Head-to-head · Anthropic vs Google
Claude Haiku 4.5 vs Gemini 3.1 Pro
Quick answer: Claude Haiku 4.5 stands out for cheapest way to use Claude at scale. Gemini 3.1 Pro stands out for strong multimodal coverage. Reviewed September 2026.
Overview
Claude Haiku 4.5: Claude Haiku 4.5 is Anthropic's fast, low-cost model at $1 and $5 per million tokens. It suits high-volume tasks such as classification, extraction and short drafting, where response speed and cost matter more than deep reasoning.
Gemini 3.1 Pro: Gemini 3.1 Pro, released by Google in February 2026, is a multimodal model with strong agentic capabilities. It is listed at $2 and $12 per million tokens for prompts up to 200,000 tokens ($4 and $18 above that) and is offered in preview on the Gemini API.
At a glance
| Dimension | Claude Haiku 4.5 | Gemini 3.1 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Vendor | Anthropic | |
| Starting price | API: $1 in / $5 out per M tokens | API: $2 in / $12 out per M tokens |
| Pricing model | Paid | Paid |
| Free tier | No | No |
| Category | Generative AI | Generative AI |
Strengths and limits
Claude Haiku 4.5
- Cheapest way to use Claude at scale
- Good quality for classification and extraction
- Low latency
Watch out for
- Weaker on long, multi-step reasoning
- Haiku 5.5 is announced as coming soon
- Less reliable on complex tool chains
Gemini 3.1 Pro
- Strong multimodal coverage
- Deep Google ecosystem integration
- Competitive price for a Pro-tier model
Watch out for
- Listed as a preview model on the pricing page
- Google has said Gemini 4 is coming
- Output style can vary between interfaces
Key features
Claude Haiku 4.5
- Fast responses for interactive and high-volume use
- Lowest price in the current Claude lineup
- Tool use support
- Batch pricing at half the standard rate
Gemini 3.1 Pro
- Multimodal understanding across text, images, audio and video
- Agentic and tool-use capabilities
- Tiered pricing for prompts over 200,000 tokens
- Available through the Gemini API and Google Cloud
Pricing compared
Claude Haiku 4.5 is priced by usage rather than by seat: API: $1 in / $5 out per M tokens. That means cost scales with how much text you send and receive, so estimate your monthly volume before committing.
Gemini 3.1 Pro is priced by usage rather than by seat: API: $2 in / $12 out per M tokens. That means cost scales with how much text you send and receive, so estimate your monthly volume before committing.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Claude Haiku 4.5 or Gemini 3.1 Pro?
It depends on the work. Claude Haiku 4.5 stands out for cheapest way to use Claude at scale. Gemini 3.1 Pro stands out for strong multimodal coverage.
How do Claude Haiku 4.5 and Gemini 3.1 Pro compare on price?
Claude Haiku 4.5 is priced by usage rather than by seat: API: $1 in / $5 out per M tokens. That means cost scales with how much text you send and receive, so estimate your monthly volume before committing. Gemini 3.1 Pro is priced by usage rather than by seat: API: $2 in / $12 out per M tokens. That means cost scales with how much text you send and receive, so estimate your monthly volume before committing.
Is there a free option between Claude Haiku 4.5 and Gemini 3.1 Pro?
Neither lists a permanent free tier. Look for trials or usage-based pricing to test on real work first.