Claude Opus 5 vs Kimi K3

Select two models to compare their coding performance, pricing, and features.

Key Takeaways

Coding tier: Kimi K3 has a higher reference index on the selected shared benchmark configuration than Claude Opus 5 (113.02 vs 112.64, a 0.38-point difference). This does not by itself establish general coding superiority. Editorial tiers: Claude Opus 5 = S; Kimi K3 = S. Tiers are separate editorial assessments and do not establish a reliable order within a tier.
API cost estimate: Estimated 1M in / 200K out tokens: $10.0000 (Claude Opus 5) vs $2.8000 (Kimi K3).
Metric Claude Opus 5 Kimi K3
Coding Index
112.64
113.02
Coding tier S S
Input Price $5/1M $0.8/1M
Output Price $25/1M $10/1M
Context Window 1M 1.05M

Coding Index

Coding Index · Reference baseline: 100

Claude Opus 5 112.64
Kimi K3 113.02

Integer index difference: 0.38

DeepSeek V4 Flash 0731 = 100. The index reflects two shared tests, not capability multiples or statistically established gaps.

Verdict

Both models share an editorial tier. The evidence does not establish a reliable order within it; compare them on your own projects.

Capabilities & Use Cases Comparison

Claude Opus 5 Tier S

Kimi K3 Tier S

Best For
  • •Complex reasoning and architecture
  • •Multi-language code generation
  • •Long-horizon agentic tasks
  • •Self-hosting (open weights)
Strengths
  • •Highest-ranked open-weight coding model
  • •Top-tier code generation and architecture skills
  • •Strong long-horizon agentic workflow capability
  • •Excellent DesignArena leader (3D, webapps, codecategories)

Claude Opus 5

OpenRouter quote 2026-10-11
Benchmark evidence and ranking method · Claude Opus 5

Cross-checked

Terminal-Bench 4.0 · Claude Code · max: 51.82% · 95% CI ± 3.39%

Artificial Analysis · Claude Opus 5 (Adaptive Reasoning, Max Effort)

Test configuration: max

Terminal-Bench 2.1: 89.14% · SciCode: 56.37%

LiveBench · 2026-06-25 · claude-opus-5-max-effort

Coding: 81.45% · Agentic Coding: 65.20%

ModelRank assigns editorial tiers using public coding evidence, not automatic index thresholds or statistically proven classes. Price, speed, context size and sponsorship do not affect tiers.

DeepSeek V4 Flash 0731 = 100. The index reflects two shared tests, not capability multiples or statistically established gaps.

Results reflect particular model configurations. Agent harnesses, reasoning effort, tools, budgets and tasks may differ. Close indices do not establish superiority. B describes a relative position in this selected group, not an inability to code.

Data checked: 2026-09-10. Snapshot date is the retrieval date, not necessarily the evaluation date.

Kimi K3

OpenRouter quote 2026-10-11
Benchmark evidence and ranking method · Kimi K3

Cross-checked

Artificial Analysis · Kimi K3 (max)

Test configuration: max

Terminal-Bench 2.1: 85.02% · SciCode: 59.49%

LiveBench · 2026-06-25 · kimi-k3

Coding: 81.45% · Agentic Coding: 62.17%

ModelRank assigns editorial tiers using public coding evidence, not automatic index thresholds or statistically proven classes. Price, speed, context size and sponsorship do not affect tiers.

DeepSeek V4 Flash 0731 = 100. The index reflects two shared tests, not capability multiples or statistically established gaps.

Results reflect particular model configurations. Agent harnesses, reasoning effort, tools, budgets and tasks may differ. Close indices do not establish superiority. B describes a relative position in this selected group, not an inability to code.

Data checked: 2026-09-10. Snapshot date is the retrieval date, not necessarily the evaluation date.

Results reflect particular model configurations. Agent harnesses, reasoning effort, tools, budgets and tasks may differ. Close indices do not establish superiority. B describes a relative position in this selected group, not an inability to code.

API cost estimate

1M input + 200K output (USD):

Claude Opus 5: $10.0000

Kimi K3: $2.8000

Estimates use the displayed channel and time band; DeepSeek uses peak rates. Cache discounts, tool fees, long-context price tiers and uncounted additional tokens are excluded.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which model is better for coding: Claude Opus 5 or Kimi K3?

Kimi K3 has a higher reference index on the selected shared benchmark configuration than Claude Opus 5 (113.02 vs 112.64, a 0.38-point difference). This does not by itself establish general coding superiority. Editorial tiers: Claude Opus 5 = S; Kimi K3 = S. Tiers are separate editorial assessments and do not establish a reliable order within a tier.

How do Claude Opus 5 and Kimi K3 compare in API pricing and costs?

Claude Opus 5: $5/1M input, $25/1M output (OpenRouter quote); Kimi K3: $0.8/1M input, $10/1M output (OpenRouter quote). 1M input + 200K output (USD): $10.0000 vs $2.8000.

What are the context window sizes of Claude Opus 5 and Kimi K3?

Claude Opus 5 provides a 1,000,000 token context window, while Kimi K3 provides 1,048,576 tokens.

Try Claude Opus 5 → Try Kimi K3 →