Fugu Ultra vs Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite
Fugu Ultra (2026) and Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite (2026) are frontier reasoning models from Sakana AI and Google DeepMind. Fugu Ultra ships a 1m-token context window, while Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite ships a 1.05m-token context window. On Google-Proof Q&A, Fugu Ultra leads by 8.6 pts. This comparison covers specs, pricing, API access, capabilities, benchmarks, input and output token costs, and production fit for coding and agent workloads.
Fugu Ultra is safer overall; choose Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite when coding workflow support matters.
Decision scorecard
Local evidence first| Signal | Fugu Ultra | Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | reasoning-heavy apps, multimodal apps, and tool-calling agents | multimodal apps, tool-calling agents, and long-context analysis |
| Decision fit | Coding, RAG, and Agents | Coding, RAG, and Agents |
| Context window | 1m | 1.05m |
| Cheapest output | $30/1M tokens | $1.50/1M tokens |
| Provider routes | 2 tracked | 3 tracked |
| Shared benchmarks | Google-Proof Q&A leader | 1 shared |
Decision tradeoffs
- Fugu Ultra holds a shared-benchmark lead on Google-Proof Q&A, ahead by 8.6 points.
- Fugu Ultra uniquely exposes Reasoning in local model data.
- Local decision data tags Fugu Ultra for Coding, RAG, and Agents.
- Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite has the larger context window for long prompts, retrieval packs, or transcript analysis.
- Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite has the lower cheapest tracked output price at $1.50/1M tokens.
- Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite has broader tracked provider coverage for fallback and procurement flexibility.
- Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite uniquely exposes Code execution in local model data.
- Local decision data tags Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite for Coding, RAG, and Agents.
Monthly cost at traffic
Estimate token spend from the cheapest tracked input and output route or tier on this page.
Fugu Ultra
$11,500
Cheapest tracked route/tier: Sakana AI <=272K tokens
Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite
$575
Cheapest tracked route/tier: Google AI Studio
Estimated monthly gap: $10,925. Batch, cache, alternate speed tiers, and negotiated pricing are excluded from this local estimate.
Switch friction
- Provider overlap exists on Vercel AI Gateway; start route-level A/B tests there.
- Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite is $28.50/1M tokens lower on cheapest tracked output pricing before cache, batch, or negotiated discounts.
- Check replacement coverage for Reasoning before moving production traffic.
- Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite adds Code execution in local capability data.
- Provider overlap exists on Vercel AI Gateway; start route-level A/B tests there.
- Fugu Ultra is $28.50/1M tokens higher on cheapest tracked output pricing, so quality gains need to justify the spend.
- Check replacement coverage for Code execution before moving production traffic.
- Fugu Ultra adds Reasoning in local capability data.
Specs
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2026-06-22 | 2026-05-07 |
| Context window | 1m | 1.05m |
| Parameters | — | — |
| Architecture | Composition of Experts | Decoder Only |
| License | Proprietary | Proprietary |
| Openness | Proprietary | Proprietary |
| Commercial use | Commercial use: conditional | Commercial use: conditional |
| Knowledge cutoff | - | 2025-01 |
Pricing and availability
| Pricing attribute | Fugu Ultra | Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite |
|---|---|---|
| Input price |
| $0.25/1M tokens |
| Output price |
| $1.50/1M tokens |
| Providers |
Capabilities
| Capability | Fugu Ultra | Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | Yes | Yes |
| Multimodal | Yes | Yes |
| Reasoning | Yes | No |
| Function calling | Yes | Yes |
| Tool use | Yes | Yes |
| Structured outputs | Yes | Yes |
| Code execution | No | Yes |
| IDE integration | No | No |
| Computer use | No | No |
| Parallel agents | No | No |
Benchmarks
| Benchmark | Fugu Ultra | Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite |
|---|---|---|
| Google-Proof Q&A | 95.5 | 86.9 |
Deep dive
On shared benchmark coverage, Google-Proof Q&A has Fugu Ultra at 95.5 and Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite at 86.9, with Fugu Ultra ahead by 8.6 points. The largest visible gap is 8.6 points on Google-Proof Q&A, which matters most when that benchmark mirrors your workload. Treat isolated benchmark wins as directional, because provider routing, prompt style, and tool access can move real application results.
The capability footprint differs most on reasoning mode: Fugu Ultra and code execution: Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite. Both models share vision, multimodal input, function calling, and tool use, so the practical split is not just feature count. Use those differences to decide whether the page is about raw model quality, agentic coding support, multimodal ingestion, or predictable structured API behavior.
For cost, Fugu Ultra lists tiered pricing: <=272K tokens is $5/1M input and $30/1M output; >272K tokens is $10/1M input and $45/1M output, while Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite lists $0.25/1M input and $1.50/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider. A 70/30 input-output blend puts Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite lower by about $11.88 per million blended tokens. For tiered rows, this cheapest-track view can understate interactive or fast-lane spend, so compare the tier you will actually use. Availability is 2 providers versus 3, so concentration risk also matters.
Choose Fugu Ultra when reasoning depth are central to the workload. Choose Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite when coding workflow support, larger context windows, and lower input-token cost are more important. For production, rerun your own prompts through the exact provider, region, and tool stack you plan to ship.
FAQ
Which has a larger context window, Fugu Ultra or Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite?
Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite supports 1.05m tokens, while Fugu Ultra supports 1m tokens. That gap matters most for long documents, large codebases, retrieval-heavy agents, and conversations where earlier context must remain visible.
Which is cheaper, Fugu Ultra or Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite?
Fugu Ultra lists tiered pricing: <=272K tokens is $5/1M input and $30/1M output; >272K tokens is $10/1M input and $45/1M output. Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite lists $0.25/1M input and $1.50/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider. Compare the tier you will actually use; cheap async pricing can overstate savings for interactive workflows. Provider discounts or batch pricing can still change the final bill.
Is Fugu Ultra or Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite open source?
Fugu Ultra is listed under Proprietary. Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite is listed under Proprietary. License labels affect whether you can self-host, redistribute weights, or rely only on hosted APIs, so confirm the upstream license before deployment.
Which is better for vision, Fugu Ultra or Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite?
Both Fugu Ultra and Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite expose vision. The better choice depends on benchmark fit, context budget, pricing, and whether your provider route exposes the same capability surface. Use this as a quick comparison signal, then confirm the provider-specific limits before committing to production.
Which is better for multimodal input, Fugu Ultra or Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite?
Both Fugu Ultra and Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite expose multimodal input. The better choice depends on benchmark fit, context budget, pricing, and whether your provider route exposes the same capability surface.
Where can I run Fugu Ultra and Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite?
Fugu Ultra is available on Sakana AI and Vercel AI Gateway. Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite is available on Google AI Studio, OpenRouter, and Vercel AI Gateway. Provider coverage can affect latency, region availability, compliance posture, and fallback options.
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Last reviewed: 2026-06-22. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.