Gemini 3.5 Flash vs Gemini 3.6 Flash
Gemini 3.5 Flash and Gemini 3.6 Flash are closely matched at 43.6 and 44.4 on the LLM Stats Score. Gemini 3.6 Flash is 1.1x cheaper per token.
Google · Google · Updated for 2026
Which is better?
Gemini 3.5 Flash and Gemini 3.6 Flash are closely matched on the overall LLM Stats Score at 43.6 and 44.4.
In the 5 individual benchmarks reported for both models, Gemini 3.6 Flash wins 5; this is a narrower head-to-head signal than the composite indexes.
On price, Gemini 3.6 Flash is roughly 1.1x cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 input/output basis, which adds up quickly at production volume.
Based on current LLM Stats indexes, shared benchmarks, pricing, and model metadata for 2026.
Choose Gemini 3.5 Flash
- you want predictable pricing at $1.50/M input and $9.00/M output
Choose Gemini 3.6 Flash
- you value its reported benchmark strengths — it wins 5 of 5 exact shared results
- cost matters — it's about 1.1x cheaper per token
- you want the most recent training data — it shipped Jul 2026
At a glance
The differences that matter most.
Capability indexes
Additional strengths measured across groups of related public benchmarks
Individual benchmarks
16 reported for Gemini 3.5 Flash · 7 for Gemini 3.6 Flash
Gemini 3.5 Flash outperforms in 0 benchmarks, while Gemini 3.6 Flash is better at 5 benchmarks (CharXiv-R, DeepSWE 1.1, MRCR v2 (8-needle), OSWorld-Verified, SWE-Bench Pro).
Gemini 3.6 Flash significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.
Human preference
Blind head-to-head votes and playground preference scores
Pricing Analysis
Price comparison per million tokens
For input processing, Gemini 3.5 Flash ($1.50/1M tokens) costs the same as Gemini 3.6 Flash ($1.50/1M tokens).
For output processing, Gemini 3.5 Flash ($9.00/1M tokens) is 1.2x more expensive than Gemini 3.6 Flash ($7.50/1M tokens).
In conclusion, Gemini 3.5 Flash is more expensive than Gemini 3.6 Flash.*
* Using a 3:1 ratio of input to output tokens
Context Window
Maximum input and output token capacity
Both models have the same input context window of 1,048,576 tokens. Both models can generate responses up to 65,536 tokens.
Input capabilities
Documented input modalities across available providers
Both Gemini 3.5 Flash and Gemini 3.6 Flash support multimodal inputs.
They are both capable of processing various types of data, offering versatility in application.
Gemini 3.5 Flash
Gemini 3.6 Flash
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 3.5 Flash was released on 2026-05-19, while Gemini 3.6 Flash was released on 2026-07-21.
Gemini 3.6 Flash is 2 months newer than Gemini 3.5 Flash.
May 19, 2026
3 months ago
Jul 21, 2026
1 months ago
2mo newerKnowledge Cutoff
When training data ends
Gemini 3.5 Flash has a knowledge cutoff of 2026-01-31, while Gemini 3.6 Flash has a cutoff of 2026-03-31.
Gemini 3.6 Flash has more recent training data (up to 2026-03-31), making it potentially better informed about events through that date compared to Gemini 3.5 Flash (2026-01-31).
Jan 2026
Mar 2026
2 mo newerProvider Availability
Gemini 3.5 Flash is available from Google. Gemini 3.6 Flash is available from Google.
Gemini 3.5 Flash
Gemini 3.6 Flash
Outputs Comparison
Judge for yourself.
Run your own prompts against Gemini 3.5 Flash and Gemini 3.6 Flash side-by-side, then vote on the output you prefer.
FAQ
Common questions about Gemini 3.5 Flash vs Gemini 3.6 Flash.