This model is deprecated. We only continue performance benchmarking for the default 10k input token workload. Results for other workloads are historical and no longer updated.
StepFun has launched a newer model, Step 3.5 Flash 2603. We suggest considering it instead.
For more information, see comparison of Step 3.5 Flash 2603 to other models and API provider benchmarks for Step 3.5 Flash 2603.
Step 3.5 Flash API Provider Benchmarking & Analysis
This analysis is intended to support you in choosing the best API provider of Step 3.5 Flash for your use-case.
Fastest
StepFun
SiliconFlow (FP8)Output speed
Total 2 providers
Lowest Latency
StepFunSiliconFlow (FP8)Time to first answer token
Total 2 providers
Lowest Price
StepFunSiliconFlow (FP8)Blended price (per 1M tokens)
Total 2 providers
Step 3.5 Flash is available through 2 API providers, each offering different performance characteristics and pricing. Below is a comparison of the key metrics across providers.
- For output speed, the top providers are StepFun (106.0 t/s) and SiliconFlow (FP8) (74.4 t/s).
- For latency, StepFun (22.32s) and SiliconFlow (FP8) (28.62s) offer the lowest time to first answer token.
- For pricing, StepFun (0.12) and SiliconFlow (FP8) (0.12) offer the lowest blended prices per 1M tokens.
- StepFun stands out as the overall leader, ranking first across all three categories: speed, latency, and pricing.
Highlights
Pricing
Pricing: Cache Hit, Input, and Output
Pricing: Blended Price
Output Speed vs. Price
Speed
Measured by Output Speed (tokens per second)
Output Speed: Step 3.5 Flash
Latency vs. Output Speed
Latency
Measured by Time (seconds) to First Token
Time to First Answer Token
End-to-End Response Time
Seconds to output 500 tokens, calculated based on time to first token, 'thinking' time for reasoning models, and output speed
End-to-End Response Time
Key Comparison Metrics & API Features
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Step 3.5 Flash providers
Step 3.5 Flash is available through 2 API providers: StepFun and SiliconFlow (FP8). Each provider offers different performance characteristics and pricing.
Step 3.5 Flash is currently available through 2 API providers that we benchmark and track.
The fastest providers for Step 3.5 Flash by output speed are StepFun (106.0 t/s) and SiliconFlow (FP8) (74.4 t/s). Output speed measures how quickly tokens are generated after the model starts responding.
The providers with the lowest time to first answer token for Step 3.5 Flash are StepFun (22.32s) and SiliconFlow (FP8) (28.62s). Lower latency means faster initial response time.
The most affordable providers for Step 3.5 Flash by blended price are StepFun ($0.12 per 1M tokens) and SiliconFlow (FP8) ($0.12 per 1M tokens). Blended price uses a 7:2:1 cache hit/input/output token ratio.
The providers with the lowest input token pricing for Step 3.5 Flash are StepFun ($0.10 per 1M input tokens) and SiliconFlow (FP8) ($0.10 per 1M input tokens).
The providers with the lowest output token pricing for Step 3.5 Flash are StepFun ($0.30 per 1M output tokens) and SiliconFlow (FP8) ($0.30 per 1M output tokens).
1 of 2 providers support JSON mode for Step 3.5 Flash: StepFun.
All 2 providers of Step 3.5 Flash support function calling (tool use).
StepFun leads across all key metrics for Step 3.5 Flash, offering the fastest speed, lowest latency, and most competitive pricing.
When choosing a provider for Step 3.5 Flash, consider: output speed (for throughput-intensive tasks), latency (for interactive applications requiring quick first responses), pricing (for cost-sensitive workloads), and API features like JSON mode or function calling.
Yes, provider performance can vary over time due to infrastructure changes, load balancing, and updates. We continuously benchmark all providers and display historical performance trends in the "Over Time" charts.
For information about Step 3.5 Flash's intelligence, capabilities, modalities, and how it compares to other models, see the model overview page. View model overview