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Llama 3.1 405B vs o4-mini Deep Research

Compare Meta (via Together AI) and OpenAI AI models

Meta (via Together AI)
Llama 3.1 405B
vs
OpenAI
o4-mini Deep Research

Cost Comparison (1000 input + 500 output tokens, 100 requests/day)

Llama 3.1 405B

Per Request:$0.005250
Daily:$0.525
Monthly:$15.75
Yearly:$191.625

o4-mini Deep Research

Per Request:$0.006000
Daily:$0.60
Monthly:$18.00
Yearly:$219.00

Cost Differences

+$0.000750
Per Request
+$0.075
Daily
+$2.25
Monthly
+$27.375
Yearly

o4-mini Deep Research costs more than Llama 3.1 405B

Feature Comparison

FeatureLlama 3.1 405Bo4-mini Deep Research
ProviderMeta (via Together AI)OpenAI
Input Price$3.50/1M tokens$2.00/1M tokens
Output Price$3.50/1M tokens$8.00/1M tokens
Context Window128,000 tokens200,000 tokens
Max Output32,768 tokens32,768 tokens
Categoryflagshipreasoning
Capabilities
textcodereasoning
textreasoningcode
Release Date7/23/20246/26/2025

Llama 3.1 405B vs o4-mini Deep Research: Which Should You Choose?

Choosing between Llama 3.1 405B and o4-mini Deep Research depends on your priorities: cost efficiency, context length, or raw capability. Llama 3.1 405B is the more affordable option at $3.50/1M input tokens. Meanwhile, o4-mini Deep Research offers a significantly larger context window at 200,000 tokens vs 128,000 for Llama 3.1 405B.

These models come from different providers — Meta (via Together AI) and OpenAI — which means different API ecosystems, SDKs, rate limits, and terms of service. If you're already integrated with Meta (via Together AI), switching to OpenAIinvolves migration effort beyond just pricing. Factor in your existing infrastructure when deciding.

These models target different tiers: Llama 3.1 405B is a flagship model while o4-mini Deep Research is reasoning. This means they're optimized for different workloads. Llama 3.1 405B is built for complex tasks that require deeper reasoning, while o4-mini Deep Research offers better value for routine operations.

Output costs matter too. Llama 3.1 405B charges $3.50/1M output tokens vs $8.00 for o4-mini Deep Research. For generation-heavy workloads (content creation, code generation, summarization), output pricing often dominates your bill. Llama 3.1 405B has the edge here at $3.50/1M output tokens.

Best Use Cases

Choose Llama 3.1 405B when:

  • • You're already using Meta (via Together AI)'s API ecosystem

Choose o4-mini Deep Research when:

  • • Budget is a primary concern
  • • You need a larger context window (200,000 tokens)
  • • You're already using OpenAI's API ecosystem

Try Different Scenarios

Use the calculator below to see how costs change with different usage patterns

Llama 3.1 405B (Meta (via Together AI))

o4-mini Deep Research (OpenAI)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, Llama 3.1 405B or o4-mini Deep Research?
Llama 3.1 405B is cheaper for input tokens at $3.50 per million tokens vs $2.00 for o4-mini Deep Research.
What is the context window difference between Llama 3.1 405B and o4-mini Deep Research?
Llama 3.1 405B supports 128,000 tokens while o4-mini Deep Research supports 200,000 tokens — a difference of 72,000 tokens in favor of o4-mini Deep Research.
Which model is better for AI Agent / Agentic Workflows?
Both models support text, code, reasoning. For ai agent / agentic workflows, Llama 3.1 405B is the lower-cost option, while o4-mini Deep Research offers a larger context window (200,000 vs 128,000 tokens). Choose Llama 3.1 405B for budget sensitivity or o4-mini Deep Research for longer context tasks.
Which model has better overall pricing for heavy usage?
At 100 requests/day with 1,000 input and 500 output tokens each, Llama 3.1 405B costs about $15.75/month and o4-mini Deep Research costs about $18.00/month. Overall, Llama 3.1 405B has lower combined input + output rates ($3.50 in, $3.50 out) vs o4-mini Deep Research.

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