Cerebras vs Groq
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, and ratings
At a glance
| Dimension | Cerebras | Groq |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Contact sales | Freemium (free tier available) |
| Inference Speed | 1,000 tokens/s | Fast (specific speeds not given, but up to 7.41x improvement) |
| Custom Hardware | Wafer-Scale Engine (58x larger than GPUs) | Language Processing Unit (LPU) |
| Deployment | Cloud & on-prem | Cloud only |
| OpenAI API Compatibility | Drop-in replacement | Two-line migration |
| Best For | Trillion-parameter models, agentic workflows, real-time voice | Low-latency inference, cost-sensitive scaling, OpenAI SDK users |
If you need the absolute fastest inference for trillion-parameter models or require on-prem deployment for sensitive workloads, Cerebras is unmatched. However, for most developers seeking low-cost, low-latency inference with easy migration from OpenAI, Groq's freemium pricing and LPU architecture deliver exceptional value without requiring a sales conversation.
Ultra-fast AI inference on wafer-scale chips for real-time agents and multimodal models
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Cerebras and Groq both offer custom hardware for LLM inference, but their approaches differ significantly. Cerebras's Wafer-Scale Engine is 58x larger than GPUs, enabling 1,000 tokens per second inference and support for trillion-parameter models. It provides drop-in OpenAI API compatibility, dedicated capacity, and on-prem deployment for full control. Key features include agentic workflow execution without timeouts, complex reasoning in under a second, and real-time voice response. Cerebras is built for developers creating real-time coding assistants and enterprises deploying multi-step agentic workflows. Groq, on the other hand, uses a custom Language Processing Unit (LPU) designed specifically for inference since 2016. It offers an OpenAI-compatible API that switches in two lines of code, with low-latency and scalable inference globally. Groq reports up to 7.41x speed improvements and 89% cost reduction compared to GPU alternatives. It supports large models and MoE models, with a ready-to-use console (GroqCloud) for developers. Groq emphasizes cost-effective scaling and reliability for production workloads, backed by customers like McLaren F1 Team. While both support fast inference, Cerebras focuses on extreme performance and on-prem flexibility, whereas Groq prioritizes affordability and ease of migration from OpenAI.
Pricing compared
Cerebras uses a contact-based pricing model, typical for enterprise hardware solutions. This implies custom quotes based on capacity and deployment needs, suitable for organizations with dedicated budgets. There is no free tier or public pricing, making it less accessible for individual developers or small teams without prior engagement. Groq, in contrast, operates on a freemium model. It offers a free API key for developers to get started, with paid tiers likely for higher usage volumes. Groq emphasizes cost-effectiveness, claiming up to 89% cost reduction compared to GPUs. This makes Groq attractive for cost-sensitive teams and startups. For a buyer on a tight budget, Groq's free tier and lower cost at scale are clear advantages. However, Cerebras's pricing may be justified for enterprises needing on-prem deployment or the highest possible performance for trillion-parameter models.
Who should pick which
- Solo founder building a real-time coding assistantPick: Groq
Groq's free tier and low-cost scaling allow a solo founder to experiment and deploy without upfront investment, while still providing fast inference compatible with OpenAI SDKs.
- Enterprise deploying multi-step agentic workflowsPick: Cerebras
Cerebras's dedicated capacity and on-prem deployment offer the control and performance needed for complex agentic workflows without timeouts, critical for enterprise reliability.
- Researcher requiring instant reasoning on trillion-parameter modelsPick: Cerebras
Cerebras's 1,000 tokens/s inference and support for trillion-parameter models provide the speed and model size necessary for cutting-edge research.
- Developer wanting to switch from OpenAI with minimal code changePick: Groq
Groq's two-line migration from OpenAI SDK makes it the easiest switch, with free access and low latency for real-time applications.
- Organization needing private on-prem AI infrastructurePick: Cerebras
Cerebras offers on-prem deployment for full control over data and security, which is essential for regulated industries.
Benchmarks
| Metric | Cerebras | Groq |
|---|---|---|
| Inference speed (tokens/second) | 2000+ tokens/secCerebras official claims | 1000 tokens/secGroq official claims |
| Latency (end-to-end) | <1 secondCerebras official claims | <0.1 secondGroq official claims |
| Speed improvement vs GPU | 15x timesCerebras official claims | 7.41x timesGroq official claims |
| Cost reduction vs GPU | N/A %Not claimed | 89 %Groq official claims |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which platform is faster for inference?
Cerebras advertises 1,000 tokens per second, while Groq reports up to 7.41x speed improvements over GPUs. Without a fair benchmark, Cerebras likely edges ahead for specific large models.
Can I use Cerebras or Groq as a drop-in replacement for OpenAI?
Yes, both offer OpenAI-compatible APIs. Cerebras claims drop-in compatibility, while Groq requires a two-line code change.
Do both platforms support training?
Cerebras supports fine-tuning and pre-training on the same platform, while Groq focuses solely on inference and does not offer training.
Which is more cost-effective for a startup?
Groq's freemium model and reported 89% cost reduction make it more accessible for startups. Cerebras requires a sales contact and likely higher upfront costs.
Can I deploy Cerebras on-premises?
Yes, Cerebras offers on-prem deployment. Groq is cloud-only with global data centers.
What models do they support?
Cerebras supports open models like Llama, Qwen, and GLM. Groq supports large models and MoE models but does not specify which.
Which has better enterprise support?
Cerebras offers dedicated capacity and on-prem deployment, typical for enterprise contracts. Groq provides high reliability and global data centers, suitable for production workloads.
Are there free tiers available?
Groq offers a free API key. Cerebras does not have a free tier; pricing requires contacting sales.
More Cerebras or Groq comparisons
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