Command R+ vs Gemini 1.5 Flash
Gemini 1.5 Flash shows notably better performance in the majority of benchmarks. Gemini 1.5 Flash is 1.7x cheaper per token.
Cohere · Google · Updated for 2026
Which is better?
Command R+ outperforms in 1 benchmarks (HellaSwag), while Gemini 1.5 Flash is better at 2 benchmarks (GSM8k, MMLU). Gemini 1.5 Flash shows notably better performance in the majority of benchmarks.
On price, Gemini 1.5 Flash is roughly 1.7x cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 input/output basis, which adds up quickly at production volume.
Gemini 1.5 Flash also accepts a larger context window (1,048,576 input tokens), making it the stronger choice for long documents and large codebases.
Based on current benchmark, pricing, and model metadata for 2026.
Choose Command R+
- you want the most recent training data — it shipped Aug 2024
- you need open weights you can self-host or fine-tune
Choose Gemini 1.5 Flash
- you want the strongest raw capability — it leads on 2 of 3 shared benchmarks
- cost matters — it's about 1.7x cheaper per token
- you process long inputs — it offers a 1,048,576 token context window
At a glance
The differences that matter most.
Performance Benchmarks
Comparative analysis across standard metrics
Command R+ outperforms in 1 benchmarks (HellaSwag), while Gemini 1.5 Flash is better at 2 benchmarks (GSM8k, MMLU).
Gemini 1.5 Flash shows notably better performance in the majority of benchmarks.
Arena Performance
Playground indexes and blind preference scores
Pricing Analysis
Price comparison per million tokens
For input processing, Command R+ ($0.25/1M tokens) is 1.7x more expensive than Gemini 1.5 Flash ($0.15/1M tokens).
For output processing, Command R+ ($1.00/1M tokens) is 1.7x more expensive than Gemini 1.5 Flash ($0.60/1M tokens).
In conclusion, Command R+ is more expensive than Gemini 1.5 Flash.*
* Using a 3:1 ratio of input to output tokens
Context Window
Maximum input and output token capacity
Gemini 1.5 Flash accepts 1,048,576 input tokens compared to Command R+'s 128,000 tokens. Command R+ can generate longer responses up to 128,000 tokens, while Gemini 1.5 Flash is limited to 8,192 tokens.
Input Capabilities
Supported data types and modalities
Gemini 1.5 Flash supports multimodal inputs, whereas Command R+ does not.
Gemini 1.5 Flash can handle both text and other forms of data like images, making it suitable for multimodal applications.
Command R+
Gemini 1.5 Flash
License
Usage and distribution terms
Command R+ is licensed under CC BY-NC, while Gemini 1.5 Flash uses a proprietary license.
License differences may affect how you can use these models in commercial or open-source projects.
CC BY-NC
Open weights
Proprietary
Closed source
Release Timeline
When each model was launched
Command R+ was released on 2024-08-30, while Gemini 1.5 Flash was released on 2024-05-01.
Command R+ is 4 months newer than Gemini 1.5 Flash.
Aug 30, 2024
2.0 years ago
4mo newerMay 1, 2024
2.3 years ago
Knowledge Cutoff
When training data ends
Gemini 1.5 Flash has a documented knowledge cutoff of 2023-11-01, while Command R+'s cutoff date is not specified.
We can confirm Gemini 1.5 Flash's training data extends to 2023-11-01, but cannot make a direct comparison without Command R+'s cutoff date.
—
Nov 2023
Provider Availability
Command R+ is available from Cohere, Bedrock. Gemini 1.5 Flash is available from Google.
Command R+
Gemini 1.5 Flash
Outputs Comparison
Judge for yourself.
Run your own prompts against Command R+ and Gemini 1.5 Flash side-by-side, then vote on the output you prefer.
FAQ
Common questions about Command R+ vs Gemini 1.5 Flash.