Gemma 3n 2B (free) vs GLM-5.1
Gemma 3n 2B (free) (2025) and GLM-5.1 (2026) are frontier reasoning models from Google DeepMind and Zhipu AI. Gemma 3n 2B (free) ships a 8k-token context window, while GLM-5.1 ships a 200k-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. It focuses on practical selection signals rather than broad model-family marketing.
GLM-5.1 fits 25x more tokens; pick it for long-context work and Gemma 3n 2B (free) for tighter calls.
Decision scorecard
Local evidence first| Signal | Gemma 3n 2B (free) | GLM-5.1 |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | general production evaluation | reasoning-heavy apps, tool-calling agents, and provider-routed production |
| Decision fit | General | Coding, RAG, and Agents |
| Context window | 8k | 200k |
| Cheapest output | - | $3.08/1M tokens |
| Provider routes | 1 tracked | 5 tracked |
| Shared benchmarks | 0 rows | 0 rows |
Decision tradeoffs
- Use Gemma 3n 2B (free) when your own prompt tests beat the comparison signals; the local data does not show a decisive standalone advantage yet.
- GLM-5.1 has the larger context window for long prompts, retrieval packs, or transcript analysis.
- GLM-5.1 has broader tracked provider coverage for fallback and procurement flexibility.
- GLM-5.1 uniquely exposes Reasoning, Function calling, and Tool use in local model data.
- Local decision data tags GLM-5.1 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 3n 2B (free)
Unavailable
No complete token price in local provider data
GLM-5.1
$1,554
Cheapest tracked route/tier: Z.ai
Cost delta unavailable until both models have sourced input and output token prices.
Switch friction
- No overlapping tracked provider route is sourced for Gemma 3n 2B (free) and GLM-5.1; plan for SDK, billing, or endpoint changes.
- GLM-5.1 adds Reasoning, Function calling, and Tool use in local capability data.
- No overlapping tracked provider route is sourced for GLM-5.1 and Gemma 3n 2B (free); plan for SDK, billing, or endpoint changes.
- Check replacement coverage for Reasoning, Function calling, and Tool use before moving production traffic.
Specs
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2025-04-03 | 2026-04-07 |
| Context window | 8k | 200k |
| Parameters | 5B (2B effective active) | 754B total, 40B active |
| Architecture | decoder only | mixture of experts |
| License | Gemma | MIT |
| Knowledge cutoff | 2024-06 | 2025-11 |
Pricing and availability
| Pricing attribute | Gemma 3n 2B (free) | GLM-5.1 |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | - | $0.98/1M tokens |
| Output price | - | $3.08/1M tokens |
| Providers |
Capabilities
| Capability | Gemma 3n 2B (free) | GLM-5.1 |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | No | No |
| Multimodal | No | No |
| Reasoning | No | Yes |
| Function calling | No | Yes |
| Tool use | No | Yes |
| Structured outputs | No | Yes |
| Code execution | No | Yes |
| 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: GLM-5.1, function calling: GLM-5.1, tool use: GLM-5.1, structured outputs: GLM-5.1, and code execution: GLM-5.1. 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: Gemma 3n 2B (free) has no token price sourced yet and GLM-5.1 has $0.98/1M input tokens. Provider availability is 1 tracked routes versus 5. Treat unknown pricing as an integration gap, then verify the route you will actually call before estimating production spend.
Choose Gemma 3n 2B (free) when provider fit are central to the workload. Choose GLM-5.1 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. 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, Gemma 3n 2B (free) or GLM-5.1?
GLM-5.1 supports 200k tokens, while Gemma 3n 2B (free) supports 8k tokens. That gap matters most for long documents, large codebases, retrieval-heavy agents, and conversations where earlier context must remain visible.
Is Gemma 3n 2B (free) or GLM-5.1 open source?
Gemma 3n 2B (free) is listed under Gemma. GLM-5.1 is listed under MIT. 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, Gemma 3n 2B (free) or GLM-5.1?
GLM-5.1 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 function calling, Gemma 3n 2B (free) or GLM-5.1?
GLM-5.1 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 3n 2B (free) or GLM-5.1?
GLM-5.1 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 3n 2B (free) and GLM-5.1?
Gemma 3n 2B (free) is available on NVIDIA NIM. GLM-5.1 is available on Z.ai, OpenRouter, Fireworks AI, Vercel AI Gateway, and Novita AI. Provider coverage can affect latency, region availability, compliance posture, and fallback options.
Continue comparing
Last reviewed: 2026-05-25. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.