GPT-5.2 vs Kimi K2.6

GPT-5.2 (2025) and Kimi K2.6 (2026) compare a standalone API model against a coding-specialized model. GPT-5.2 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 0.2 pts. On pricing, Kimi K2.6 costs $0.73/1M input tokens versus $1.75/1M for the alternative. This page treats the result as workflow and deployment fit, not a universal model winner.

Treat this as a product-type comparison: GPT-5.2 is standalone API model, while Kimi K2.6 is coding-specialized model. Choose based on workflow fit before reading any benchmark or price row as decisive.

Decision scorecard

Local evidence first

Signal	GPT-5.2	Kimi K2.6	How to read it
Product type	Standalone API model	Coding-specialized model	Read downstream rows through the product-type lens before comparing benchmarks, prices, or provider availability.
Best for	reasoning-heavy apps, multimodal apps, and tool-calling agents	custom coding agents, code generation, and tool loops	Use-case synthesis from product type, capability flags, context, and provider data.
Decision fit	Coding, RAG, and Agents	Coding, RAG, and Agents	Primary workload tags from local decision data.
Context window	400k	262k	Higher is better when prompts, retrieval chunks, or transcripts are large.
Cheapest output	$14/1M tokens	$3.49/1M tokens	Cheapest tracked provider route; verify your exact region and tier.
Provider routes	3 tracked	8 tracked	Broader coverage can reduce vendor lock-in and fallback risk.
Shared benchmarks	3 rows	SWE-bench Verified leader	Visible benchmark lead is 0.2 points on SWE-bench Verified.

Decision tradeoffs

Choose GPT-5.2 when...

GPT-5.2 has the larger context window for long prompts, retrieval packs, or transcript analysis.
GPT-5.2 uniquely exposes Code execution in local model data.
Local decision data tags GPT-5.2 for Coding, RAG, and Agents.

Choose Kimi K2.6 when...

Kimi K2.6 holds a shared-benchmark lead on SWE-bench Verified, ahead by 0.2 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 procurement 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.

Lower estimate Kimi K2.6

Requests / monthInput tokens / requestOutput tokens / request

GPT-5.2

$4,900

Cheapest tracked route/tier: Replicate API

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

GPT-5.2 -> Kimi K2.6

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.

Kimi K2.6 -> GPT-5.2

Provider overlap exists on OpenRouter and Vercel AI Gateway; start route-level A/B tests there.
GPT-5.2 is $10.51/1M tokens higher on cheapest tracked output pricing, so quality gains need to justify the spend.
GPT-5.2 adds Code execution in local capability data.

Specs

Specification	GPT-5.2 OpenAI	Kimi K2.6 Moonshot AI
Released	2025-12-11	2026-04-20
Context window	400k	262k
Parameters	—	1T
Architecture	decoder only	Mixture of Experts (MoE)
License	Proprietary	MIT(OSI)
Openness	Proprietary	Open source
Commercial use	Commercial use with conditions	Commercial use allowed
Knowledge cutoff	2025-08	2025-04

Pricing and availability

Pricing attribute	GPT-5.2	Kimi K2.6
Input price	$1.75/1M tokens	$0.73/1M tokens
Output price	$14/1M tokens	$3.49/1M tokens
Providers	Replicate API OpenRouter Vercel AI Gateway	Cloudflare Workers AI NVIDIA NIM Moonshot AI Kimi Fireworks AI OpenRouter Microsoft Foundry

Capabilities

Capability	GPT-5.2	Kimi K2.6
Vision	Yes	Yes
Multimodal	Yes	Yes
Reasoning	Yes	Yes
Function calling	Yes	Yes
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	Kimi K2.6
SWE-bench Verified	80.0	80.2
SWE-bench Pro	55.6	58.6
MMMU Pro	79.5	80.1

Deep dive

On shared benchmark coverage, SWE-bench Verified has GPT-5.2 at 80 and Kimi K2.6 at 80.2, with Kimi K2.6 ahead by 0.2 points; SWE-bench Pro has GPT-5.2 at 55.6 and Kimi K2.6 at 58.6, with Kimi K2.6 ahead by 3 points; MMMU Pro has GPT-5.2 at 79.5 and Kimi K2.6 at 80.1, with Kimi K2.6 ahead by 0.6 points. The largest visible gap is 3 points on SWE-bench Pro, 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 code execution: GPT-5.2. Both models share vision, multimodal input, reasoning mode, and function calling, 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, GPT-5.2 lists $1.75/1M input and $14/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider, while Kimi K2.6 lists $0.73/1M input and $3.49/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider. A 70/30 input-output blend puts Kimi K2.6 lower by about $3.87 per million blended tokens. Availability is 3 providers versus 8, so concentration risk also matters.

Choose GPT-5.2 when coding workflow support and larger context windows are central to the workload. Choose Kimi K2.6 when coding workflow support, lower input-token cost, and broader provider choice 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, GPT-5.2 or Kimi K2.6?

GPT-5.2 supports 400k tokens, while Kimi K2.6 supports 262k tokens. That gap matters most for long documents, large codebases, retrieval-heavy agents, and conversations where earlier context must remain visible. Use this as a quick comparison signal, then confirm the provider-specific limits before committing to production.

Which is cheaper, GPT-5.2 or Kimi K2.6?

Kimi K2.6 is cheaper on tracked token pricing. GPT-5.2 costs $1.75/1M input and $14/1M output tokens. Kimi K2.6 costs $0.73/1M input and $3.49/1M output tokens. Provider discounts or batch pricing can still change the final bill.

Is GPT-5.2 or Kimi K2.6 open source?

GPT-5.2 is listed under Proprietary. Kimi K2.6 is listed under MIT. 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, GPT-5.2 or Kimi K2.6?

Both GPT-5.2 and Kimi K2.6 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, GPT-5.2 or Kimi K2.6?

Both GPT-5.2 and Kimi K2.6 expose multimodal input. 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.

Where can I run GPT-5.2 and Kimi K2.6?

GPT-5.2 is available on Replicate API, OpenRouter, and Vercel AI Gateway. Kimi K2.6 is available on Cloudflare Workers AI, NVIDIA NIM, Moonshot AI Kimi, Fireworks AI, and OpenRouter. Provider coverage can affect latency, region availability, compliance posture, and fallback options.

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Last reviewed: 2026-05-25. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.

Both models

GPT-5.2 Kimi K2.6