Model comparison · Updated 17 Aug 2026

Gemma 3 12B vs Llama 3.2 1B Instruct

Q: Is Gemma 3 12B better than Llama 3.2 1B Instruct?

We do not benchmark quality, so we cannot say. On the recorded numbers: Llama 3.2 1B Instruct is about 1.9× cheaper on input ($0.03 against $0.05 per 1M tokens), though Gemma 3 12B is cheaper on output. Gemma 3 12B has the larger context window (131K against 60K tokens). For a support chatbot at 10,000 chats a day, the standard-tier bill is about $36.00 a month for Gemma 3 12B and $30.24 for Llama 3.2 1B Instruct. Which is better for you depends on your task; test both on your own prompts.

Q: Which is cheaper, Gemma 3 12B or Llama 3.2 1B Instruct?

Llama 3.2 1B Instruct: $0.03 against $0.05 per 1M input tokens, and $0.20 against $0.15 per 1M output, on standard pricing.

Q: How much does each cost per 1M tokens?

Gemma 3 12B: $0.05 input and $0.15 output. Llama 3.2 1B Instruct: $0.03 input and $0.20 output. Standard tier, USD.

Q: Which has the larger context window?

Gemma 3 12B, with 131,072 tokens. Llama 3.2 1B Instruct has 60,000 tokens.

Q: Do both offer batch pricing?

Neither lists a batch tier in our catalogue.

Q: Can both read images or audio?

Input types recorded for Gemma 3 12B: none recorded. For Llama 3.2 1B Instruct: none recorded. Where a record lists none we say so rather than guess; check each vendor's documentation before relying on a capability.

Q: Is either model open-weight?

Gemma 3 12B: not marked open-weight in our records. Llama 3.2 1B Instruct: not marked open-weight in our records.

Q: What would each cost for a support chatbot?

At 10,000 chats a day, 1,500 input and 300 output tokens each, 30 days, standard tier: about $36.00 a month for Gemma 3 12B and $30.24 for Llama 3.2 1B Instruct. This is our calculation from the listed prices, not a quote.

Llama 3.2 1B Instruct is about 1.9× cheaper on input ($0.03 against $0.05 per 1M tokens), though Gemma 3 12B is cheaper on output. Gemma 3 12B has the larger context window (131K against 60K tokens). For a support chatbot at 10,000 chats a day, the standard-tier bill is about $36.00 a month for Gemma 3 12B and $30.24 for Llama 3.2 1B Instruct.

Ask an AI about this pageGChatGPT CClaude PPerplexity GeGemini XGrok

CoCopilot AIGoogle AI Mode

Cite

Cite this page

ModelsAtlas. “Gemma 3 12B vs Llama 3.2 1B Instruct”. Retrieved 17 Aug 2026. https://modelsatlas.com/compare/google/gemma-3-12b-it/vs/meta/llama-3-2-1b-instruct

Model A

Gemma 3 12B

by Google · weights not marked open · GRIDB3

Input / 1M
$0.05
observed We measured
Source
Our catalogue
Retrieved
17 Aug 2026

Output / 1M$0.15

Context131K

Model B

Llama 3.2 1B Instruct

by Meta · weights not marked open · GRIDB2

Input / 1M
$0.03
observed We measured
Source
Our catalogue
Retrieved
17 Aug 2026

Output / 1M$0.20

Context60K

Key numbers

Standard tier · highlighted = better

Gemma 3 12B

Llama 3.2 1B Instruct

Input / 1M tokens

$0.05

$0.03

Output / 1M tokens

$0.15

$0.20

Batch input / output

Not listed

Context window

131,072

60,000

Input types

Not disclosed

Weights

Not marked open

Tiers listed

standard

Prices checked

2026-08-17

What it costs for real workloads

Monthly, standard tier, 30 days

Support chatbot10k chats/day · 1.5k in, 300 out

$36.00/mo

$30.24/mo

RAG over documents2k queries/day · 12k in, 500 out

$40.50/mo

$25.47/mo

Coding agent300 tasks/day · 60k in, 8k out

$37.80/mo

$29.05/mo

Gemma 3 12B Llama 3.2 1B Instruct · Derived from the standard-tier prices above, input and output tokens per request as stated, 30 days. Excludes caching discounts and batch. Try your own numbers.

On the atlas

Price band (A–H) × context band (1–6)

1 square apart. Llama 3.2 1B Instruct (B2) sits 1 context band smaller than Gemma 3 12B (B3).

