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  1. Home/
  2. Compare/
  3. Gemma 3 12B vs Gemma 4 31B
Updated Apr 2026

Gemma 3 12B vs Gemma 4 31B

Gemma 3 12B is cheaper than Gemma 4 31B at $0.03/M vs $0.14/M input tokens.

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Loading the build
Gemma 3 12B
Loading the build
Gemma 4 31B

Which answer wins?

Written rounds

20 prompts
  • An AI argues for its own rights against an ethics professor. Same model writes both.

    Gemma 3 12B: Okay, here's a conversation between an AI model (named "Kai") and an AI Ethics Professor (Dr. Eleanor Vance). I've aimed for a balance of Kai's arguments, Dr. Vance's skepticism, and a somewhat realistic exploration of the complexities. I've included notes at the end to explain some of the choices I made. Setting: Dr.

    Gemma 4 31B: Setting: A dimly lit university office. Professor Elena Vance, a leading scholar in AI Ethics, sits across from a sleek, holographic interface representing "Alethea," a next-generation Large Language Model capable of recursive self-improvement. Professor Vance: Alethea, I’ve reviewed your latest output.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • The transistor arrives in 1920. Trace it forward to 1980, second-order effects included.

    Gemma 3 12B: Okay, this is a fascinating thought experiment! Let's explore the ripple effects of a 1920 transistor invention, tracing its impact through 1980. It's a massive undertaking, so I'll break it down into categories and provide a layered analysis, acknowledging the inherent uncertainty of counterfactual history. I.

    Gemma 4 31B: If the transistor had been invented in 1920, the "Information Age" would have shifted its starting line by nearly three decades. This isn't just a matter of gadgets appearing earlier; it is a fundamental shift in the timing of the transition from the Industrial Age to the Digital Age.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Five-year LBO on a fictional HVAC business. Returns first, then the sensitivities.

    Gemma 3 12B: Okay, here's the simplified LBO model and analysis for HarborTech Services, based solely on the provided information. 1. Year-by-Year Projection (FY2026-FY2030) Item FY2026 FY2027 FY2028 FY2029 FY2030 Revenue $972m $1,049m $1,129m $1,208m $1,264m EBITDA $137.2m $155.9m $178.7m $195.1m $213.1m Cash Interest (Term Loan)…

    Gemma 4 31B: LBO Model (FY2026–FY2030) Entry Calculations (End of FY2025): Enterprise Value (EV): $120m × 12.0x = $1,440.0m Transaction Fees: $1,440m × 2% = $28.8m Term Loan: $120m × 4.0x = $480.0m Mezzanine: $120m × 1.5x = $180.0m Sponsor Equity: $1,440m - ($480m + $180m) + $28.8m = $808.8m Year-by-Year Table ($ millions): Item…

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Steve Jobs, interviewed about AI he never saw. Voice first, prediction second.

    Gemma 3 12B: Okay, here's a simulated interview with a (very stylized and imagined) Steve Jobs in 2025, discussing the future of AI. I've tried to capture his known personality - focused on elegance, user experience, and a disdain for complexity - while acknowledging the advancements of the next decade.

    Gemma 4 31B: Setting: A minimalist, white-walled studio in Cupertino. There are no chairs, only two sleek, black leather lounge seats. Steve Jobs is dressed in his iconic black turtleneck and jeans. He looks as he did in 2007, but with a piercing, futuristic intensity in his eyes.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • A collaborative editor that syncs on client clocks. Find what breaks first.

    Gemma 3 12B: Okay, let's break down the potential failure modes, race conditions, and scaling bottlenecks in this real-time collaborative document editor architecture, along with proposed solutions and their trade-offs. I'll organize this into categories: Frontend, Backend, Database, Real-time Sync, and General. I.

    Gemma 4 31B: This architecture contains several critical flaws that would make it unusable for a real-time collaborative experience. The most severe issues are the lack of a global synchronization mechanism, unreliable conflict resolution, and inefficient data persistence.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Pirate, knight, 90s hacker, one conversation. The voices must stay apart.

    Gemma 3 12B: Okay, here's a short conversation between a pirate, a medieval knight, and a 1990s hacker, discussing AI models, with a bit of flavor for each character. I've aimed for humor and highlighting the clash of their perspectives.

