Gemma 2 27B vs GPT-5.5
Gemma 2 27B (2024) and GPT-5.5 (2026) are frontier reasoning models from Google DeepMind and OpenAI. Gemma 2 27B ships a 8k-token context window, while GPT-5.5 ships a 1.05m-token context window. On MMLU PRO, GPT-5.5 leads by 31.6 pts. On pricing, Gemma 2 27B costs $0.08/1M input tokens; GPT-5.5 ranges from $5 to $8/1M input tokens by tier. This comparison covers specs, pricing, API access, capabilities, benchmarks, input and output token costs, and production fit for coding and agent workloads.
GPT-5.5 fits 131x more tokens; pick it for long-context work and Gemma 2 27B for tighter calls.
Decision scorecard
Local evidence first| Signal | Gemma 2 27B | GPT-5.5 |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | provider-routed production | reasoning-heavy apps, multimodal apps, and tool-calling agents |
| Decision fit | Coding, Classification, and JSON / Tool use | Coding, RAG, and Agents |
| Context window | 8k | 1.05m |
| Cheapest output | $0.24/1M tokens | $30/1M tokens |
| Provider routes | 2 tracked | 4 tracked |
| Shared benchmarks | 4 shared | MMLU PRO leader |
Decision tradeoffs
- Gemma 2 27B has the lower cheapest tracked output price at $0.24/1M tokens.
- Local decision data tags Gemma 2 27B for Coding, Classification, and JSON / Tool use.
- GPT-5.5 holds a shared-benchmark lead on MMLU PRO, ahead by 31.6 points.
- GPT-5.5 has the larger context window for long prompts, retrieval packs, or transcript analysis.
- GPT-5.5 has broader tracked provider coverage for fallback and procurement flexibility.
- GPT-5.5 uniquely exposes Vision, Multimodal, and Reasoning in local model data.
- Local decision data tags GPT-5.5 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.
Gemma 2 27B
$124
Cheapest tracked route/tier: Bitdeer AI
GPT-5.5
$11,500
Cheapest tracked route/tier: OpenAI API 0-272K input tokens
Estimated monthly gap: $11,376. Batch, cache, alternate speed tiers, and negotiated pricing are excluded from this local estimate.
Switch friction
- No overlapping tracked provider route is sourced for Gemma 2 27B and GPT-5.5; plan for SDK, billing, or endpoint changes.
- GPT-5.5 is $29.76/1M tokens higher on cheapest tracked output pricing, so quality gains need to justify the spend.
- GPT-5.5 adds Vision, Multimodal, and Reasoning in local capability data.
- No overlapping tracked provider route is sourced for GPT-5.5 and Gemma 2 27B; plan for SDK, billing, or endpoint changes.
- Gemma 2 27B is $29.76/1M tokens lower on cheapest tracked output pricing before cache, batch, or negotiated discounts.
- Check replacement coverage for Vision, Multimodal, and Reasoning before moving production traffic.
Specs
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2024-06-27 | 2026-04-23 |
| Context window | 8k | 1.05m |
| Parameters | 27B | — |
| Architecture | Decoder Only | Decoder Only |
| License | Gemma | Proprietary |
| Openness | Open weights | Proprietary |
| Commercial use | Commercial use: conditional | Commercial use: conditional |
| Knowledge cutoff | - | 2025-12 |
Pricing and availability
| Pricing attribute | Gemma 2 27B | GPT-5.5 |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | $0.08/1M tokens |
|
| Output price | $0.24/1M tokens |
|
| Providers |
Capabilities
| Capability | Gemma 2 27B | GPT-5.5 |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | No | Yes |
| Multimodal | No | Yes |
| Reasoning | No | Yes |
| Function calling | No | Yes |
| Tool use | No | Yes |
| Structured outputs | Yes | Yes |
| Code execution | No | Yes |
| IDE integration | No | No |
| Computer use | No | No |
| Parallel agents | No | No |
Benchmarks
| Benchmark | Gemma 2 27B | GPT-5.5 |
|---|---|---|
| MMLU PRO | 56.5 | 88.1 |
| Google-Proof Q&A | 56.7 | 93.6 |
| HumanEval | 80.4 | 94.2 |
| Massive Multitask Language Understanding | 81.6 | 92.4 |
Deep dive
On shared benchmark coverage, MMLU PRO has Gemma 2 27B at 56.5 and GPT-5.5 at 88.1, with GPT-5.5 ahead by 31.6 points; Google-Proof Q&A has Gemma 2 27B at 56.7 and GPT-5.5 at 93.6, with GPT-5.5 ahead by 36.9 points; HumanEval has Gemma 2 27B at 80.4 and GPT-5.5 at 94.2, with GPT-5.5 ahead by 13.8 points. The largest visible gap is 36.9 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: GPT-5.5, multimodal input: GPT-5.5, reasoning mode: GPT-5.5, function calling: GPT-5.5, tool use: GPT-5.5, and code execution: GPT-5.5. Both models share 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, Gemma 2 27B lists $0.08/1M input and $0.24/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider, while GPT-5.5 lists tiered pricing: 0-272K input tokens is $5/1M input and $30/1M output; 272K+ input tokens is $8/1M input and $36/1M output. A 70/30 input-output blend puts Gemma 2 27B lower by about $12.37 per million blended tokens. For tiered rows, this cheapest-track view can understate interactive or fast-lane spend, so compare the tier you will actually use. Availability is 2 providers versus 4, so concentration risk also matters.
Choose Gemma 2 27B when provider fit and lower input-token cost are central to the workload. Choose GPT-5.5 when coding workflow support, larger context windows, 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.
FAQ
Which has a larger context window, Gemma 2 27B or GPT-5.5?
GPT-5.5 supports 1.05m tokens, while Gemma 2 27B 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, Gemma 2 27B or GPT-5.5?
Gemma 2 27B lists $0.08/1M input and $0.24/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider. GPT-5.5 lists tiered pricing: 0-272K input tokens is $5/1M input and $30/1M output; 272K+ input tokens is $8/1M input and $36/1M output. Compare the tier you will actually use; cheap async pricing can overstate savings for interactive workflows. Provider discounts or batch pricing can still change the final bill.
Is Gemma 2 27B or GPT-5.5 open source?
Gemma 2 27B is listed under Gemma. GPT-5.5 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 vision, Gemma 2 27B or GPT-5.5?
GPT-5.5 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. Use this as a quick comparison signal, then confirm the provider-specific limits before committing to production.
Which is better for multimodal input, Gemma 2 27B or GPT-5.5?
GPT-5.5 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 Gemma 2 27B and GPT-5.5?
Gemma 2 27B is available on GCP Vertex AI and Bitdeer AI. GPT-5.5 is available on OpenAI API, OpenRouter, Vercel AI Gateway, and AWS Bedrock. 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.