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Open model familyVerified August 11, 2026

Google

Gemma 4

Gemma 4 is a flexible family to explore when you want a Google-backed open-model route with options across model sizes and specialized variants. It is more useful as a selection set than as one universal answer: first choose the right checkpoint, then evaluate its license, modality, and hardware fit.

License
Gemma 4 license
Context
Model variant dependent
Modalities
Text · Unified and specialist variants
Parameters
E2B, E4B, 12B Unified, 26B A4B, and 31B releases

What the license means

Gemma 4 is governed by Google's Gemma 4 license and terms. It is an open model family, but teams should read the current terms for hosted service, redistribution, and use-policy obligations rather than assuming Apache or MIT.

Open-weight, open source, and no-cost API access mean different things. Always review the linked terms and your own data, hosting, and compliance requirements before shipping.

API and operating cost

Input / 1M
No universal Gemma API rate
Output / 1M
No universal Gemma API rate

Open model weights do not create a single provider API price. Compare the cost of your selected runtime or hosting provider instead.

Check current provider price

Where it fits

  • Right-sized open-model experiments
  • Specialist model selection
  • Google AI ecosystem prototyping

Where it does not fit

  • Assuming every Gemma 4 variant has the same capabilities
  • Budgeting from a generic API price

Local deployment reality

Gemma spans small and larger variants, so the practical local path depends on the checkpoint and quantization. Treat it as a family selection problem rather than a one-model hardware estimate.

Runtime depends on selected checkpoint

Practical setup notes

  • Choose the specific Gemma 4 checkpoint before estimating memory or inference cost.
  • Read the Gemma 4 license for your distribution model, especially if you offer hosted access.

Capability notes

Reasoning
Model variant dependent
Tools and output
Google AI and open ecosystem tooling vary by checkpoint

Limitations to plan around

  • The family spans multiple sizes and use cases, so broad claims are not useful.
  • There is no one provider-hosted API rate for all Gemma models.

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Editorial note: This is a dated decision page, not a benchmark leaderboard or a substitute for legal, security, or infrastructure review. Model and pricing facts can change after August 11, 2026; use the linked primary sources before committing budget or customer data.