Meta-Llama-3.1-8B-Instruct — Free AI Model & API

hugging-face/meta-llama-3-1-8b-instruct

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Context Window 128K

Max Output 4K

Rate Limit ~1,000 RPD

Cost $0.00 FREE

Free Period Since May 10, 2026

Credit Card Not required

Status Online

Overview

Meta Llama 3.1 8B is available free through Hugging Face's Serverless Inference API, providing access to the full 128K-context model without setting up your own infrastructure. The HF API is not OpenAI SDK-compatible (uses Hugging Face's own format), so it requires HF-specific client code or the huggingface_hub Python library. Rate limits are approximately 1,000 requests per day — sufficient for prototyping, evaluation, and low-volume applications. Registration required; free for public models.

Model ID

meta-llama-3-1-8b-instruct

Base URL

https://api-inference.huggingface.co/models

Specifications

Context: 128K · Output: 4K · Modality: text · OpenAI Compat: No

Quick Start

Integrate Meta-Llama-3.1-8B-Instruct with 3 lines of code. See the config generator for Claude Code, Cursor, and more.

from openai import OpenAI

client = OpenAI(
 base_url="https://api-inference.huggingface.co/models",
 api_key="YOUR_API_KEY"
)

response = client.chat.completions.create(
 model="meta-llama-3-1-8b-instruct",
 messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "Hello!"}]
)
print(response.choices[0].message.content)

import OpenAI from "openai";

const openai = new OpenAI({
 baseURL: "https://api-inference.huggingface.co/models",
 apiKey: "YOUR_API_KEY",
});

const completion = await openai.chat.completions.create({
 model: "meta-llama-3-1-8b-instruct",
 messages: [{ role: "user", content: "Hello!" }],
});

console.log(completion.choices[0].message.content);

curl "https://api-inference.huggingface.co/models/models/meta-llama-3-1-8b-instruct:generateContent?key=YOUR_API_KEY" \
 -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
 -d '{
 "contents": [{"parts": [{"text": "Hello!"}]}]
 }'

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Rate Limits & Constraints

Rate Limit ~1,000 RPD

Context Window 128K

Max Output Tokens 4K

Cost Free — since May 10, 2026

Credit Card Not required

OpenAI Compatible No — uses provider-native API

Hugging Face Platform Limitations

Cold starts common — first request may take 30s+
Models larger than 10GB may fail to load on free tier
No SLA — shared infrastructure, availability not guaranteed

Features & Use Cases

Best For

Chat

Modality Support

text

Hugging Face Highlights

Rotating selection of open models
~1,000 RPD free tier
No credit card required
Hugging Face Inference API format

Playground — Test Meta-Llama-3.1-8B-Instruct

Test Meta-Llama-3.1-8B-Instruct directly in your browser. Your API key is sent directly to Hugging Face — never stored.

Model: Meta-Llama-3.1-8B-Instruct Get Key

🔒 Your key is never stored — sent directly to the model provider via our server proxy.

Ready to chat with Meta-Llama-3.1-8B-Instruct.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get an API key for Meta-Llama-3.1-8B-Instruct?

Sign up at Hugging Face to get your API key. No credit card is required — just an email sign-up. Once you have the key, use the code snippets in the Quick Start section above.

Is Meta-Llama-3.1-8B-Instruct really free?

Yes. Meta-Llama-3.1-8B-Instruct is available on Hugging Face's free tier and has been free since May 10, 2026. Rate limits apply: ~1,000 RPD. Always check the provider's terms for any changes to the free tier.

What are Meta-Llama-3.1-8B-Instruct's rate limits?

~1,000 RPD Context window: 128K. Max output: 4K. No credit card required.

What are the best free alternatives to Meta-Llama-3.1-8B-Instruct?

Popular free alternatives include inclusionAI: Ring-2.6-1T, Baidu Qianfan: CoBuddy (free), Owl Alpha. You can also browse all 147+ free models on our site.