Model Comparison
Kimi K3 vs Nova LiteWhich is better in 2026?
Kimi K3 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks. Nova Lite is 57.1x cheaper per token.
Verdict: Kimi K3 vs Nova Lite — which is better?
Kimi K3 (by Moonshot AI) 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.
Kimi K3 outperforms in 1 benchmarks (GPQA), while Nova Lite is better at 0 benchmarks. Kimi K3 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.
On price, Nova Lite is roughly 57.1x cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 input/output basis, which adds up quickly at production volume.
Kimi K3 also accepts a larger context window (1,048,576 input tokens), making it the stronger choice for long documents and large codebases.
Choose Kimi K3 if…
- you want the strongest raw capability — it leads on 1 of 1 shared benchmarks
- you process long inputs — it offers a 1,048,576 token context window
- you want the most recent training data — it shipped Jul 2026
Choose Nova Lite if…
- cost matters — it's about 57.1x cheaper per token
Performance Benchmarks
Comparative analysis across standard metrics
Kimi K3 outperforms in 1 benchmarks (GPQA), while Nova Lite is better at 0 benchmarks.
Kimi K3 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.
Arena Performance
Human preference votes
Pricing Analysis
Price comparison per million tokens
For input processing, Kimi K3 ($3.00/1M tokens) is 50.0x more expensive than Nova Lite ($0.06/1M tokens).
For output processing, Kimi K3 ($15.00/1M tokens) is 62.5x more expensive than Nova Lite ($0.24/1M tokens).
In conclusion, Kimi K3 is more expensive than Nova Lite.*
* Using a 3:1 ratio of input to output tokens
Context Window
Maximum input and output token capacity
Kimi K3 accepts 1,048,576 input tokens compared to Nova Lite's 300,000 tokens. Kimi K3 can generate longer responses up to 1,048,576 tokens, while Nova Lite is limited to 2,048 tokens.
Input Capabilities
Supported data types and modalities
Both Kimi K3 and Nova Lite support multimodal inputs.
They are both capable of processing various types of data, offering versatility in application.
Kimi K3
Nova Lite
Release Timeline
When each model was launched
Kimi K3 was released on 2026-07-16, while Nova Lite was released on 2024-11-20.
Kimi K3 is 20 months newer than Nova Lite.
Jul 16, 2026
2 days ago
1.7yr newerNov 20, 2024
1.7 years ago
Knowledge Cutoff
When training data ends
Neither model specifies a knowledge cutoff date.
Unable to compare the recency of their training data.
Provider Availability
Kimi K3 is available from Moonshot AI. Nova Lite is available from Bedrock.
Kimi K3
Nova Lite
Outputs Comparison
Key Takeaways
Kimi K3
View detailsMoonshot AI
Nova Lite
View detailsAmazon
Detailed Comparison
Interactive Arena
Judge for yourself.
Run your own prompts against Kimi K3 and Nova Lite side-by-side, then vote on the output you prefer.
FAQ
Common questions about Kimi K3 vs Nova Lite.