GPT-5.2 Codex vs Kimi K2.6
GPT-5.2 Codex (2025) and Kimi K2.6 (2026) are agentic coding models from OpenAI and Moonshot AI. GPT-5.2 Codex ships a 400k-token context window, while Kimi K2.6 ships a 262k-token context window. On SWE-bench Verified, Kimi K2.6 leads by 7.4 pts. On pricing, Kimi K2.6 costs $0.73/1M input tokens versus $1.75/1M for the alternative. This comparison covers specs, pricing, API access, capabilities, benchmarks, input and output token costs, and production fit for coding and agent workloads.
Kimi K2.6 is ~140% cheaper at $0.73/1M; pay for GPT-5.2 Codex only for coding workflow support.
Decision scorecard
Local evidence first| Signal | GPT-5.2 Codex | Kimi K2.6 |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | custom coding agents, code generation, and tool loops | custom coding agents, code generation, and tool loops |
| Decision fit | Coding, RAG, and Agents | Coding, RAG, and Agents |
| Context window | 400k | 262k |
| Cheapest output | $14/1M tokens | $3.49/1M tokens |
| Provider routes | 3 tracked | 9 tracked |
| Shared benchmarks | 3 shared | SWE-bench Verified leader |
Decision tradeoffs
- GPT-5.2 Codex has the larger context window for long prompts, retrieval packs, or transcript analysis.
- GPT-5.2 Codex uniquely exposes Code execution in local model data.
- Local decision data tags GPT-5.2 Codex for Coding, RAG, and Agents.
- Kimi K2.6 holds a shared-benchmark lead on SWE-bench Verified, ahead by 7.4 points.
- Kimi K2.6 has the lower cheapest tracked output price at $3.49/1M tokens.
- Kimi K2.6 has broader tracked provider coverage for fallback and route flexibility.
- Local decision data tags Kimi K2.6 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.
GPT-5.2 Codex
$4,900
Cheapest tracked route/tier: Vercel AI Gateway
Kimi K2.6
$1,457
Cheapest tracked route/tier: OpenRouter
Estimated monthly gap: $3,444. Batch, cache, alternate speed tiers, and negotiated pricing are excluded from this local estimate.
Switch friction
- Provider overlap exists on OpenRouter and Vercel AI Gateway; start route-level A/B tests there.
- Kimi K2.6 is $10.51/1M tokens lower on cheapest tracked output pricing before cache, batch, or negotiated discounts.
- Check replacement coverage for Code execution before moving production traffic.
- Provider overlap exists on Vercel AI Gateway and OpenRouter; start route-level A/B tests there.
- GPT-5.2 Codex is $10.51/1M tokens higher on cheapest tracked output pricing, so quality gains need to justify the spend.
- GPT-5.2 Codex adds Code execution in local capability data.
Specs
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2025-12-18 | 2026-04-20 |
| Context window | 400k | 262k |
| Parameters | — | 1T |
| Architecture | Decoder Only | Mixture of Experts |
| License | Proprietary | MITOSI-approved |
| Openness | Proprietary | Open source |
| Weights | Not released | Available·Moonshot Modified MIT License |
| Code | Unknown | Available·Moonshot Modified MIT License |
| Commercial use | Commercial use: conditional | Commercial use: permitted |
| Knowledge cutoff | 2025-08 | 2025-04 |
Pricing and availability
| Pricing attribute | GPT-5.2 Codex | Kimi K2.6 |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | $1.75/1M tokens | $0.73/1M tokens |
| Output price | $14/1M tokens | $3.49/1M tokens |
| Providers |
Capabilities
| Capability | GPT-5.2 Codex | Kimi K2.6 |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | Yes | Yes |
| Multimodal | Yes | Yes |
| Reasoning | Yes | Yes |
| JSON / Tool use | Yes | Yes |
| Structured outputs | Yes | Yes |
| Code execution | Yes | No |
| IDE integration | No | No |
| Computer use | No | No |
| Parallel agents | No | No |
Benchmarks
| Benchmark | GPT-5.2 Codex | Kimi K2.6 |
|---|---|---|
| SWE-bench Verified | 72.8 | 80.2 |
| SWE-bench Pro | 56.4 | 58.6 |
| Terminal-Bench 2.0 | 64.0 | 66.7 |
Continue comparing
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Last reviewed: 2026-06-30. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.