Gemma 4 E4B IT vs Qwen3.5-9B
Gemma 4 E4B IT (2026) and Qwen3.5-9B (2026) are compact production models from Google DeepMind and Alibaba. Gemma 4 E4B IT ships a 128k-token context window, while Qwen3.5-9B ships a 262k-token context window. On MMLU PRO, Qwen3.5-9B leads by 13.1 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 E4B IT is safer overall; choose Qwen3.5-9B when long-context analysis matters.
Decision scorecard
Local evidence first| Signal | Gemma 4 E4B IT | Qwen3.5-9B |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | multimodal apps, tool-calling agents, and provider-routed production | multimodal apps, tool-calling agents, and provider-routed production |
| Decision fit | RAG, Agents, and Long context | RAG, Agents, and Long context |
| Context window | 128k | 262k |
| Cheapest output | - | $0.15/1M tokens |
| Provider routes | 2 tracked | 3 tracked |
| Shared benchmarks | 2 rows | MMLU PRO leader |
Decision tradeoffs
- Local decision data tags Gemma 4 E4B IT for RAG, Agents, and Long context.
- Qwen3.5-9B leads the largest shared benchmark signal on MMLU PRO by 13.1 points.
- Qwen3.5-9B has the larger context window for long prompts, retrieval packs, or transcript analysis.
- Qwen3.5-9B has broader tracked provider coverage for fallback and procurement flexibility.
- Qwen3.5-9B uniquely exposes Vision and Tool use in local model data.
- Local decision data tags Qwen3.5-9B for RAG, Agents, and Long context.
Monthly cost at traffic
Estimate token spend from the cheapest tracked input and output route or tier on this page.
Gemma 4 E4B IT
Unavailable
No complete token price in local provider data
Qwen3.5-9B
$118
Cheapest tracked route/tier: Together 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 4 E4B IT and Qwen3.5-9B; plan for SDK, billing, or endpoint changes.
- Qwen3.5-9B adds Vision and Tool use in local capability data.
- No overlapping tracked provider route is sourced for Qwen3.5-9B and Gemma 4 E4B IT; plan for SDK, billing, or endpoint changes.
- Check replacement coverage for Vision and Tool use before moving production traffic.
Specs
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2026-03-31 | 2026-03-02 |
| Context window | 128k | 262k |
| Parameters | 4B | 9B |
| Architecture | - | decoder only |
| License | Apache 2.0 | Apache 2.0 |
| Knowledge cutoff | 2025-01 | - |
Pricing and availability
| Pricing attribute | Gemma 4 E4B IT | Qwen3.5-9B |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | - | $0.10/1M tokens |
| Output price | - | $0.15/1M tokens |
| Providers |
Capabilities
| Capability | Gemma 4 E4B IT | Qwen3.5-9B |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | No | Yes |
| Multimodal | Yes | Yes |
| Reasoning | No | No |
| Function calling | Yes | Yes |
| Tool use | No | Yes |
| Structured outputs | Yes | Yes |
| Code execution | No | No |
| IDE integration | No | No |
| Computer use | No | No |
| Parallel agents | No | No |
Benchmarks
| Benchmark | Gemma 4 E4B IT | Qwen3.5-9B |
|---|---|---|
| MMLU PRO | 69.4 | 82.5 |
| Google-Proof Q&A | 58.6 | 81.7 |
Deep dive
On shared benchmark coverage, MMLU PRO has Gemma 4 E4B IT at 69.4 and Qwen3.5-9B at 82.5, with Qwen3.5-9B ahead by 13.1 points; Google-Proof Q&A has Gemma 4 E4B IT at 58.6 and Qwen3.5-9B at 81.7, with Qwen3.5-9B ahead by 23.1 points. The largest visible gap is 23.1 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: Qwen3.5-9B and tool use: Qwen3.5-9B. Both models share multimodal input, function calling, 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.
Pricing coverage is uneven: Gemma 4 E4B IT has no token price sourced yet and Qwen3.5-9B has $0.10/1M input tokens. Provider availability is 2 tracked routes versus 3. Treat unknown pricing as an integration gap, then verify the route you will actually call before estimating production spend.
Choose Gemma 4 E4B IT when provider fit are central to the workload. Choose Qwen3.5-9B when long-context analysis, 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 4 E4B IT or Qwen3.5-9B?
Qwen3.5-9B supports 262k tokens, while Gemma 4 E4B IT supports 128k tokens. That gap matters most for long documents, large codebases, retrieval-heavy agents, and conversations where earlier context must remain visible.
Is Gemma 4 E4B IT or Qwen3.5-9B open source?
Gemma 4 E4B IT is listed under Apache 2.0. Qwen3.5-9B 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, Gemma 4 E4B IT or Qwen3.5-9B?
Qwen3.5-9B 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 4 E4B IT or Qwen3.5-9B?
Both Gemma 4 E4B IT and Qwen3.5-9B expose multimodal input. The better choice depends on benchmark fit, context budget, pricing, and whether your provider route exposes the same capability surface.
Which is better for function calling, Gemma 4 E4B IT or Qwen3.5-9B?
Both Gemma 4 E4B IT and Qwen3.5-9B expose function calling. The better choice depends on benchmark fit, context budget, pricing, and whether your provider route exposes the same capability surface.
Where can I run Gemma 4 E4B IT and Qwen3.5-9B?
Gemma 4 E4B IT is available on Google AI Studio and GCP Vertex AI. Qwen3.5-9B is available on Together AI, OpenRouter, and Alibaba Cloud PAI-EAS. Provider coverage can affect latency, region availability, compliance posture, and fallback options.
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Last reviewed: 2026-06-03. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.