ClosedProprietary
- Parameters
- Undisclosed
- Input types
- Text, Images, Video, Audio, PDF
- Output types
- Text
- Reasoning mode
- Yes
- Tool calling
- Yes
- Released
- May 7, 2026Current
Paid-tier rates for text, image and video input; audio input costs $0.50 (caching $0.05). Free tier available. Batch and Flex 50% off. Cache storage $1.00 per 1M tokens per hour.
What it costs in practice
| Workload | Monthly cost at list price |
|---|---|
| Support chatbot30,000 conversations a month, 2,000 input and 400 output tokens each | $33 |
| Document summaries2,000 documents a month, 12,000 input and 800 output tokens each | $8.40 |
| Coding agent1,000 tasks a month, 60,000 input and 6,000 output tokens each | $24 |
Standard rates, no caching or batch discounts. Run your own numbers.
Strengths
- $0.25 input and $1.50 output per million tokens
- Accepts text, image, video, audio and PDF input
- Free tier plus Batch and Flex discounts
Trade-offs to weigh
- Audio input costs twice the text rate
- No computer-use support, unlike Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite
Where it fits
Google positions Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite for:
Where you can use it
- API
- Google Vertex AI
Alternatives to consider
| Model | Tier | Context | Input / output per 1M | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Codestral 25.08Mistral AI | Efficient | 125K | $0.30 / $0.90 | Compare |
| SonarPerplexity | Efficient | — | $0.25 / $2.50 | Compare |
| Muse Glimmer 30BMeta | Efficient | 128K | $0.35 / $1.50 | Compare |
| Grok Build 0.1xAI | Efficient | 250K | $1 / $2 | Compare |
Frequently asked questions
How much does Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite cost?
Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite lists at $0.25 per million input tokens and $1.50 per million output tokens, with cached input at $0.025 (checked October 10, 2026). Paid-tier rates for text, image and video input; audio input costs $0.50 (caching $0.05). Free tier available. Batch and Flex 50% off. Cache storage $1.00 per 1M tokens per hour. Confirm current rates on the provider's pricing page before you commit.
What is the context window of Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite?
Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite accepts up to 1,048,576 tokens of context (about 786,000 words, or 1,570 pages), and it can write up to 64K tokens in a single response. Long prompts cost more and can be slower, so most apps send only what the task needs.
Is Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite open source?
No. Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite is a proprietary model from Google; its weights aren't published. You can use it through the Google API and through Google Vertex AI.
What is Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite best for?
Google positions Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite for high volume, low latency, data extraction, customer support. It accepts text, images, video, audio, pdf as input, has a reasoning (thinking) mode and supports tool calling. Test it on a sample of your own tasks before you choose it for production.
Sources
- ai.google.dev/gemini-api/docs/models/gemini-3.1-flash-lite
- ai.google.dev/gemini-api/docs/pricing
- ai.google.dev/gemini-api/docs/models
- ai.google.dev/gemini-api/docs/changelog
- docs.perplexity.ai/docs/agent-api/models.md
Facts checked against these pages on October 10, 2026. Spot an error? Tell us.
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