OpenAI: gpt-oss-20b vs Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview: Which AI Model Is Better?
Updated March 24, 2026· Based on independent benchmark data
Quick Verdict
Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview leads in intelligence with a score of 57.2 vs 24.5. OpenAI: gpt-oss-20b is 66.7x cheaper at $0.03/1M tokens vs $2.00/1M. For speed, OpenAI: gpt-oss-20b wins at 304 tok/s vs 117 tok/s.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Metric | OpenAI: gpt-oss-20b | Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligence Score | 24.5 | 57.2 |
| Coding Score | 18.5 | 55.5 |
| Math Score | 89.3 | N/A |
| Speed (tok/s) | 304 tok/s | 117 tok/s |
| Latency (TTFT) | 0.44s | 21.91s |
| Input Price / 1M tokens | $0.03 | $2.00 |
| Output Price / 1M tokens | $0.11 | $12 |
| Context Window | 131K | 1.0M |
| Max Output Tokens | 131K | 66K |
| Input Modalities | Text | Audio + File + Image + Text + Video |
| Output Modalities | Text | Text |
| Free Tier | No | No |
Detailed Analysis
Intelligence & Quality
Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview outperforms OpenAI: gpt-oss-20b on the Artificial Analysis intelligence index with a score of 57.2 compared to 24.5. For coding tasks, Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview has the edge with a coding score of 55.5 vs 18.5.
Speed & Latency
OpenAI: gpt-oss-20b generates output significantly faster at 304 tok/s compared to Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview's 117 tok/s, making it 2.6x faster for streaming responses. Time to first token is 0.44s for OpenAI: gpt-oss-20b vs 21.91s for Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview, which affects perceived responsiveness in interactive applications.
Pricing
OpenAI: gpt-oss-20b is more affordable at $0.03/1M input tokens ($0.11/1M output), while Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview costs $2.00/1M input ($12/1M output). That makes Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview 66.7x more expensive per token, which can add up significantly at scale. For a typical workload of 100 requests per day at 2,000 tokens each, OpenAI: gpt-oss-20b would cost approximately $0.18/month vs $12.00/month for Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview in input costs alone.
Context Window
Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview offers a larger context window at 1.0M tokens compared to OpenAI: gpt-oss-20b's 131K. This means Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview can process roughly 524 pages of text in a single request vs 66 pages for OpenAI: gpt-oss-20b. For output length, OpenAI: gpt-oss-20b can generate up to 131K tokens per response vs 66K for Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview.
Best Use Cases
Choose OpenAI: gpt-oss-20b when you need faster output (304 tok/s), lower cost. Choose Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview when you need higher intelligence (57.2), stronger coding performance (55.5), larger context window (1.0M).
Choose OpenAI: gpt-oss-20b if:
- ✓You need faster throughput (304 tok/s vs 117 tok/s)
- ✓You want lower latency (0.44s vs 21.91s TTFT)
- ✓Budget is a concern ($0.03/1M vs $2.00/1M)
Choose Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview if:
- ✓You need higher intelligence (score: 57.2 vs 24.5)
- ✓You prioritize coding performance (score: 55.5 vs 18.5)
- ✓You need a larger context window (1.0M vs 131K)
- ✓You need image understanding (Supports image input)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is OpenAI: gpt-oss-20b better than Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview for coding?
Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview scores higher on coding benchmarks (55.5 vs 18.5), making it the better choice for programming tasks.
Which is cheaper, OpenAI: gpt-oss-20b or Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview?
OpenAI: gpt-oss-20b is cheaper at $0.03/1M input tokens vs $2.00/1M for Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview.
Is OpenAI: gpt-oss-20b faster than Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview?
OpenAI: gpt-oss-20b is faster, producing output at 304 tok/s compared to Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview's 117 tok/s.
Can OpenAI: gpt-oss-20b process images?
No, OpenAI: gpt-oss-20b does not support image input. However, Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview does support images.
Which has a larger context window, OpenAI: gpt-oss-20b or Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview?
Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview has a larger context window at 1.0M compared to OpenAI: gpt-oss-20b's 131K.
Should I use OpenAI: gpt-oss-20b or Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview?
It depends on your priorities. Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview scores higher on intelligence (57.2), but OpenAI: gpt-oss-20b may be better for specific use cases like budget-conscious projects or speed-critical applications.
Related Comparisons
Benchmark data by Artificial Analysis
Data last synced: March 24, 2026