Llama 3.2 1B vs Llama Guard 3 1B
Llama 3.2 1B (2024) and Llama Guard 3 1B (2024) are compact production models from AI at Meta. Llama 3.2 1B ships a 128K-token context window, while Llama Guard 3 1B ships a not-yet-sourced context window. On pricing, Llama 3.2 1B costs $0.1/1M input tokens versus $0.1/1M for the alternative. This comparison covers specs, pricing, capabilities, benchmarks, provider availability, and production fit.
Llama 3.2 1B is safer overall; choose Llama Guard 3 1B when provider fit matters.
Specs
| Released | 2024-09-25 | 2024-09-25 |
| Context window | 128K | — |
| Parameters | 1.23B | 1B |
| Architecture | decoder only | decoder only |
| License | Open Source | Open Source |
| Knowledge cutoff | 2023-12 | - |
Pricing and availability
| Llama 3.2 1B | Llama Guard 3 1B | |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | $0.1/1M tokens | $0.1/1M tokens |
| Output price | $0.1/1M tokens | $0.1/1M tokens |
| Providers |
Capabilities
| Llama 3.2 1B | Llama Guard 3 1B | |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | ||
| Multimodal | ||
| Reasoning | ||
| Function calling | ||
| Tool use | ||
| Structured outputs | ||
| Code execution |
Benchmarks
No shared benchmark rows are currently sourced for this pair.
Deep dive
The capability footprint is close: both models cover the core production surface. That makes context budget, benchmark fit, and provider maturity more important than a simple checklist. If your application depends on one integration detail, verify it against the provider route you plan to use, not just the base model listing.
For cost, Llama 3.2 1B lists $0.1/1M input and $0.1/1M output tokens, while Llama Guard 3 1B lists $0.1/1M input and $0.1/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider. A 70/30 input-output blend puts Llama 3.2 1B lower by about $0 per million blended tokens. Availability is 1 providers versus 1, so concentration risk also matters.
Choose Llama 3.2 1B when provider fit are central to the workload. Choose Llama Guard 3 1B when provider fit 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. For teams standardizing a stack, that distinction is often the difference between a benchmark win and a reliable deployment.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Llama 3.2 1B or Llama Guard 3 1B?
Llama 3.2 1B is cheaper on tracked token pricing. Llama 3.2 1B costs $0.1/1M input and $0.1/1M output tokens. Llama Guard 3 1B costs $0.1/1M input and $0.1/1M output tokens. Provider discounts or batch pricing can still change the final bill.
Is Llama 3.2 1B or Llama Guard 3 1B open source?
Llama 3.2 1B is listed under Open Source. Llama Guard 3 1B 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.
Where can I run Llama 3.2 1B and Llama Guard 3 1B?
Llama 3.2 1B is available on Fireworks AI. Llama Guard 3 1B is available on Fireworks AI. Provider coverage can affect latency, region availability, compliance posture, and fallback options. Use this as a quick comparison signal, then confirm the provider-specific limits before committing to production.
When should I pick Llama 3.2 1B over Llama Guard 3 1B?
Llama 3.2 1B is safer overall; choose Llama Guard 3 1B when provider fit matters. If your workload also depends on provider fit, start with Llama 3.2 1B; if it depends on provider fit, run the same evaluation with Llama Guard 3 1B.
Continue comparing
Last reviewed: 2026-04-15. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.