Gemma 2 9B vs Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite
Gemma 2 9B (2024) and Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite (2025) are compact production models from Google DeepMind and AI at Meta. Gemma 2 9B ships a 8K-token context window, while Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite ships a 8K-token context window. On pricing, Gemma 2 9B costs $0.06/1M input tokens versus $0.1/1M for the alternative. This comparison covers specs, pricing, capabilities, benchmarks, provider availability, and production fit.
Gemma 2 9B is ~67% cheaper at $0.06/1M; pay for Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite only for long-context analysis.
Decision scorecard
Local evidence first| Signal | Gemma 2 9B | Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite |
|---|---|---|
| Decision fit | Coding, Classification, and JSON / Tool use | Agents, Classification, and JSON / Tool use |
| Context window | 8K | 8K |
| Cheapest output | $0.18/1M tokens | $0.1/1M tokens |
| Provider routes | 3 tracked | 1 tracked |
| Shared benchmarks | 0 rows | 0 rows |
Decision tradeoffs
- Gemma 2 9B has broader tracked provider coverage for fallback and procurement flexibility.
- Local decision data tags Gemma 2 9B for Coding, Classification, and JSON / Tool use.
- Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite has the larger context window for long prompts, retrieval packs, or transcript analysis.
- Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite has the lower cheapest tracked output price at $0.1/1M tokens.
- Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite uniquely exposes Function calling and Tool use in local model data.
- 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 prices on this page.
Gemma 2 9B
$93.00
Cheapest tracked route: GCP Vertex AI
Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite
$105
Cheapest tracked route: Together AI
Estimated monthly gap: $12.00. Batch, cache, and negotiated pricing are excluded from this local estimate.
Switch friction
- No overlapping tracked provider route is sourced for Gemma 2 9B and Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite; plan for SDK, billing, or endpoint changes.
- Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite is $0.08/1M tokens lower on cheapest tracked output pricing before cache, batch, or negotiated discounts.
- Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite adds Function calling and Tool use in local capability data.
- No overlapping tracked provider route is sourced for Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite and Gemma 2 9B; plan for SDK, billing, or endpoint changes.
- Gemma 2 9B is $0.08/1M tokens higher on cheapest tracked output pricing, so quality gains need to justify the spend.
- Check replacement coverage for Function calling and Tool use before moving production traffic.
Specs
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2024-06-27 | 2025-07-15 |
| Context window | 8K | 8K |
| Parameters | 9B | 8B |
| Architecture | decoder only | decoder only |
| License | Open Source | Open Source |
| Knowledge cutoff | - | 2024-03 |
Pricing and availability
| Pricing attribute | Gemma 2 9B | Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | $0.06/1M tokens | $0.1/1M tokens |
| Output price | $0.18/1M tokens | $0.1/1M tokens |
| Providers |
Capabilities
| Capability | Gemma 2 9B | Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | No | No |
| Multimodal | No | No |
| Reasoning | No | No |
| Function calling | No | Yes |
| Tool use | No | Yes |
| Structured outputs | Yes | Yes |
| Code execution | No | No |
Benchmarks
No shared benchmark rows are currently sourced for this pair.
Deep dive
The capability footprint differs most on function calling: Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite and tool use: Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite. 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 9B lists $0.06/1M input and $0.18/1M output tokens, while Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite lists $0.1/1M input and $0.1/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider. A 70/30 input-output blend puts Gemma 2 9B lower by about $0 per million blended tokens. Availability is 3 providers versus 1, so concentration risk also matters.
Choose Gemma 2 9B when provider fit, lower input-token cost, and broader provider choice are central to the workload. Choose Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite when long-context analysis 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. This keeps the decision grounded in measurable tradeoffs instead of brand-level assumptions.
FAQ
Which has a larger context window, Gemma 2 9B or Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite?
Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite supports 8K tokens, while Gemma 2 9B 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 9B or Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite?
Gemma 2 9B is cheaper on tracked token pricing. Gemma 2 9B costs $0.06/1M input and $0.18/1M output tokens. Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite costs $0.1/1M input and $0.1/1M output tokens. Provider discounts or batch pricing can still change the final bill.
Is Gemma 2 9B or Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite open source?
Gemma 2 9B is listed under Open Source. Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite is listed under Open Source. 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 function calling, Gemma 2 9B or Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite?
Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite has the clearer documented function calling signal in this comparison. If function calling is mission-critical, validate it against the provider endpoint because model-level support and API-level exposure can differ.
Which is better for tool use, Gemma 2 9B or Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite?
Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite has the clearer documented tool use signal in this comparison. If tool use 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 9B and Together AI - Llama 3 8B Lite?
Gemma 2 9B is available on GCP Vertex AI, Fireworks AI, and Bitdeer AI. 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: 2026-05-11. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.