Model comparison

Kimi K3 vs Muse Spark 1.2

Pricing, context window and real answers (August 2026)

Kimi K3 (Moonshot) and Muse Spark 1.2 (Meta), compared as you can actually call them on FastMetal. Both are served from the same OpenAI-compatible endpoint and API key; switching is a change to the model string.

Specs and pricing

moonshotai logoKimi K3meta logoMuse Spark 1.2
ProviderMoonshotMeta
Input (per 1M tokens)¥536.1¥219.9
Output (per 1M tokens)¥2,680.5¥747.65
Typical cost (1,000 in + 500 out tokens × 1,000 calls)¥1,876¥594
Context window1,048,576 tokens1,048,576 tokens
Release date7/16/20268/5/2026
Input modalitiestext, imagetext, image, video, file, audio
Arena · overall#10 · ELO 1,489#4 · ELO 1,498
Arena · Japanese#4 · ELO 1,510Unranked
Arena · coding#6 · ELO 1,543#7 · ELO 1,533

Prices are FastMetal's yen rates before tax. Arena ranks are as of the latest leaderboard scrape.

Which should you pick?

  • On price, Muse Spark 1.2: ¥747.65 per 1M output tokens, 72% less than Kimi K3.
  • On the Overall arena board, Muse Spark 1.2 ranks higher (#4; Kimi K3 is #10).
  • On the Coding arena board, Kimi K3 ranks higher (#6; Muse Spark 1.2 is #7).
  • If in doubt, try both on the same key. Switching is a change to the model string, and each is billed at its own rate.

Real answers to the same prompts

Exactly what the FastMetal gateway returned, side by side. Not benchmark scores: actual output.

Count the number of 'r's in 'strawberry'

Count the number of 'r's in 'strawberry'. Explain your reasoning step by step.

Kimi K3

# Counting the 'r's in "strawberry" **Step 1: Write out each letter with its position** | Position | Letter | |----------|--------| | 1 | s | | 2 | t | | 3 | **r** ✓ | | 4 | a | | 5 | w | | 6 | b | | 7 | e | | 8 | **r** ✓ | | 9 | **r** ✓ | | 10 | y | **Step 2: Identify each 'r'** - Position 3: the 'r' in "st**r**" - Position 8: the first 'r' in "be**r**ry" - Position 9: the second 'r' in "ber**r**y" **Step 3: Verify by splitting the word** "Strawberry" = "straw" + "berry" - "straw" contains **1** r - "berry" contains **2** r's **Answer: There are 3 r's in "strawberry."** 🍓
12.2s594 output tokens

Muse Spark 1.2

There are **3** 'r's in "strawberry". Here is my reasoning step by step: 1. Write out the word and its spelling: **s-t-r-a-w-b-e-r-r-y** 2. Go through each letter one by one and check if it is an 'r': * 1. s - not an 'r' -> count = 0 * 2. t - not an 'r' -> count = 0 * 3. **r** - yes, it's an 'r' -> count = 1 * 4. a - not an 'r' -> count = 1 * 5. w - not an 'r' -> count = 1 * 6. b - not an 'r' -> count = 1 * 7. e - not an 'r' -> count = 1 * 8. **r** - yes, it's an 'r' -> count = 2 * 9. **r** - yes, it's an 'r' -> count = 3 * 10. y - not an 'r' -> count = 3 3. Final total = **3**.
13.3s1123 output tokens

Debug This Error

I'm getting the following error in my Node.js application: TypeError: Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'map') at UserList (/app/components/UserList.js:12:25) at renderWithHooks (/app/node_modules/rea…

Kimi K3

## What's causing it The error means `users` is `undefined` when the component renders — `.map()` only exists on arrays, so calling it on `undefined` throws. Your component code is fine; the problem is **upstream**: whatever renders `<UserList />` isn't passing a valid array. The most common culprit is **async data fetching with uninitialized state** in the parent: ```jsx function App() { const [users, setUsers] = useState(); // ← undefined! useEffect(() => { fetch('/api/users') .then(res => res.json()) .then(setUsers); }, []); return <UserList users={users} />; // undefined on first render } ``` The component renders *before* the fetch resolves, so `users` is `…
47.5s1756 output tokens

Muse Spark 1.2

This error means `users` is `undefined` when the component tries to render. You are calling `.map()` on `users` at line 12, but `.map()` only exists on arrays. If `users` is `undefined` or `null`, JavaScript throws: `Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'map')`. This usually happens for 2 reasons: 1. You didn't pass the `users` prop to the component: `<UserList />` 2. Your data is async and `users` is `undefined` on the first render. For example: `const [users, setUsers] = useState()` without an initial value, and the data hasn't been fetched yet. ### Fix it You need to guarantee `users` is always an array before you call `.map()`. #### 1. Best Fix: Give it a default value U…
7.6s1142 output tokens

Code Review

Please review the following Python function and suggest improvements for readability, performance, and best practices: def get_data(url, retries=3): import requests import time for i in range(retries):…

Kimi K3

This works, but there are several issues worth addressing. Here's a breakdown, followed by an improved version. ## Issues ### Correctness & best practices 1. **Bare `except:`** — catches *everything*, including `KeyboardInterrupt` and programming bugs like `KeyError` on a malformed item (which then get pointlessly retried). Catch `requests.RequestException` specifically. 2. **Silent failures** — errors are swallowed with no logging, and returning `[]` makes "API is down" indistinguishable from "no active items." At minimum, log; ideally, raise after the final attempt. 3. **Retrying non-retryable errors** — a 400/401/404 will never succeed on retry, but the code sleeps and retries anyway. O…
57.6s8060 output tokens

Muse Spark 1.2

Here is a review of your function with a refactored, production-ready version: ### Issues in the Current Version #### 1. Readability 1. **Generic name:** `get_data` tells nothing about what it does. `get_active_items` is better. 2. **Imports inside function:** `import requests, time` should be at the top of the file. It's slower and violates PEP 8. 3. **Magic numbers:** `200`, `10`, `2` have no context. 4. **Verbose loop:** Manual `for` loop + `append` can be replaced with a list comprehension. 5. **No documentation/typing:** No docstring, no type hints, so callers don't know what it expects or returns. 6. **`== True` is redundant:** `if item["active"] == True:` should be `if item["a…
11.8s2278 output tokens

Compare on more prompts →

Frequently asked questions

Which is cheaper, Kimi K3 or Muse Spark 1.2?
Per 1M output tokens, Kimi K3 is ¥2,680.5 and Muse Spark 1.2 is ¥747.65 on FastMetal (yen, before tax), so Muse Spark 1.2 is cheaper.
How do the context windows of Kimi K3 and Muse Spark 1.2 compare?
Kimi K3 takes 1,048,576 tokens; Muse Spark 1.2 takes 1,048,576.
Which ranks higher, Kimi K3 or Muse Spark 1.2?
They share the same public arena rank (#4). Ranks move as the leaderboard updates.
Can I use Kimi K3 and Muse Spark 1.2 with the same API key?
Yes. On FastMetal's OpenAI-compatible endpoint, switch by passing "kimi-k3" or "muse-spark-1.2" as the model. Each is billed at its own rate from the same prepaid balance.

Try both on one API key

Create an account and add credit to call Kimi K3 and Muse Spark 1.2 from the browser chat and the API. No monthly fee.

More comparisons with Kimi K3

More comparisons with Muse Spark 1.2