Llama 3.1 405B vs Qwen3.5-9B
Llama 3.1 405B (2024) and Qwen3.5-9B (2026) are compact production models from AI at Meta and Alibaba. Llama 3.1 405B ships a 128k-token context window, while Qwen3.5-9B ships a 262k-token context window. On Google-Proof Q&A, Qwen3.5-9B leads by 30.2 pts. This comparison covers specs, pricing, API access, capabilities, benchmarks, input and output token costs, and production fit for coding and agent workloads.
Qwen3.5-9B is safer overall; choose Llama 3.1 405B when provider fit matters.
Decision scorecard
Local evidence first| Signal | Llama 3.1 405B | Qwen3.5-9B |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | general production evaluation | multimodal apps, tool-calling agents, and provider-routed production |
| Decision fit | Coding, Long context, and Classification | Coding, RAG, and Agents |
| Context window | 128k | 262k |
| Cheapest output | - | $0.15/1M tokens |
| Provider routes | 0 tracked | 3 tracked |
| Shared benchmarks | 1 shared | Google-Proof Q&A leader |
Decision tradeoffs
- Local decision data tags Llama 3.1 405B for Coding, Long context, and Classification.
- Qwen3.5-9B holds a shared-benchmark lead on Google-Proof Q&A, ahead by 30.2 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, Multimodal, and Function calling in local model data.
- Local decision data tags Qwen3.5-9B 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.
Llama 3.1 405B
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 Llama 3.1 405B and Qwen3.5-9B; plan for SDK, billing, or endpoint changes.
- Qwen3.5-9B adds Vision, Multimodal, and Function calling in local capability data.
- No overlapping tracked provider route is sourced for Qwen3.5-9B and Llama 3.1 405B; plan for SDK, billing, or endpoint changes.
- Check replacement coverage for Vision, Multimodal, and Function calling before moving production traffic.
Specs
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2024-07-23 | 2026-03-02 |
| Context window | 128k | 262k |
| Parameters | 405B | 9B |
| Architecture | Decoder Only | Decoder Only |
| License | Llama 3 Community | Apache 2.0OSI-approved |
| Openness | Open weights | Open source |
| Commercial use | Commercial use: conditional | Commercial use: permitted |
| Knowledge cutoff | 2023-12 | - |
Pricing and availability
| Pricing attribute | Llama 3.1 405B | Qwen3.5-9B |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | - | $0.10/1M tokens |
| Output price | - | $0.15/1M tokens |
| Providers | - |
Capabilities
| Capability | Llama 3.1 405B | Qwen3.5-9B |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | No | Yes |
| Multimodal | No | Yes |
| Reasoning | No | No |
| Function calling | No | Yes |
| Tool use | No | Yes |
| Structured outputs | No | Yes |
| Code execution | No | No |
| IDE integration | No | No |
| Computer use | No | No |
| Parallel agents | No | No |
Benchmarks
| Benchmark | Llama 3.1 405B | Qwen3.5-9B |
|---|---|---|
| Google-Proof Q&A | 51.5 | 81.7 |
Deep dive
On shared benchmark coverage, Google-Proof Q&A has Llama 3.1 405B at 51.5 and Qwen3.5-9B at 81.7, with Qwen3.5-9B ahead by 30.2 points. The largest visible gap is 30.2 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, multimodal input: Qwen3.5-9B, function calling: Qwen3.5-9B, tool use: Qwen3.5-9B, and structured outputs: Qwen3.5-9B. 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: Llama 3.1 405B has no token price sourced yet and Qwen3.5-9B has $0.10/1M input tokens. Provider availability is 0 tracked routes versus 3. Treat unknown pricing as an integration gap, then verify the route you will actually call before estimating production spend.
Choose Llama 3.1 405B 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, Llama 3.1 405B or Qwen3.5-9B?
Qwen3.5-9B supports 262k tokens, while Llama 3.1 405B supports 128k tokens. That gap matters most for long documents, large codebases, retrieval-heavy agents, and conversations where earlier context must remain visible.
Is Llama 3.1 405B or Qwen3.5-9B open source?
Llama 3.1 405B is listed under Llama 3 Community. 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, Llama 3.1 405B 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, Llama 3.1 405B or Qwen3.5-9B?
Qwen3.5-9B 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.
Which is better for function calling, Llama 3.1 405B or Qwen3.5-9B?
Qwen3.5-9B 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.
Where can I run Llama 3.1 405B and Qwen3.5-9B?
Llama 3.1 405B is available on the tracked providers still being sourced. 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.
Continue comparing
Last reviewed: 2026-06-15. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.