DeepSeek V3 0324 vs Gemma 4 12B IT
DeepSeek V3 0324 (2025) and Gemma 4 12B IT (2026) are frontier reasoning models from DeepSeek and Google DeepMind. DeepSeek V3 0324 ships a 160k-token context window, while Gemma 4 12B IT ships a 256k-token context window. On Google-Proof Q&A, DeepSeek V3 0324 leads by 8.8 pts. This comparison covers specs, pricing, API access, capabilities, benchmarks, input and output token costs, and production fit for coding and agent workloads.
Gemma 4 12B IT is safer overall; choose DeepSeek V3 0324 when provider fit matters.
Decision scorecard
Local evidence first| Signal | DeepSeek V3 0324 | Gemma 4 12B IT |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | provider-routed production | reasoning-heavy apps, multimodal apps, and tool-calling agents |
| Decision fit | Coding, Agents, and Long context | Coding, RAG, and Agents |
| Context window | 160k | 256k |
| Cheapest output | $1.12/1M tokens | - |
| Provider routes | 3 tracked | 2 tracked |
| Shared benchmarks | Google-Proof Q&A leader | 1 shared |
Decision tradeoffs
- DeepSeek V3 0324 holds a shared-benchmark lead on Google-Proof Q&A, ahead by 8.8 points.
- DeepSeek V3 0324 has broader tracked provider coverage for fallback and procurement flexibility.
- Local decision data tags DeepSeek V3 0324 for Coding, Agents, and Long context.
- Gemma 4 12B IT has the larger context window for long prompts, retrieval packs, or transcript analysis.
- Gemma 4 12B IT uniquely exposes Vision, Multimodal, and Reasoning in local model data.
- Local decision data tags Gemma 4 12B IT for Coding, RAG, and Agents.
Monthly cost at traffic
Estimate token spend from the cheapest tracked input and output route or tier on this page.
DeepSeek V3 0324
$496
Cheapest tracked route/tier: Novita AI
Gemma 4 12B IT
Unavailable
No complete token price in local provider data
Cost delta unavailable until both models have sourced input and output token prices.
Switch friction
- No overlapping tracked provider route is sourced for DeepSeek V3 0324 and Gemma 4 12B IT; plan for SDK, billing, or endpoint changes.
- Gemma 4 12B IT adds Vision, Multimodal, and Reasoning in local capability data.
- No overlapping tracked provider route is sourced for Gemma 4 12B IT and DeepSeek V3 0324; plan for SDK, billing, or endpoint changes.
- Check replacement coverage for Vision, Multimodal, and Reasoning before moving production traffic.
Specs
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2025-03-24 | 2026-06-03 |
| Context window | 160k | 256k |
| Parameters | 671B | 12B |
| Architecture | Decoder Only | Decoder Only |
| License | MITOSI-approved | Apache 2.0OSI-approved |
| Openness | Open source | Open source |
| Commercial use | Commercial use: permitted | Commercial use: permitted |
| Knowledge cutoff | - | 2025-01 |
Pricing and availability
| Pricing attribute | DeepSeek V3 0324 | Gemma 4 12B IT |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | $0.27/1M tokens | - |
| Output price | $1.12/1M tokens | - |
| Providers |
Capabilities
| Capability | DeepSeek V3 0324 | Gemma 4 12B IT |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | No | Yes |
| Multimodal | No | Yes |
| Reasoning | No | Yes |
| Function calling | No | Yes |
| Tool use | No | Yes |
| Structured outputs | No | Yes |
| Code execution | No | No |
| IDE integration | No | No |
| Computer use | No | No |
| Parallel agents | No | No |
Benchmarks
| Benchmark | DeepSeek V3 0324 | Gemma 4 12B IT |
|---|---|---|
| Google-Proof Q&A | 87.6 | 78.8 |
Deep dive
On shared benchmark coverage, Google-Proof Q&A has DeepSeek V3 0324 at 87.6 and Gemma 4 12B IT at 78.8, with DeepSeek V3 0324 ahead by 8.8 points. The largest visible gap is 8.8 points on Google-Proof Q&A, which matters most when that benchmark mirrors your workload. Treat isolated benchmark wins as directional, because provider routing, prompt style, and tool access can move real application results.
The capability footprint differs most on vision: Gemma 4 12B IT, multimodal input: Gemma 4 12B IT, reasoning mode: Gemma 4 12B IT, function calling: Gemma 4 12B IT, tool use: Gemma 4 12B IT, and structured outputs: Gemma 4 12B IT. 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: DeepSeek V3 0324 has $0.27/1M input tokens and Gemma 4 12B IT has no token price sourced yet. Provider availability is 3 tracked routes versus 2. Treat unknown pricing as an integration gap, then verify the route you will actually call before estimating production spend.
Choose DeepSeek V3 0324 when provider fit and broader provider choice are central to the workload. Choose Gemma 4 12B IT when reasoning depth and larger context windows are more important. For production, rerun your own prompts through the exact provider, region, and tool stack you plan to ship.
FAQ
Which has a larger context window, DeepSeek V3 0324 or Gemma 4 12B IT?
Gemma 4 12B IT supports 256k tokens, while DeepSeek V3 0324 supports 160k tokens. That gap matters most for long documents, large codebases, retrieval-heavy agents, and conversations where earlier context must remain visible.
Is DeepSeek V3 0324 or Gemma 4 12B IT open source?
DeepSeek V3 0324 is listed under MIT. Gemma 4 12B IT is listed under Apache 2.0. 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 vision, DeepSeek V3 0324 or Gemma 4 12B IT?
Gemma 4 12B IT has the clearer documented vision signal in this comparison. If vision is mission-critical, validate it against the provider endpoint because model-level support and API-level exposure can differ.
Which is better for multimodal input, DeepSeek V3 0324 or Gemma 4 12B IT?
Gemma 4 12B IT has the clearer documented multimodal input signal in this comparison. If multimodal input is mission-critical, validate it against the provider endpoint because model-level support and API-level exposure can differ.
Which is better for reasoning mode, DeepSeek V3 0324 or Gemma 4 12B IT?
Gemma 4 12B IT 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.
Where can I run DeepSeek V3 0324 and Gemma 4 12B IT?
DeepSeek V3 0324 is available on Fireworks AI, Microsoft Foundry, and Novita AI. Gemma 4 12B IT is available on Hugging Face Inference Endpoints and Kaggle Models. Provider coverage can affect latency, region availability, compliance posture, and fallback options.
Continue comparing
Last reviewed: 2026-06-15. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.