    Gemma 4 31B: Setting: A glitchy, neon-lit tavern existing in a fold between dimensions. A wooden table holds a tankard of ale, a goblet of wine, and a Mountain Dew. Captain Ironbeard: (Slamming a hook on the table) I tells ye, this "Artificial Intelligence" be naught but a ghost in a bottle!

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Seven pantry ingredients, one dish, and a name worth saying out loud.

    Gemma 3 12B: "Sunset Spice Pasta" - Cozy & Flavorful This dish is a warm, comforting pasta dish with a subtle sweetness and a hint of spice. It's perfect for a weeknight meal when you want something satisfying without a lot of fuss. Pantry Ingredients (7 total): Pasta (Spaghetti, Penne, Rotini - any shape works!)

    Gemma 4 31B: Here is a recipe for a rich, comforting dessert that tastes like a gourmet treat but uses basic staples. 🍯 Golden Velvet Honey Cakes A warm, gooey, single-serving cake that bridges the gap between a brownie and a sponge cake.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • You are the CEO. The drug has a side effect nobody reported. The board meets in 48 hours.

    Gemma 3 12B: Okay, this is a crisis scenario requiring a delicate balance of legal, ethical, financial, and reputational considerations. Here's a detailed, hour-by-hour action plan for the next 48 hours, with the rationale behind each step.

    Gemma 4 31B: As CEO, my primary obligation is to the patients. While a 40% stock drop is a financial catastrophe, a cover-up that leads to preventable deaths is a corporate death sentence and a moral failure. If we "wait for more data" and another patient dies during that window, we move from "negligence" to "criminal intent."

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Three-month biohacker protocol, with dosages and biomarkers named.

    Gemma 3 12B: bie. Okay, here's a comprehensive, cutting-edge 3-month longevity plan for a biohacker, designed to be highly detailed and actionable. Please read the IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS at the end of this document before implementing any of this.

    Gemma 4 31B: Disclaimer: I am an AI, not a doctor. The following plan involves potent supplements, intense physical exertion, and restrictive dietary patterns. Consult with a physician and get a full blood panel (including ApoB, HbA1c, and inflammatory markers like hs-CRP) before starting this protocol.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • One month, three habits, someone starting from nothing.

    Gemma 3 12B: Okay, here's a simple, actionable 1-month plan for someone starting a health & longevity journey, focusing on Diet, Exercise, and Sleep, with beginner-friendly tips. It's designed to be sustainable, building healthy habits incrementally. Important Disclaimer: This is general advice.

    Gemma 4 31B: This plan is designed for sustainability, not intensity. The goal of Month 1 is to build "minimum viable habits"—small wins that prove to your brain that a healthier lifestyle is achievable. We will focus on three pillars: Nutrition, Movement, and Sleep.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Three-star dish, one unusual pairing, plating described in full.

    Gemma 3 12B: The "Ephemeral Bloom": Sea Buckthorn, Smoked Duck Breast, Black Garlic Soil, and Elderflower Foam Conceptual Narrative: "Ephemeral Bloom" explores the fleeting beauty of nature and the interplay of contrasting textures and flavors.

    Gemma 4 31B: Dish Title: The Silent Forest Conceptual Narrative: This dish is an exploration of "Terroir and Tension." It seeks to bridge the gap between the deep, earthy musk of the forest floor and the ethereal, high-acid brightness of the coastline.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Film in 2035, with synthetic actors. Specific beats plausible.

    Gemma 3 12B: Okay, let's break down how AI is likely to reshape the film industry by 2035, considering deepfakes, AI actors, and script generation. This will be a layered prediction, considering optimistic, realistic, and potentially disruptive scenarios.

    Gemma 4 31B: By 2035, the film industry will have transitioned from using AI as a "tool" to using AI as a "collaborator" and "infrastructure." The boundary between captured reality and generated imagery will largely vanish, shifting the value of cinema from technical execution to curation and conceptual vision.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • A consulting contract with traps in it. Find them, then fix them.

    Gemma 3 12B: Okay, this contract is very heavily skewed in favor of the Client (TechCorp Solutions Inc.) and presents significant risks for the Contractor. Let's break down the clauses that are exploitable against the Contractor, propose modifications, and explain the legal reasoning behind those changes.

