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Llama 3.1 8B vs Llama 4 Maverick

Compare Meta (via Together AI) and Meta (via Together AI) AI models

Meta (via Together AI)
Llama 3.1 8B
vs
Meta (via Together AI)
Llama 4 Maverick

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

Llama 3.1 8B

Per Request:$0.000270
Daily:$0.027
Monthly:$0.81
Yearly:$9.855

Llama 4 Maverick

Per Request:$0.000695
Daily:$0.0695
Monthly:$2.085
Yearly:$25.3675

Cost Differences

+$0.000425
Per Request
+$0.0425
Daily
+$1.275
Monthly
+$15.5125
Yearly

Llama 4 Maverick costs more than Llama 3.1 8B

Feature Comparison

FeatureLlama 3.1 8BLlama 4 Maverick
ProviderMeta (via Together AI)Meta (via Together AI)
Input Price$0.18/1M tokens$0.27/1M tokens
Output Price$0.18/1M tokens$0.85/1M tokens
Context Window128,000 tokens1,000,000 tokens
Max Output32,768 tokens65,536 tokens
Categoryefficientflagship
Capabilities
textcode
textvisioncode
Release Date7/23/20244/5/2025

Llama 3.1 8B vs Llama 4 Maverick: Which Should You Choose?

Choosing between Llama 3.1 8B and Llama 4 Maverick depends on your priorities: cost efficiency, context length, or raw capability. Llama 3.1 8B is the more affordable option at $0.18/1M input tokens33% cheaper than Llama 4 Maverick. Meanwhile, Llama 4 Maverick offers a significantly larger context window at 1,000,000 tokens vs 128,000 for Llama 3.1 8B.

These models target different tiers: Llama 3.1 8B is a efficient model while Llama 4 Maverick is flagship. This means they're optimized for different workloads. Llama 4 Maverick targets more demanding workloads, while Llama 3.1 8B provides a cost-effective option for everyday tasks.

Output costs matter too. Llama 3.1 8B charges $0.18/1M output tokens vs $0.85 for Llama 4 Maverick. For generation-heavy workloads (content creation, code generation, summarization), output pricing often dominates your bill. Llama 3.1 8B has the edge here at $0.18/1M output tokens.

Multimodal capabilities: Llama 4 Maverick supports vision (image inputs) while Llama 3.1 8B is text-only. If your application needs image understanding, this narrows your choice.

Best Use Cases

Choose Llama 3.1 8B when:

  • • Budget is a primary concern
  • • You're already using Meta (via Together AI)'s API ecosystem
  • • You're running high-volume, latency-sensitive workloads

Choose Llama 4 Maverick when:

  • • You need a larger context window (1,000,000 tokens)
  • • You need more capabilities (vision)
  • • You need longer outputs (up to 65,536 tokens)
  • • You're already using Meta (via Together AI)'s API ecosystem

Try Different Scenarios

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

Llama 3.1 8B (Meta (via Together AI))

Llama 4 Maverick (Meta (via Together AI))

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Start using Llama 4 Maverick today

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, Llama 3.1 8B or Llama 4 Maverick?
Llama 3.1 8B is cheaper for input tokens at $0.18 per million tokens vs $0.27 for Llama 4 Maverick — that's 33% savings on input costs.
What is the context window difference between Llama 3.1 8B and Llama 4 Maverick?
Llama 3.1 8B supports 128,000 tokens while Llama 4 Maverick supports 1,000,000 tokens — a difference of 872,000 tokens in favor of Llama 4 Maverick.
Which model is better for AI Chatbot?
Both models support text. For ai chatbot, Llama 3.1 8B is the lower-cost option, while Llama 4 Maverick offers a larger context window (1,000,000 vs 128,000 tokens). Choose Llama 3.1 8B for budget sensitivity or Llama 4 Maverick 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 8B costs about $0.81/month and Llama 4 Maverick costs about $2.085/month. Overall, Llama 3.1 8B has lower combined input + output rates ($0.18 in, $0.18 out) vs Llama 4 Maverick.

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