Gemma 4 26B-A4B vs Seed 1.8
Gemma 4 26B-A4B and Seed 1.8 are closely matched at 29.5 and 34.1 on the LLM Stats Score. Gemma 4 26B-A4B is 5.0x cheaper per token.
Google · ByteDance · Updated for 2026
Which is better?
Gemma 4 26B-A4B and Seed 1.8 are closely matched on the overall LLM Stats Score at 29.5 and 34.1.
The models split the 4 individual benchmarks reported for both models evenly.
On price, Gemma 4 26B-A4B is roughly 5.0x cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 input/output basis, which adds up quickly at production volume.
Gemma 4 26B-A4B also accepts a larger context window (262,144 input tokens), making it the stronger choice for long documents and large codebases.
Based on current LLM Stats indexes, shared benchmarks, pricing, and model metadata for 2026.
Choose Gemma 4 26B-A4B
- cost matters — it's about 5.0x cheaper per token
- you process long inputs — it offers a 262,144 token context window
- you want the most recent training data — it shipped Apr 2026
- you need open weights you can self-host or fine-tune
Choose Seed 1.8
- you want predictable pricing at $0.25/M input and $2.00/M output
At a glance
The differences that matter most.
Capability indexes
Additional strengths measured across groups of related public benchmarks
Individual benchmarks
12 reported for Gemma 4 26B-A4B · 57 for Seed 1.8
Gemma 4 26B-A4B outperforms in 2 benchmarks (MathVision, MMMU-Pro), while Seed 1.8 is better at 2 benchmarks (LiveCodeBench v6, MMLU-Pro).
Both models are evenly matched across the benchmarks.
Human preference
Blind head-to-head votes and playground preference scores
Pricing Analysis
Price comparison per million tokens
For input processing, Gemma 4 26B-A4B ($0.07/1M tokens) is 3.6x cheaper than Seed 1.8 ($0.25/1M tokens).
For output processing, Gemma 4 26B-A4B ($0.34/1M tokens) is 5.9x cheaper than Seed 1.8 ($2.00/1M tokens).
In conclusion, Seed 1.8 is more expensive than Gemma 4 26B-A4B.*
* Using a 3:1 ratio of input to output tokens
Context Window
Maximum input and output token capacity
Gemma 4 26B-A4B accepts 262,144 input tokens compared to Seed 1.8's 256,000 tokens. Gemma 4 26B-A4B can generate longer responses up to 262,144 tokens, while Seed 1.8 is limited to 256,000 tokens.
Input capabilities
Documented input modalities across available providers
Both Gemma 4 26B-A4B and Seed 1.8 support multimodal inputs.
They are both capable of processing various types of data, offering versatility in application.
Gemma 4 26B-A4B
Seed 1.8
License
Usage and distribution terms
Gemma 4 26B-A4B is licensed under Apache 2.0, while Seed 1.8 uses a proprietary license.
License differences may affect how you can use these models in commercial or open-source projects.
Apache 2.0
Open weights
Proprietary
Closed source
Release Timeline
When each model was launched
Gemma 4 26B-A4B was released on 2026-04-02, while Seed 1.8 was released on 2026-02-17.
Gemma 4 26B-A4B is 1 month newer than Seed 1.8.
Apr 2, 2026
6 months ago
1mo newerFeb 17, 2026
7 months ago
Knowledge Cutoff
When training data ends
Gemma 4 26B-A4B has a documented knowledge cutoff of 2025-01-01, while Seed 1.8's cutoff date is not specified.
We can confirm Gemma 4 26B-A4B's training data extends to 2025-01-01, but cannot make a direct comparison without Seed 1.8's cutoff date.
Jan 2025
—
Provider Availability
Gemma 4 26B-A4B is available from DeepInfra, Novita. Seed 1.8 is available from DeepInfra.
Gemma 4 26B-A4B
Seed 1.8
Outputs Comparison
Judge for yourself.
Run your own prompts against Gemma 4 26B-A4B and Seed 1.8 side-by-side, then vote on the output you prefer.
FAQ
Common questions about Gemma 4 26B-A4B vs Seed 1.8.