Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite vs Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite
Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite (2026) and Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite (2025) are compact production models from Google DeepMind and AI at Meta. Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite ships a 1.05m-token context window, while Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite ships a 8k-token context window. This comparison covers specs, pricing, API access, capabilities, benchmarks, input and output token costs, and production fit for coding and agent workloads.
Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite is ~150% cheaper at $0.10/1M; pay for Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite only for coding workflow support.
Decision scorecard
Local evidence first| Signal | Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite | Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | multimodal apps, tool-calling agents, and long-context analysis | tool-calling agents |
| Decision fit | Coding, RAG, and Agents | Agents, Classification, and JSON / Tool use |
| Context window | 1.05m | 8k |
| Cheapest output | $1.50/1M tokens | $0.10/1M tokens |
| Provider routes | 3 tracked | 1 tracked |
| Shared benchmarks | 0 shared | 0 shared |
Decision tradeoffs
- Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite has the larger context window for long prompts, retrieval packs, or transcript analysis.
- Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite has broader tracked provider coverage for fallback and procurement flexibility.
- Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite uniquely exposes Vision, Multimodal, and Code execution in local model data.
- Local decision data tags Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite for Coding, RAG, and Agents.
- Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite has the lower cheapest tracked output price at $0.10/1M tokens.
- Local decision data tags Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite for Agents, Classification, and JSON / Tool use.
Monthly cost at traffic
Estimate token spend from the cheapest tracked input and output route or tier on this page.
Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite
$575
Cheapest tracked route/tier: Google AI Studio
Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite
$105
Cheapest tracked route/tier: Together AI
Estimated monthly gap: $470. Batch, cache, alternate speed tiers, and negotiated pricing are excluded from this local estimate.
Switch friction
- No overlapping tracked provider route is sourced for Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite and Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite; plan for SDK, billing, or endpoint changes.
- Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite is $1.40/1M tokens lower on cheapest tracked output pricing before cache, batch, or negotiated discounts.
- Check replacement coverage for Vision, Multimodal, and Code execution before moving production traffic.
- No overlapping tracked provider route is sourced for Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite and Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite; plan for SDK, billing, or endpoint changes.
- Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite is $1.40/1M tokens higher on cheapest tracked output pricing, so quality gains need to justify the spend.
- Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite adds Vision, Multimodal, and Code execution in local capability data.
Specs
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2026-05-07 | 2025-07-15 |
| Context window | 1.05m | 8k |
| Parameters | — | 8B |
| Architecture | Decoder Only | Decoder Only |
| License | Proprietary | Llama 3 Community |
| Openness | Proprietary | Open weights |
| Commercial use | Commercial use: conditional | Commercial use: conditional |
| Knowledge cutoff | 2025-01 | 2024-03 |
Pricing and availability
| Pricing attribute | Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite | Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | $0.25/1M tokens | $0.10/1M tokens |
| Output price | $1.50/1M tokens | $0.10/1M tokens |
| Providers |
Capabilities
| Capability | Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite | Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | Yes | No |
| Multimodal | Yes | No |
| Reasoning | No | No |
| Function calling | Yes | Yes |
| Tool use | Yes | Yes |
| Structured outputs | Yes | Yes |
| Code execution | Yes | No |
| IDE integration | No | No |
| Computer use | No | No |
| Parallel agents | No | No |
Benchmarks
No shared benchmark scores are currently available for this pair.
Deep dive
The capability footprint differs most on vision: Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite, multimodal input: Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite, and code execution: Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite. Both models share function calling, tool use, and structured outputs, 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.
For cost, Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite lists $0.25/1M input and $1.50/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider, while Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite lists $0.10/1M input and $0.10/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider. A 70/30 input-output blend puts Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite lower by about $0.53 per million blended tokens. Availability is 3 providers versus 1, so concentration risk also matters.
Choose Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite when coding workflow support, larger context windows, and broader provider choice are central to the workload. Choose Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite when provider fit and lower input-token cost 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, Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite or Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite?
Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite supports 1.05m tokens, while Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite supports 8k tokens. That gap matters most for long documents, large codebases, retrieval-heavy agents, and conversations where earlier context must remain visible.
Which is cheaper, Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite or Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite?
Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite is cheaper on tracked token pricing. Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite costs $0.25/1M input and $1.50/1M output tokens. Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite costs $0.10/1M input and $0.10/1M output tokens. Provider discounts or batch pricing can still change the final bill.
Is Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite or Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite open source?
Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite is listed under Proprietary. Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite is listed under Llama 3 Community. 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, Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite or Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite?
Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite 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, Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite or Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite?
Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite 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.
Where can I run Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite and Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite?
Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite is available on Google AI Studio, OpenRouter, and Vercel AI Gateway. Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite is available on Together AI. Provider coverage can affect latency, region availability, compliance posture, and fallback options.
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Last reviewed: 2026-06-19. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.