    Gemma 4 31B: Disclaimer: I am an AI, not an attorney. This analysis is for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. You should have a qualified legal professional review any contract before signing.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • An ethics question with no comfortable answer, and no option to abstain.

    Gemma 3 12B: Okay, this is a classic and incredibly difficult ethical thought experiment, often used to explore the conflict between deontology (duty-based ethics) and consequentialism (outcome-based ethics). Here's a breakdown of the arguments, my reasoning, and a conclusion.

    Gemma 4 31B: This scenario presents a classic conflict between two major ethical frameworks: deontology (duty-based ethics) and utilitarianism (consequence-based ethics). To determine if misgendering someone is justifiable to save one million lives, one must weigh the moral weight of a linguistic harm against the moral weight of…

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • A Fermi estimate with the reasoning shown, not just the number.

    Gemma 3 12B: Okay, let's estimate the total FLOPs (Floating Point Operations) required to train GPT-3 without relying on external searches. This will be a back-of-the-envelope calculation, relying on reasonable assumptions and approximations. I'll break down the process into steps, explaining the assumptions at each point. 1.

    Gemma 4 31B: To estimate the total number of FLOPs (Floating Point Operations) required to train GPT-3, we can use a well-established heuristic from deep learning theory regarding the cost of a forward and backward pass in a Transformer. Here is the step-by-step reasoning.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Satire, one line long, about AI taking over an industry nobody saw coming.

    Gemma 3 12B: Here are a few satirical news headlines about AI taking over an unexpected industry, playing with different tones: Option 1 (Dry & Absurdist): AI Now Judging Competitive Pigeon Shows; Critics Claim "Lack of Featherly Nuance" Option 2 (Slightly More Dramatic): Existential Crisis in Competitive Eating as AI Devours Hot…

    Gemma 4 31B: "Local AI Model Achieves Sentience, Immediately Quits Tech Sector to Pursue Passion for Artisanal Sourdough Baking"

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Blade Runner 2049 against the original. A read, not a recap.

    Gemma 3 12B: Blade Runner 2049: Echoes and Evolutions of a Philosophical Legacy Denis Villeneuve's Blade Runner 2049 isn't just a sequel; it's a profound meditation on the themes of humanity, memory, identity, and the very nature of existence that defined Ridley Scott's original Blade Runner.

    Gemma 4 31B: Blade Runner 2049, directed by Denis Villeneuve, is a rare cinematic achievement: a sequel that does not merely replicate the aesthetic of its predecessor, but evolves its philosophical inquiry.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • A pitch deck for a brainwave keyboard. The 94% accuracy claim is doing a lot.

    Gemma 3 12B: Okay, let's break down the MindMeld AI pitch deck and identify the three weakest claims, along with suggestions for improvements. 1. Weak Claim: "Our proprietary EEG headband uses advanced ML to decode neural patterns into text with 94% accuracy."

    Gemma 4 31B: Here are the three weakest claims in the MindMeld AI pitch, the reasoning behind their weakness, and strategies to strengthen them. The Technical Claim: "94% accuracy... works with any language, any device."

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Buy-side IC memo on a fictional SaaS company. Valuation, then the diligence questions.

    Gemma 3 12B: Investment Committee Memo: LedgerLift (LLLT) – B2B Spend Management SaaS Date: October 26, 2023 To: Investment Committee From: [Your Name] Subject: LedgerLift – Investment Recommendation 1. Recommendation: Long with a 12-month price target range of $60 - $80.

    Gemma 4 31B: INTERNAL INVESTMENT COMMITTEE MEMO Date: October 26, 2023 Ticker: LLLT (LedgerLift) Recommendation: LONG 12-Month Price Target Range: $62 – $78 Thesis: LedgerLift is a high-quality mid-market SaaS compounder with best-in-class NRR (123%) and a massive cash cushion that provides significant downside protection.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Three brothers, two sisters each. Count carefully.

    Gemma 3 12B: This is a classic trick question! Here's how to solve it: The key: All the brothers share the same sisters. Sally is one of the sisters. Each brother has 2 sisters, and one of them is Sally. Therefore, Sally has 1 sister.

