Model Comparison
Gemini 3 Flash vs Nova LiteWhich is better in 2026?
Gemini 3 Flash significantly outperforms across most benchmarks. Nova Lite is 10.7x cheaper per token.
Verdict: Gemini 3 Flash vs Nova Lite — which is better?
Gemini 3 Flash (by Google) and Nova Lite (by Amazon) are two of the AI models people compare most. Here is how they stack up on benchmarks, price and capabilities, and which one to pick in 2026.
Gemini 3 Flash outperforms in 1 benchmarks (GPQA), while Nova Lite is better at 0 benchmarks. Gemini 3 Flash significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.
On price, Nova Lite is roughly 10.7x cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 input/output basis, which adds up quickly at production volume.
Gemini 3 Flash also accepts a larger context window (1,000,000 input tokens), making it the stronger choice for long documents and large codebases.
Choose Gemini 3 Flash if…
- you want the strongest raw capability — it leads on 1 of 1 shared benchmarks
- you process long inputs — it offers a 1,000,000 token context window
- you want the most recent training data — it shipped Dec 2025
Choose Nova Lite if…
- cost matters — it's about 10.7x cheaper per token
Performance Benchmarks
Comparative analysis across standard metrics
Gemini 3 Flash outperforms in 1 benchmarks (GPQA), while Nova Lite is better at 0 benchmarks.
Gemini 3 Flash significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.
Arena Performance
Human preference votes
Pricing Analysis
Price comparison per million tokens
For input processing, Gemini 3 Flash ($0.50/1M tokens) is 8.3x more expensive than Nova Lite ($0.06/1M tokens).
For output processing, Gemini 3 Flash ($3.00/1M tokens) is 12.5x more expensive than Nova Lite ($0.24/1M tokens).
In conclusion, Gemini 3 Flash is more expensive than Nova Lite.*
* Using a 3:1 ratio of input to output tokens
Context Window
Maximum input and output token capacity
Gemini 3 Flash accepts 1,000,000 input tokens compared to Nova Lite's 300,000 tokens. Gemini 3 Flash can generate longer responses up to 65,536 tokens, while Nova Lite is limited to 2,048 tokens.
Input Capabilities
Supported data types and modalities
Both Gemini 3 Flash and Nova Lite support multimodal inputs.
They are both capable of processing various types of data, offering versatility in application.
Gemini 3 Flash
Nova Lite
License
Usage and distribution terms
Both models are licensed under proprietary licenses.
Both models have usage restrictions defined by their respective organizations.
Proprietary
Closed source
Proprietary
Closed source
Release Timeline
When each model was launched
Gemini 3 Flash was released on 2025-12-17, while Nova Lite was released on 2024-11-20.
Gemini 3 Flash is 13 months newer than Nova Lite.
Dec 17, 2025
5 months ago
1.1yr newerNov 20, 2024
1.5 years ago
Knowledge Cutoff
When training data ends
Gemini 3 Flash has a documented knowledge cutoff of 2025-01-31, while Nova Lite's cutoff date is not specified.
We can confirm Gemini 3 Flash's training data extends to 2025-01-31, but cannot make a direct comparison without Nova Lite's cutoff date.
Jan 2025
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Provider Availability
Gemini 3 Flash is available from Google. Nova Lite is available from Bedrock.
Gemini 3 Flash
Nova Lite
Outputs Comparison
Key Takeaways
Nova Lite
View detailsAmazon
Detailed Comparison
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FAQ
Common questions about Gemini 3 Flash vs Nova Lite.