I am currently playing an alchemist artaficer and want to take advantage of the ability to create alchemist fire but I am currently stuck in the hole of if a vile is enough to do the same damage as a flask. In my personal opinion I think it would do the same just with a lesser splash effect 

Alchemist's fire doesn't have any splash effect; it's purely single-target. I have no idea what you're talking about when you talk about a vial vs. a flask. There's just one alchemist's fire item. It doesn't matter what you put it in.

With alchemist tools you are able to create a vile of alchemist fire and I was wondering if it has the same effect as alchemist fire

There's no mention of vial vs flask anywhere for alchemist's tools.

In the expanded rules in Xanathar’s Guide, it says you can make a “dose” of alchemist’s fire. For alchemist’s fire, a “dose” is a flask.

If the option for a flask size dose exists like IAmSposta said, then maybe check with DM if you can use it as one big splashy effect or divide it into x number of smaller vials. :) 

i had an idea similar to this, but intentionally instead of a lack of resources

you make a bunch of pill capsule size bottles, and fill those with just enough alchemists fire to light a bottle of oil on fire (1 or no damage worth for each mini vial) and then just use them as the cork/igniter for a just add yeets molotov - grenade.

for the problem of flask vs. vial, vials had 4oz of space i believe, and flasks had at least double that. maybe you could argue that this is just extra - concentrated alchemists fire, that would be unstable in amounts larger than a vial full?

basically, same effect, less space, more volatile, and i guess a more expensive container.

Thank you for understanding what I was asking 

Happy to help.