Grok Code Fast 1 vs Kimi K2.6
Grok Code Fast 1 (2025) and Kimi K2.6 (2026) are agentic coding models from xAI and Moonshot AI. Grok Code Fast 1 ships a 262k-token context window, while Kimi K2.6 ships a 262k-token context window. On SWE-bench Verified, Kimi K2.6 leads by 9.4 pts. This comparison covers specs, pricing, API access, capabilities, benchmarks, input and output token costs, and production fit for coding and agent workloads.
Grok Code Fast 1 is ~265% cheaper at $0.20/1M; pay for Kimi K2.6 only for coding workflow support.
Decision scorecard
Local evidence first| Signal | Grok Code Fast 1 | 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 | 262k | 262k |
| Cheapest output | $1.50/1M tokens | $3.49/1M tokens |
| Provider routes | 3 tracked | 8 tracked |
| Shared benchmarks | 1 rows | SWE-bench Verified leader |
Decision tradeoffs
- Grok Code Fast 1 has the lower cheapest tracked output price at $1.50/1M tokens.
- Local decision data tags Grok Code Fast 1 for Coding, RAG, and Agents.
- Kimi K2.6 holds a shared-benchmark lead on SWE-bench Verified, ahead by 9.4 points.
- Kimi K2.6 has broader tracked provider coverage for fallback and procurement flexibility.
- Kimi K2.6 uniquely exposes Vision, Multimodal, and Reasoning in local model data.
- 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.
Grok Code Fast 1
$535
Cheapest tracked route/tier: OpenRouter
Kimi K2.6
$1,457
Cheapest tracked route/tier: OpenRouter
Estimated monthly gap: $922. Batch, cache, alternate speed tiers, and negotiated pricing are excluded from this local estimate.
Switch friction
- Provider overlap exists on OpenRouter and Microsoft Foundry; start route-level A/B tests there.
- Kimi K2.6 is $1.99/1M tokens higher on cheapest tracked output pricing, so quality gains need to justify the spend.
- Kimi K2.6 adds Vision, Multimodal, and Reasoning in local capability data.
- Provider overlap exists on OpenRouter and Microsoft Foundry; start route-level A/B tests there.
- Grok Code Fast 1 is $1.99/1M tokens lower on cheapest tracked output pricing before cache, batch, or negotiated discounts.
- Check replacement coverage for Vision, Multimodal, and Reasoning before moving production traffic.
Specs
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2025-08-27 | 2026-04-20 |
| Context window | 262k | 262k |
| Parameters | 314B | 1T |
| Architecture | mixture of experts | Mixture of Experts (MoE) |
| License | Proprietary | MIT(OSI) |
| Openness | Proprietary | Open source |
| Commercial use | Commercial use with conditions | Commercial use allowed |
| Knowledge cutoff | - | 2025-04 |
Pricing and availability
| Pricing attribute | Grok Code Fast 1 | Kimi K2.6 |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | $0.20/1M tokens | $0.73/1M tokens |
| Output price | $1.50/1M tokens | $3.49/1M tokens |
| Providers |
Capabilities
| Capability | Grok Code Fast 1 | Kimi K2.6 |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | No | Yes |
| Multimodal | No | Yes |
| Reasoning | No | Yes |
| Function calling | Yes | Yes |
| Tool use | Yes | Yes |
| Structured outputs | Yes | Yes |
| Code execution | No | No |
| IDE integration | No | No |
| Computer use | No | No |
| Parallel agents | No | No |
Benchmarks
| Benchmark | Grok Code Fast 1 | Kimi K2.6 |
|---|---|---|
| SWE-bench Verified | 70.8 | 80.2 |
Deep dive
On shared benchmark coverage, SWE-bench Verified has Grok Code Fast 1 at 70.8 and Kimi K2.6 at 80.2, with Kimi K2.6 ahead by 9.4 points. The largest visible gap is 9.4 points on SWE-bench Verified, 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 vision: Kimi K2.6, multimodal input: Kimi K2.6, and reasoning mode: Kimi K2.6. Both models share function calling, tool use, and structured outputs, 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, Grok Code Fast 1 lists $0.20/1M input and $1.50/1M 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 Grok Code Fast 1 lower by about $0.97 per million blended tokens. Availability is 3 providers versus 8, so concentration risk also matters.
Choose Grok Code Fast 1 when coding workflow support and lower input-token cost are central to the workload. Choose Kimi K2.6 when coding workflow support 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, Grok Code Fast 1 or Kimi K2.6?
Grok Code Fast 1 supports 262k 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.
Which is cheaper, Grok Code Fast 1 or Kimi K2.6?
Grok Code Fast 1 is cheaper on tracked token pricing. Grok Code Fast 1 costs $0.20/1M input and $1.50/1M 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 Grok Code Fast 1 or Kimi K2.6 open source?
Grok Code Fast 1 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, Grok Code Fast 1 or Kimi K2.6?
Kimi K2.6 has the clearer documented vision signal in this comparison. If vision is mission-critical, validate it against the provider endpoint because model-level support and API-level exposure can differ. Use this as a quick comparison signal, then confirm the provider-specific limits before committing to production.
Which is better for multimodal input, Grok Code Fast 1 or Kimi K2.6?
Kimi K2.6 has the clearer documented multimodal input signal in this comparison. If multimodal input is mission-critical, validate it against the provider endpoint because model-level support and API-level exposure can differ.
Where can I run Grok Code Fast 1 and Kimi K2.6?
Grok Code Fast 1 is available on OpenRouter, Microsoft Foundry, and xAI Console. 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.