Gemma 3 12B is $1.21 cheaper per 1M input tokens (96.8% lower; 31.2x difference).
API cost decision in 10 seconds
Gemini 2.5 Pro vs Gemma 3 12B
Pick Gemma 3 12B for lower cost; pick Gemini 2.5 Pro only if the larger context window matters more.
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Data confirmed:
Prices normalized to USD per 1M tokens
Sample workload: 1M input + 500K output
Budget verdict
Pick Gemma 3 12B for lower cost; pick Gemini 2.5 Pro only if the larger context window matters more.
On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, Gemma 3 12B is estimated at $0.11 vs $6.25 for Gemini 2.5 Pro, saving $6.14 (98.3% lower).
Cost-first pickGemma 3 12B
Context-first pickGemini 2.5 Pro
Sample savings$6.1498.3%
10x traffic gap$61.45
Gemini 2.5 Pro has more context, but Gemma 3 12B saves $6.14 on the standard workload. At 10x that traffic, the same price gap is about $61.45. Use the calculator below to replace the sample workload with your own token volume.
Cost sensitivity
Workload Sensitivity
Gemma 3 12B stays cheaper across input-heavy, balanced, and output-heavy sample workloads.
| Workload shape | Token mix | Better pick | Gemini 2.5 Pro | Gemma 3 12B |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Input-heavy / RAG | 5M input + 500K output | Gemma 3 12B | $11.25 | $0.27 |
| Balanced workload | 1M input + 1M output | Gemma 3 12B | $11.25 | $0.17 |
| Output-heavy chatbot | 1M input + 5M output | Gemma 3 12B | $51.25 | $0.69 |
Gemma 3 12B is $9.87 cheaper per 1M output tokens (98.7% lower; 76.9x difference).
Gemini 2.5 Pro has 917.5K more context (8x larger).
Gemma 3 12B is $6.14 cheaper on the standard workload (98.3% lower).
Estimate your workload cost
Your Workload Cost
This estimate uses normalized public API pricing per 1M tokens. It is a planning aid, not a billing quote. Verify provider pricing, limits, and terms before production use.
Quick Decision
Gemma 3 12B has the lower input price; Gemma 3 12B has the lower output price; Gemini 2.5 Pro offers the larger context window. For the 1M input plus 500K output sample, Gemma 3 12B is cheaper for the standard workload.
For a 1M input token plus 500K output token workload, the estimated API cost is $6.25 for Gemini 2.5 Pro and $0.11 for Gemma 3 12B.
Choose Gemini 2.5 Pro when you care most about larger context window.
Choose Gemma 3 12B when you care most about lower input-token price, and lower output-token price.
- On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, Gemma 3 12B is estimated at $0.11 vs $6.25 for Gemini 2.5 Pro, saving $6.14 (98.3% lower).
- Gemma 3 12B is $6.14 cheaper on the standard workload (98.3% lower).
- Gemma 3 12B is $1.21 cheaper per 1M input tokens (96.8% lower; 31.2x difference).
- Gemma 3 12B is $9.87 cheaper per 1M output tokens (98.7% lower; 76.9x difference).
- Gemini 2.5 Pro has 917.5K more context (8x larger).
| Feature | Gemini 2.5 Pro (Google) | Gemma 3 12B (Google) |
|---|---|---|
| Input Price prompt tokens per 1M | $1.25 | $0.04 |
| Completion Price per 1M tokens | $10 | $0.13 |
| Sample Workload Cost 1M input + 500K output | $6.25 | $0.11 |
| Context Window | 1.05M | 131.07K |
| Release Date | ||
| Popularity | #55 | #123 |
Use-Case Decision Matrix
| Use case | Better pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Budget-constrained production | Gemma 3 12B | On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, Gemma 3 12B is estimated at $0.11 vs $6.25 for Gemini 2.5 Pro, saving $6.14 (98.3% lower). |
| High-volume input processing | Gemma 3 12B | Lower prompt-token price matters most when prompts, retrieved passages, or documents dominate the bill. |
| Long responses and chatbots | Gemma 3 12B | Lower output-token price matters most when assistants generate many completion tokens. |
| RAG or long-document work | Gemini 2.5 Pro | A larger context window leaves more room for retrieved passages, conversation history, or source files. |
Related Alternatives
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- Owl Alpha offers 1.05M context with $0 sample workload cost.
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Cheaper alternatives
Review low-cost models sorted by a standard 1M input plus 500K output workload.
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Open provider hubsGoogle catalog
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