token.app › Compare › Kimi K3 vs Mercury 3
Kimi K3 vs Mercury 3
Mercury 3 is 19× cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 basis. Kimi K3 accepts the larger context window (1.0M).
Head to head
Blended price uses a 3:1 input:output mix
| Kimi K3 | Mercury 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | Moonshot AI | Inception |
| Input $/1M | $0.239 | $0.100 |
| Output $/1M | $11.94 | $0.350 |
| Blended $/1M | $3.16 | $0.163 |
| Context window | 1.0M | 1M |
| Max output | 944K | 131K |
| Released | Jul 2026 | Oct 2026 |
| Licence | Open weights | Proprietary |
Choose Kimi K3 if…
- Larger context window (1.0M)
- Open weights — self-hostable
Choose Mercury 3 if…
- Costs less per token — $0.163 vs $3.16 blended
- Newer model (released Oct 2026)
FAQ
Which is better, Kimi K3 or Mercury 3?
We do not hold independently-run benchmark scores covering both Kimi K3 and Mercury 3, so we make no quality claim. Their pricing and specifications are compared on this page.
Is Kimi K3 cheaper than Mercury 3?
Mercury 3 is cheaper: $0.163 versus $3.16 per million tokens blended at 3:1 input:output. Input alone: $0.239 vs $0.100. Output alone: $11.94 vs $0.350.
What context windows do Kimi K3 and Mercury 3 have?
Kimi K3: 1,048,576 tokens. Mercury 3: 1,000,000 tokens.
Who makes Kimi K3 and Mercury 3?
Kimi K3 is made by Moonshot AI. Mercury 3 is made by Inception.