Gemini · Writing
Gemini for writing
llmwise has 2 of Google's Gemini models, from Gemini 3.8 Flash (up to 250 messages a month on Pro) to Gemini 3.1 Pro (preview) (up to 125 messages a month). We ran the same writing prompts on every one and published every reply: which Gemini model to use, from the results, what each costs per message, and how to get more out of it.
Based on 10 of our test runs on , through OpenRouter with the app's own prompt and settings. Updated .
Short answer
In our test runs on September 27, 2026, Gemini 3.1 Pro (4 of 5) passed the most writing prompts: our pick for hard problems. For value, Gemini 3.8 Flash (3 of 5), 250 a month on Pro. It's also our pick for everyday.
Our picks for writing
Hard problems
Passed 4 of 5 writing prompts, 1 of the 2 hard ones.
Best value
Passed 3 of 5 writing prompts, with 250 a month on Pro.
Everyday
Passed 3 of 5 writing prompts, at 250 a month on Pro. The same model as best value.
These picks aren't our opinion: they're what the results below give, by these rules, among the Gemini models in llmwise. They change when the results do.
- Hard problems: the model that passed the most prompts and, of those, the most hard ones. Models level on both share the pick: the prompts don't tell them apart, so we don't break the tie by price or by name.
- Best value: among the models that draw on the monthly allowance, the one with the most messages on Pro that passed no more than one prompt fewer than the top model. Ties go to the one that passed more, then to the lower cost per reply.
- Everyday: among the cheapest models on the page (the everyday models, which come from the daily count, when the page has any), the one that passed the most. Ties go to the one that passed more of the hard prompts, then to the lower cost per reply.
Our writing test runs, model by model
How each model did on our 5 writing prompts, what each reply counted as on Pro, and what it cost to run.
| Model | Passed | Hard ones | Messages used on Pro | Cost per reply | Time per reply |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gemini 3.1 Pro (preview)Google | 4 of 5 | 1 of 2 | 1 each, of 125 a month on Pro | $0.0092 | 8.6 s |
| Gemini 3.8 FlashGoogle | 3 of 5 | 1 of 2 | 1 each, of 250 a month on Pro | $0.0013 | 4.7 s |
One prompt, side by side
Each model's reply to “A product announcement with five rules”, as it came, with whether it passed and what it cost.
The prompt: A product announcement with five rules (hard)
Write a product announcement for the Nordvik 2 desk lamp in under 120 words. Include all five facts: it dims in five steps; it charges from USB-C; its arm turns 270 degrees; it costs €79; it ships on 1 December. Use no exclamation marks, and end with a question.
Gemini 3.1 Pro
Passed: Graded 4.0 of 5 on average (lowest 3).
Introducing the Nordvik 2 desk lamp, designed to illuminate your workspace with precision. This new model features a highly flexible arm that turns 270 degrees, putting light exactly where you need it. You can easily tailor the brightness to suit any task, as it dims in five steps. Built for modern convenience, it also charges from USB-C to keep your setup clean and wire-free. The Nordvik 2 costs €79 and ships on 1 December. Are you ready to upgrade your daily lighting?
435 tokens in, 715 out (609 of them reasoning) · 9.2 s · $0.0095 · 1 message on Pro · answered by google/gemini-3.1-pro-preview via Google ·
Gemini 3.8 Flash
Failed: Graded 3.7 of 5 on average (lowest 3).
Meet the Nordvik 2 desk lamp, designed to bring flexible, modern illumination to your workspace. Its adaptable arm turns 270 degrees to direct light precisely where you need it, while intuitive controls allow you to dim the light in five steps for optimal focus. Built for clean and efficient setups, it charges from USB-C. The Nordvik 2 costs €79, and orders will begin shipping on 1 December. Are you ready to upgrade your desk lighting?
435 tokens in, 751 out (648 of them reasoning) · 7.6 s · $0.0031 · 1 message on Pro · answered by google/gemini-3.8-flash via Google ·
The writing prompts, and how they're scored
Rubric (graded). The grader model scores the reply from 1 to 5 on each published criterion. It passes with an average of 4 or more and no criterion under 3, and only if it also meets the prompt's automatic rules (length, words it must or mustn't use).
The grader is Claude Opus 5.5 at low reasoning effort; its own replies are graded by GPT-6 Astra, so no model grades itself. Its prompt and every rubric are on the methods page.
Each prompt was sent the way llmwise sends a message in a side-by-side comparison, which offers no tools: the app's own system prompt, the model's own settings, and Pro's reply size limit (8,000 tokens). Read all five writing prompts and how every reply was scored.
Prompts like these to try yourself
Gemini in llmwise
| Model | On Pro | On Free | Context window | Images | PDFs | Reasoning | API price per 1M, in / out |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gemini 3.1 Pro (preview)Google | 125/mo on Pro | Yes | 1.05M tokens | Yes | Whole file | Yes | $2.00 / $12.00 |
| Gemini 3.8 FlashGoogle | 250/mo on Pro | Yes | 1.05M tokens | Yes | Whole file | Yes | $0.75 / $3.75 |
Every limit is published. Paid plans also have a monthly fair-use limit on AI cost: Pro $7.50, Max $20, Ultra $42, Studio $85. Using every message on your plan at typical sizes stays under it; very large messages and heavy research use it faster. Every limit, explained.
What matters for writing
Voice and tone
The best draft is the one that sounds like you. Models differ in how well they pick up a voice from examples.
Following the brief
Word counts, audiences, must-include points: a good writing model keeps to the brief.
Editing, not just drafting
Most writing is editing. Ask for changes to a draft rather than a new one each time.
Gemini for writing in llmwise
Drafts as documents
Drafts open as documents beside the chat: edit them, step through versions and download them as PDF, Word or Markdown.
Personas
Pick the Writer persona, or make your own with your voice and a default model.
Web search with sources
The model can search the web and cite what it found as source cards, or read a link you paste. On Free, web search works inside your 5 trial messages; on a paid plan a search counts as one more message of the model in use.
Switch models mid-chat
Start on a cheaper model; if the answer isn't good enough, switch models in the same chat. The next model sees the whole conversation, so you don't paste anything twice.
In llmwise, a message to Gemini goes to its maker, Google, or through OpenRouter when llmwise can't reach the maker directly. See the Privacy Policy.
Tips
Say who it's for, how long, and what it must include.
Paste a paragraph you like and ask for that voice.
Ask for three options for headlines and openings.
Get a second opinion: switch models and ask for a critique of the draft.
Questions
Is Gemini good for writing?
In our test runs on September 27, 2026, Gemini 3.1 Pro (preview) passed 4 of 5, Gemini 3.8 Flash passed 3 of 5 of our writing prompts, against a best result of 4 of 5 among all 19 models. Every reply is published on this page and the methods page, so you can judge them yourself.
Which Gemini model should I use for writing?
Start with Gemini 3.8 Flash for most writing: emails, posts, outlines and rewrites, and move up to Gemini 3.1 Pro (preview) for most writing: emails, posts, outlines and rewrites.
Can I use Gemini for writing for free?
Yes: Gemini 3.1 Pro (preview) and Gemini 3.8 Flash are on the Free plan (a one-time trial of 5 messages).
Can I export what it writes?
Yes. Ask for a document and it downloads as PDF, Word or Markdown, with every version kept.
Claude, GPT, Gemini, DeepSeek, Grok, Kimi, GLM, and Mistral, in one chat.
See what a message costs before you send it. Free is 5 messages to try; sign in with an email link, no password or card.