Comprehensive side-by-side LLM comparison
Gemma 3 12B leads with 11.0% higher average benchmark score. Both models have similar pricing. Gemma 3 12B supports multimodal inputs. Llama 3.1 8B Instruct is available on 9 providers. Overall, Gemma 3 12B is the stronger choice for coding tasks.
Gemma 3 12B was developed as part of the third generation of Google's open-source model family, designed to provide enhanced capabilities in a mid-sized format. Built with improved architecture and training techniques, it balances performance with practical deployment considerations for diverse use cases.
Meta
Llama 3.1 8B was developed as an efficient open-source model, designed to bring capable instruction-following to applications with limited computational resources. Built with 8 billion parameters, it provides a lightweight option for developers seeking reliable performance without the overhead of larger models.
7 months newer

Llama 3.1 8B Instruct
Meta
2024-07-23

Gemma 3 12B
2025-03-12
Cost per million tokens (USD)

Gemma 3 12B

Llama 3.1 8B Instruct
Context window and performance specifications
Average performance across 4 common benchmarks

Gemma 3 12B

Llama 3.1 8B Instruct
Llama 3.1 8B Instruct
2023-12-31
Available providers and their performance metrics

Gemma 3 12B
DeepInfra

Llama 3.1 8B Instruct

Gemma 3 12B

Llama 3.1 8B Instruct

Gemma 3 12B

Llama 3.1 8B Instruct
Bedrock
Cerebras
DeepInfra
Fireworks
Groq
Hyperbolic
Lambda
Sambanova
Together