Groq vs Together AI: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Groq and Together AI? Both are popular llm provider tools. Below we compare them on pricing, free tiers, features, and pros & cons so you can pick the right fit for your stack.
Quick verdict
Both Groq and Together AI are strong llm provider choices. The right pick comes down to your specific feature needs, existing stack, and team preferences.
Groq vs Together AI — Side by Side
| Groq | Together AI | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | LLM Provider | LLM Provider |
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Starting price | Free tier available | Free tier available |
| Free tier | ||
| Rating | 4.6 | 4.5 |
| Best for | LLM Provider — ai, inference | LLM Provider — ai, api |
Pros & Cons
- Fastest inference (LPU hardware)
- Generous free tier
- OpenAI-compatible API
- Great for realtime/agent loops
- Open models only (no frontier closed models)
- Throughput limits on free tier
- Huge open-model catalog (200+)
- Cheapest at scale
- One API for many models
- Fine-tuning support
- Free is credits (not permanent)
- Open models only
Key Features Compared
Groq
- ~14,400 requests/day (Llama 3.3 70B)
- Sub-500ms responses
- OpenAI-compatible API
- No credit card to start
Together AI
- $25 free credits
- 200+ open-source models
- Serverless inference + fine-tuning
- OpenAI-compatible API
Choose Groq if…
- You want a free tier to validate before paying.
- Fastest inference (LPU hardware)
- Generous free tier
- OpenAI-compatible API
Choose Together AI if…
- You want a free tier to validate before paying.
- Huge open-model catalog (200+)
- Cheapest at scale
- One API for many models
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Groq better than Together AI?⌄
Both Groq and Together AI are strong llm provider choices. The right pick comes down to your specific feature needs, existing stack, and team preferences.
What is the difference between Groq and Together AI?⌄
Groq — Ultra-fast LLM inference API powered by custom LPUs — sub-second responses with a generous free tier. Together AI — Serverless inference and fine-tuning for 200+ open-source models — the price leader at scale, with $25 free credits. Both are llm provider tools; the comparison table above breaks down pricing, free tiers, and what each is best for.
Groq vs Together AI: which is cheaper?⌄
Groq pricing: Free. Together AI pricing: Free. Confirm current pricing on each tool's official site, as plans change.
Which is rated higher, Groq or Together AI?⌄
In our catalog, Groq rates 4.6 out of 5 and Together AI rates 4.5 out of 5, so Groq has a slight edge on reviews.
See more options in our guide to the best llm provider tools for startups.
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