Codex 1 vs Llama Guard 4 12B
Codex 1 (2025) and Llama Guard 4 12B (2025) compare a coding-specialized model against a standalone API model. Codex 1 ships a 192K-token context window, while Llama Guard 4 12B ships a 164K-token context window. This page treats the result as workflow and deployment fit, not a universal model winner.
Treat this as a product-type comparison: Codex 1 is coding-specialized model, while Llama Guard 4 12B is standalone API model. Choose based on workflow fit before reading any benchmark or price row as decisive.
Decision scorecard
Local evidence first| Signal | Codex 1 | Llama Guard 4 12B |
|---|---|---|
| Product type | Coding-specialized model | Standalone API model |
| Best for | custom coding agents and code generation | provider-routed production |
| Decision fit | Coding, Agents, and Long context | RAG, Long context, and Classification |
| Context window | 192K | 164K |
| Cheapest output | - | $0.18/1M tokens |
| Provider routes | 0 tracked | 3 tracked |
| Shared benchmarks | 0 rows | 0 rows |
Decision tradeoffs
- Codex 1 has the larger context window for long prompts, retrieval packs, or transcript analysis.
- Codex 1 uniquely exposes Reasoning and Code execution in local model data.
- Local decision data tags Codex 1 for Coding, Agents, and Long context.
- Llama Guard 4 12B has broader tracked provider coverage for fallback and procurement flexibility.
- Llama Guard 4 12B uniquely exposes Structured outputs in local model data.
- Local decision data tags Llama Guard 4 12B for RAG, Long context, and Classification.
Monthly cost at traffic
Estimate token spend from the cheapest tracked input and output route or tier on this page.
Codex 1
Unavailable
No complete token price in local provider data
Llama Guard 4 12B
$189
Cheapest tracked route/tier: OpenRouter
Cost delta unavailable until both models have sourced input and output token prices.
Switch friction
- No overlapping tracked provider route is sourced for Codex 1 and Llama Guard 4 12B; plan for SDK, billing, or endpoint changes.
- Check replacement coverage for Reasoning and Code execution before moving production traffic.
- Llama Guard 4 12B adds Structured outputs in local capability data.
- No overlapping tracked provider route is sourced for Llama Guard 4 12B and Codex 1; plan for SDK, billing, or endpoint changes.
- Check replacement coverage for Structured outputs before moving production traffic.
- Codex 1 adds Reasoning and Code execution in local capability data.
Specs
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2025-05-16 | 2025-04-05 |
| Context window | 192K | 164K |
| Parameters | — | 12B |
| Architecture | decoder only | decoder only |
| License | Proprietary | Proprietary |
| Knowledge cutoff | - | 2024-08 |
Pricing and availability
| Pricing attribute | Codex 1 | Llama Guard 4 12B |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | - | $0.18/1M tokens |
| Output price | - | $0.18/1M tokens |
| Providers | - |
Capabilities
| Capability | Codex 1 | Llama Guard 4 12B |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | No | No |
| Multimodal | No | No |
| Reasoning | Yes | No |
| Function calling | No | No |
| Tool use | No | No |
| Structured outputs | No | Yes |
| Code execution | Yes | No |
| IDE integration | No | No |
| Computer use | No | No |
| Parallel agents | No | No |
Benchmarks
No shared benchmark rows are currently sourced for this pair.
Deep dive
The capability footprint differs most on reasoning mode: Codex 1, structured outputs: Llama Guard 4 12B, and code execution: Codex 1. Both models share the core language-model surface, so the practical split is not just feature count. Use those differences to decide whether the page is about raw model quality, agentic coding support, multimodal ingestion, or predictable structured API behavior.
Pricing coverage is uneven: Codex 1 has no token price sourced yet and Llama Guard 4 12B has $0.18/1M input tokens. Provider availability is 0 tracked routes versus 3. Treat unknown pricing as an integration gap, then verify the route you will actually call before estimating production spend.
Choose Codex 1 when coding workflow support and larger context windows are central to the workload. Choose Llama Guard 4 12B when provider fit and broader provider choice are more important. For production, rerun your own prompts through the exact provider, region, and tool stack you plan to ship. This keeps the decision grounded in measurable tradeoffs instead of brand-level assumptions. It also helps separate model capability from provider packaging, which can change cost and latency.
FAQ
Which has a larger context window, Codex 1 or Llama Guard 4 12B?
Codex 1 supports 192K tokens, while Llama Guard 4 12B supports 164K tokens. That gap matters most for long documents, large codebases, retrieval-heavy agents, and conversations where earlier context must remain visible.
Is Codex 1 or Llama Guard 4 12B open source?
Codex 1 is listed under Proprietary. Llama Guard 4 12B is listed under Proprietary. License labels affect whether you can self-host, redistribute weights, or rely only on hosted APIs, so confirm the upstream license before deployment.
Which is better for reasoning mode, Codex 1 or Llama Guard 4 12B?
Codex 1 has the clearer documented reasoning mode signal in this comparison. If reasoning mode is mission-critical, validate it against the provider endpoint because model-level support and API-level exposure can differ.
Which is better for structured outputs, Codex 1 or Llama Guard 4 12B?
Llama Guard 4 12B has the clearer documented structured outputs signal in this comparison. If structured outputs is mission-critical, validate it against the provider endpoint because model-level support and API-level exposure can differ.
Which is better for code execution, Codex 1 or Llama Guard 4 12B?
Codex 1 has the clearer documented code execution signal in this comparison. If code execution is mission-critical, validate it against the provider endpoint because model-level support and API-level exposure can differ.
Where can I run Codex 1 and Llama Guard 4 12B?
Codex 1 is available on the tracked providers still being sourced. Llama Guard 4 12B is available on NVIDIA NIM, Replicate API, and OpenRouter. Provider coverage can affect latency, region availability, compliance posture, and fallback options.
Continue comparing
Last reviewed: 2026-05-22. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.