Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite vs Llama 4 Maverick
Complete pricing and performance comparison between Google's Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite and Meta's Llama 4 Maverick.
Quick Verdict
Cheaper
Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite (input) / Llama 4 Maverick (output)
Input: 1.1x diff, Output: 1.8x diff
Larger Context
Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite
1.0M vs 1.0M
Higher Quality
Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite
Score: 34 vs 18
Faster
Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite
230 vs 130 tok/s
Pricing Comparison
| Spec | Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite | Llama 4 Maverick | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provider | Meta | ||
| Input / 1M tokens | $0.25 | $0.27 | Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite is 7% more expensive |
| Output / 1M tokens | $1.5 | $0.85 | Llama 4 Maverick is 43% more expensive |
| Context Window | 1.0M | 1.0M | Same |
| Max Output | 66K | 16K |
Performance Benchmarks
| Metric | Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite | Llama 4 Maverick | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality Index | 34 | 18 | Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite |
| Output Speed | 230 tok/s | 130 tok/s | Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite |
| Time to First Token | 5.17s | 0.47s | Llama 4 Maverick |
| Value (Quality/$) | 134.0 | 68.1 | Higher = better value |
Benchmark data from Artificial Analysis. Quality Index is a composite score across reasoning, coding, and knowledge tasks.
Cost at Scale
Estimated cost at different usage levels (3:1 input-to-output token ratio, typical for chat).
| Usage | Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite | Llama 4 Maverick | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
Single request 1K in / 300 out | $0.0007 | $0.0005 | Same |
10 requests 10K in / 3K out | $0.0070 | $0.0053 | Llama 4 Maverick saves $0.0018 |
100 requests 100K in / 30K out | $0.070 | $0.053 | Llama 4 Maverick saves $0.018 |
1,000 requests 1M in / 300K out | $0.700 | $0.525 | Llama 4 Maverick saves $0.175 |
10,000 requests 10M in / 3M out | $7.00 | $5.25 | Llama 4 Maverick saves $1.75 |
1M requests/mo 1B in / 300M out | $700.00 | $525.00 | Llama 4 Maverick saves $175.00 |
Pros & Cons
Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite Strengths
- +Cheaper input tokens
- +Higher max output tokens
- +Faster output (230 vs 130 tok/s)
- +Higher quality score (34 vs 18)
Llama 4 Maverick Strengths
- +Cheaper output tokens
- +Lower latency (faster first token)
When to Use Each Model
Choose Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite for
- →Generating long-form content or detailed code
- →Tasks requiring maximum accuracy and reasoning
- →Real-time applications, chat, or autocomplete
Choose Llama 4 Maverick for
- →Projects already integrated with Meta's ecosystem
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite or Llama 4 Maverick?
For input tokens, Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite is 1.1x cheaper at $0.25/1M tokens. For output tokens, Llama 4 Maverick is 1.8x cheaper at $0.85/1M tokens. At typical usage (1M input + 300K output), Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite costs $0.700 vs Llama 4 Maverick at $0.525.
What's the context window difference?
Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite supports 1.0M context (1,048,576 tokens), while Llama 4 Maverick supports 1.0M (1,048,576 tokens). Llama 4 Maverick can handle 1x more context in a single request.
Which model has better benchmarks?
Quality Index: Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite scores 34 vs Llama 4 Maverick at 18. Speed: Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite generates 230 tok/s vs Llama 4 Maverick at 130 tok/s. Time to first token: Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite at 5.17s vs Llama 4 Maverick at 0.47s.
When should I choose Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite over Llama 4 Maverick?
Choose Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite when you need: Cheaper input tokens, Higher max output tokens, Faster output (230 vs 130 tok/s), Higher quality score (34 vs 18). Choose Llama 4 Maverick when you need: Cheaper output tokens, Lower latency (faster first token).
How much would 10,000 API requests cost?
At 1K input + 300 output tokens per request (typical chat): Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite = $7.00, Llama 4 Maverick = $5.25. At 10K input + 1K output per request (longer conversations): Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite = $40.00, Llama 4 Maverick = $35.50.
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