Kimi K3 vs Particle-1
Kimi K3 leads the LLM Stats Score 51.3 to 31.9. Particle-1 is 13.0x cheaper per token.
Moonshot AI · Particle AI · Updated for 2026
Which is better?
Kimi K3 leads the overall LLM Stats Score 51.3 to 31.9, ranking #16 overall.
The models split the 2 individual benchmarks reported for both models evenly.
On price, Particle-1 is roughly 13.0x 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 Kimi K3
- overall performance matters — it scores 51.3 and ranks #16 on LLM Stats
- your work emphasizes reasoning — it leads those capability indexes
- you need open weights you can self-host or fine-tune
Choose Particle-1
- cost matters — it's about 13.0x cheaper per token
- you want the most recent training data — it shipped Oct 2026
At a glance
The differences that matter most.
Individual benchmarks
31 reported for Kimi K3 · 3 for Particle-1
Kimi K3 outperforms in 1 benchmarks (GPQA), while Particle-1 is better at 1 benchmark (BabyVision).
Both models are evenly matched across the benchmarks.
Human preference
Blind head-to-head votes and playground preference scores
Pricing Analysis
Price comparison per million tokens
For input processing, Kimi K3 ($2.85/1M tokens) is 11.4x more expensive than Particle-1 ($0.25/1M tokens).
For output processing, Kimi K3 ($14.25/1M tokens) is 14.3x more expensive than Particle-1 ($1.00/1M tokens).
In conclusion, Kimi K3 is more expensive than Particle-1.*
* 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. Kimi K3 can generate longer responses up to 1,048,576 tokens, while Particle-1 is limited to 131,072 tokens.
Input capabilities
Documented input modalities across available providers
Both Kimi K3 and Particle-1 support multimodal inputs.
They are both capable of processing various types of data, offering versatility in application.
Kimi K3
Particle-1
License
Usage and distribution terms
Kimi K3 is licensed under Kimi K3 License, while Particle-1 uses a proprietary license.
License differences may affect how you can use these models in commercial or open-source projects.
Kimi K3 License
Open weights
Proprietary
Closed source
Release Timeline
When each model was launched
Kimi K3 was released on 2026-07-16, while Particle-1 was released on 2026-10-28.
Particle-1 is 3 months newer than Kimi K3.
Jul 16, 2026
3 months ago
Oct 28, 2026
-3 days ago
3mo newerKnowledge 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 DeepInfra, Fireworks, Moonshot AI, Novita, Together. Particle-1 is available from Particle AI.
Kimi K3
Particle-1
Outputs Comparison
Judge for yourself.
Run your own prompts against Kimi K3 and Particle-1 side-by-side, then vote on the output you prefer.
FAQ
Common questions about Kimi K3 vs Particle-1.