How much can I save switching from Llama 4 Scout to Llama 3.1 8B?

You can save 44% on input and 83% on output tokens by switching. For a typical workload of 1M input + 500K output tokens per month, Llama 3.1 8B costs $0.15 vs $0.47 — saving $0.32/month.

Which model should I use: Llama 3.1 8B or Llama 4 Scout?

Choose Llama 3.1 8B for cost efficiency — it's 44% cheaper on input. Choose Llama 4 Scout if you need Meta (Together.ai) ecosystem integration. Llama 3.1 8B has 128K context vs Llama 4 Scout's 1M.

Llama 3.1 8B vs Llama 4 Scout

Q: Is Llama 3.1 8B cheaper than Llama 4 Scout?

Yes, Llama 3.1 8B costs $0.1/$0.1 per 1M tokens while Llama 4 Scout costs $0.18/$0.59. That's 44% cheaper on input and 83% cheaper on output.

Side-by-side API pricing comparison: which model gives you more for less?

Last verified May 2026 · Prices per 1M tokens

Quick Comparison

Feature	Llama 3.1 8B	Llama 4 Scout
Provider	Meta (Together.ai)	Meta (Together.ai)
Tier	Budget	Budget
Input Price	$0.1	$0.18
Output Price	$0.1	$0.59
Context Window	128K	1M
Verified	May 2026	Jun 2026

When to Use Each

💰 Cost-Sensitive Workloads

High-volume APIs, batch processing, and startups watching runway.

→ Use Llama 3.1 8B — 44% cheaper input, 83% cheaper output

🧠 Complex Reasoning

Tasks requiring advanced reasoning, code generation, or nuanced analysis.

→ Either model works — compare quality on your specific tasks

⚡ High-Throughput APIs

Real-time chatbots, streaming responses, and latency-sensitive apps.

→ Llama 3.1 8B for cost at scale, Llama 4 Scout if quality matters more

🔬 Prototyping & Testing

Development, experimentation, and non-critical workloads.

→ Use Llama 3.1 8B — same context (128K), much cheaper

Track price changes for both models

APIpulse Pro monitors 49 models across 10 providers. Get alerts when Llama 3.1 8B or Llama 4 Scout prices change.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Llama 3.1 8B cheaper than Llama 4 Scout?

Yes. Llama 3.1 8B costs $0.1 input / $0.1 output per 1M tokens, while Llama 4 Scout costs $0.18 input / $0.59 output. That's 44% cheaper on input and 83% cheaper on output.

How much can I save switching to Llama 3.1 8B?

For a typical workload (1M input + 500K output tokens/month), Llama 3.1 8B costs $0.15/month vs $0.47/month for Llama 4 Scout. That's a savings of $0.32/month (83%).

Which should I choose: Llama 3.1 8B or Llama 4 Scout?

Choose Llama 3.1 8B for cost efficiency. Choose Llama 4 Scout for Meta (Together.ai) ecosystem benefits. Llama 3.1 8B has 128K context vs Llama 4 Scout's 1M.