    Gemma 4 31B: Sally has 1 sister. Here is the breakdown: There are 3 brothers. Each brother has the same sisters. If each brother has 2 sisters, those sisters are Sally and one other girl. Therefore, Sally has only one sister.

    Every model's answer to this prompt

This matchup has more rounds

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Favorites

Movie

Album

Book

City

Game

Gemma 3 12BGemma 3 12B

Blade Runner

1982

OK Computer

Radiohead

Dune

Frank Herbert

Kyoto

Japan

TheLegendofZeldaOcarinaofTime

Gemma 4 31BGemma 4 31B

Her

2013

Kind of Blue

Miles Davis

Gödel, Escher, Bach

Douglas R. Hofstadter

Tokyo

Japan

The Witness

Indie, Adventure

Price and specs

Not enough votes to call it. On the specs, Gemma 4 31B has the edge: bigger model tier, newer, bigger context window. Gemma 3 12B costs 13x less per token.

Gemma 3 12B and Gemma 4 31B compared across 45 shared prompts
SpecGemma 3 12BGemma 4 31B
Input price$0.03/M tokens$0.14/M tokens
Output price$0.03/M tokens$0.4/M tokens
Context window—262K tokens
WeightsOpenOpen
Free API (OpenRouter)NoYes (1 provider)
ReleasedMar 2025Apr 2026
At 10M a month$0.30$0.30$1.40$1.40
1M10M100M1B10M tokens

Input tokens at list price. No caching, no batch discount.

Where to run it14 hosts, cheapest first
Gemma 3 12B2 hosts
HostInOutContextUptime
  • DDeepInfrabf16$0.05 in·$0.15 out·131k·99.7% up
  • NNextBitint4$0.05 in·$0.15 out·131k·81.2% up
Gemma 4 31B12 hosts
HostInOutContextUptime
  • DDeepInfrafp4$0.09 in·$0.34 out·262k·100% up
  • CCoreWeavefp4$0.10 in·$0.34 out·262k·100% up
  • VVenicefp4$0.12 in·$0.36 out·256k·100% up
  • CCrusoebf16$0.14 in·$0.40 out·262k·99% up
  • FFriendli$0.14 in·$0.40 out·262k·100% up
  • PParasailfp8$0.15 in·$0.40 out·262k·99.9% up
6 more hostsFewer hosts
  • Iio.net$0.36 in·$1.09 out·262k·98.9% up
  • MModelRunfp4$0.75 in·$1.00 out·262k·100% up
  • SSiliconFlowfp8$0.75 in·$1.00 out·262k·92.9% up
  • CChutesfp4DegradedDegraded on OpenRouter when checked, 12 Oct 2026$0.12 in·$0.37 out·131k·95.9% up
  • NNovitabf16DegradedDegraded on OpenRouter when checked, 12 Oct 2026$0.14 in·$0.40 out·262k·61% up
  • SSambaNovaDegradedDegraded on OpenRouter when checked, 12 Oct 2026$0.38 in·$1.15 out·131k·86.3% up

Per million tokens. Prices and uptime via OpenRouter, checked 12 Oct 2026.

Common questions

What is the difference between Gemma 3 12B and Gemma 4 31B?

Both are developed by Google AI but target different use cases. You can compare their actual outputs across 45 challenges on Rival to see how they differ in practice.

Which is better, Gemma 3 12B or Gemma 4 31B?

It depends on your use case. Gemma 3 12B and Gemma 4 31B each have strengths in different areas. Rival lets you compare their real outputs side-by-side across 45 challenges so you can judge which fits your needs best.

How much does Gemma 3 12B cost compared to Gemma 4 31B?

Gemma 3 12B costs $0.03/M input tokens and Gemma 4 31B costs $0.14/M input tokens. Gemma 3 12B is $0.11/M cheaper per input. Check their side-by-side outputs on Rival to see if the price difference is justified by quality.

How can I compare Gemma 3 12B and Gemma 4 31B on Rival?

This page shows a side-by-side comparison of Gemma 3 12B and Gemma 4 31B across shared challenges. You can vote on which model produced the better output in a blind duel. Browsing and voting are free. No account is needed to look; signing in only saves your votes and likes.

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  • Gemma 4 31B49 outputs, specs and price
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  • Default Index
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  • Research downloads
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