$0.1 input / $0.1 output
Llama 4 Scout
Meta · 128K context
$0.18 / $0.59Higher quality
GPT-oss 20B
OpenAI · 128K context
$0.08 / $0.3520% cheaper input
Mistral Small 4
Mistral · 128K context
$0.1 / $0.3Same input price
DeepSeek V4 Flash
DeepSeek · 1M context
$0.14 / $0.281M context
Gemini 2.5 Flash-Lite
Google · 1M context
$0.1 / $0.41M context

Calculate Your Costs

Compare your monthly costs across these budget models

$180/yr
cost with Llama 3.1 8B
Llama 3.1 8B: $180/yr vs GPT-oss 20B: $312/yr

The 5 Best Llama 3.1 8B Alternatives (Ranked by Value)

1. Llama 4 Scout

Meta · 128K Context
Higher quality
Input: $0.18/MOutput: $0.59/MContext: 128K
Full comparison: Llama 3.1 8B vs Llama 4 Scout ->

2. GPT-oss 20B

OpenAI · 128K Context
20% cheaper input
Input: $0.08/MOutput: $0.35/MContext: 128K
Full comparison: Llama 3.1 8B vs GPT-oss 20B ->

3. Mistral Small 4

Mistral · 128K Context
Same input price
Input: $0.1/MOutput: $0.3/MContext: 128K
Full comparison: Llama 3.1 8B vs Mistral Small 4 ->

4. DeepSeek V4 Flash

DeepSeek · 1M Context
1M context
Input: $0.14/MOutput: $0.28/MContext: 1M
Full comparison: Llama 3.1 8B vs DeepSeek V4 Flash ->

5. Gemini 2.5 Flash-Lite

Google · 1M Context
1M context
Input: $0.1/MOutput: $0.4/MContext: 1M
Full comparison: Llama 3.1 8B vs Gemini 2.5 Flash-Lite ->

Why Consider Alternatives to Llama 3.1 8B

💰

Cost Savings

Many alternatives offer 50-90% lower costs for similar or better quality.

📏

Context Window

Some alternatives offer 1M context vs 128K for handling larger documents.

Performance

Newer generations often deliver better quality at lower prices.

🛠

Ecosystem

Different providers offer unique integrations and tooling advantages.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best Llama 3.1 8B alternative?
For similar cost, GPT-oss 20B ($0.08/$0.35) has cheaper input and better quality. For much better quality, Llama 4 Scout ($0.18/$0.59) is the newer generation from Meta.
Is Llama 3.1 8B still worth using?
Llama 3.1 8B is very cheap but has been superseded by Llama 4 models. GPT-oss 20B offers better quality at similar cost. Unless you need the specific 8B size for self-hosting, consider alternatives.
How does Llama 3.1 8B compare to GPT-oss 20B?
GPT-oss 20B ($0.08/$0.35) has 20% cheaper input but 250% more expensive output. It's a larger model with better quality. For input-heavy workloads, GPT-oss 20B is cheaper; for output-heavy, Llama 3.1 8B may be more economical.
Should I use Llama 3.1 8B or Mistral Small 4?
Both are priced similarly ($0.10/$0.10 vs $0.15/$0.60). Llama 3.1 8B has cheaper output; Mistral Small 4 may offer better quality. Test both for your specific use case.
What's the cheapest AI model available?
Llama 3.1 8B ($0.10/$0.10) is one of the cheapest with balanced pricing. GPT-oss 20B ($0.08/$0.35) has cheaper input. Gemini 2.0 Flash Lite ($0.075/$0.30) is the absolute cheapest but is deprecated.

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