Same square as Gemma 3 12B: gpt-oss-20b ($0.02), Mistral Nemo ($0.03), gpt-oss-120b ($0.03). Same square as Llama 3.2 1B Instruct: Command R7B (12-2024) ($0.04), Mistral Small 3 ($0.05). Open B3 · Open B2

Gemma 3 12BLlama 3.2 1B InstructNearest neighboursOpen weights

View the map as a table (2 squares)

Square	Price band	Context band	Models
GRIDB2	<$0.10	32–128K	Llama 3.2 1B Instruct, Command R7B (12-2024), Mistral Small 3
GRIDB3	<$0.10	128–256K	Gemma 3 12B, Gemma 3 4B, Llama 3.1 8B Instruct, Llama 3.2 3B Instruct, gpt-oss-safeguard-20b, Gemma 3 27B, Qwen3 32B, Mistral Nemo, gpt-oss-120b, gpt-oss-20b

Capabilities side by side

Only what our records list

Gemma 3 12B

Llama 3.2 1B Instruct

Vision input

Not disclosed

Audio input

Not disclosed

Open weights

Not marked open

Batch tier

Not listed

Free tier

Not listed

Thinking tier

Not listed

Neither record lists input types, so we do not claim any.

Which should you choose?

Editorial

Choose Gemma 3 12B if…

output dominates your bill: $0.15 per 1M output against $0.20
your prompts are long: it takes 131,072 tokens against 60,000

Choose Llama 3.2 1B Instruct if…

you pay by the token: it costs $0.03 per 1M input against $0.05

Each reason is a fact from the tables above. Picking between them is our judgement, and we do not benchmark quality: price and context are what we can measure, so test both on your own prompts before you commit.

Questions

Is Gemma 3 12B better than Llama 3.2 1B Instruct?

We do not benchmark quality, so we cannot say. On the recorded numbers: Llama 3.2 1B Instruct is about 1.9× cheaper on input ($0.03 against $0.05 per 1M tokens), though Gemma 3 12B is cheaper on output. Gemma 3 12B has the larger context window (131K against 60K tokens). For a support chatbot at 10,000 chats a day, the standard-tier bill is about $36.00 a month for Gemma 3 12B and $30.24 for Llama 3.2 1B Instruct. Which is better for you depends on your task; test both on your own prompts.

Which is cheaper, Gemma 3 12B or Llama 3.2 1B Instruct?

Llama 3.2 1B Instruct: $0.03 against $0.05 per 1M input tokens, and $0.20 against $0.15 per 1M output, on standard pricing.

How much does each cost per 1M tokens?

Gemma 3 12B: $0.05 input and $0.15 output. Llama 3.2 1B Instruct: $0.03 input and $0.20 output. Standard tier, USD.

Which has the larger context window?

Gemma 3 12B, with 131,072 tokens. Llama 3.2 1B Instruct has 60,000 tokens.

Do both offer batch pricing?

Neither lists a batch tier in our catalogue.

Can both read images or audio?

Input types recorded for Gemma 3 12B: none recorded. For Llama 3.2 1B Instruct: none recorded. Where a record lists none we say so rather than guess; check each vendor's documentation before relying on a capability.

Is either model open-weight?

Gemma 3 12B: not marked open-weight in our records. Llama 3.2 1B Instruct: not marked open-weight in our records.

What would each cost for a support chatbot?

At 10,000 chats a day, 1,500 input and 300 output tokens each, 30 days, standard tier: about $36.00 a month for Gemma 3 12B and $30.24 for Llama 3.2 1B Instruct. This is our calculation from the listed prices, not a quote.

About the two models

Gemma 3 12B

By Google. $0.05 input and $0.15 output per 1M tokens, 131K context, atlas square B3. Tiers listed: standard.

Full specs & pricing →

Llama 3.2 1B Instruct

By Meta. $0.03 input and $0.20 output per 1M tokens, 60K context, atlas square B2. Tiers listed: standard.

Full specs & pricing →

Compare Gemma 3 12B with…

Compare Llama 3.2 1B Instruct with…

Keep going in your AI

Opens with this page as the source. We add nothing else to the prompt.

Is Gemma 3 12B better than Llama 3.2 1B Instruct?
GChatGPT CClaude PPerplexity
Which is cheaper, Gemma 3 12B or Llama 3.2 1B Instruct?
GChatGPT CClaude PPerplexity
How much does each cost per 1M tokens?
GChatGPT CClaude PPerplexity