Model Comparison

Gemma 3 1B vs Granite 3.3 8B BaseWhich is better in 2026?

Both models are evenly matched across the benchmarks.

Verdict: Gemma 3 1B vs Granite 3.3 8B Base — which is better?

Gemma 3 1B (by Google) and Granite 3.3 8B Base (by IBM) are two of the AI models people compare most. Here is how they stack up on benchmarks, price and capabilities, and which one to pick in 2026.

Gemma 3 1B outperforms in 2 benchmarks (GSM8k, IFEval), while Granite 3.3 8B Base is better at 2 benchmarks (BIG-Bench Hard, HumanEval). Both models are evenly matched across the benchmarks.

Choose Gemma 3 1B if…

  • you are already invested in the Google ecosystem

Choose Granite 3.3 8B Base if…

  • you want the most recent training data — it shipped Apr 2025
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Performance Benchmarks

Comparative analysis across standard metrics

4 benchmarks

Gemma 3 1B outperforms in 2 benchmarks (GSM8k, IFEval), while Granite 3.3 8B Base is better at 2 benchmarks (BIG-Bench Hard, HumanEval).

Both models are evenly matched across the benchmarks.

Tue Jun 09 2026 • llm-stats.com

Arena Performance

Human preference votes

Model Size

Parameter count comparison

7.2B diff

Granite 3.3 8B Base has 7.2B more parameters than Gemma 3 1B, making it 717.0% larger.

Google
Gemma 3 1B
1.0Bparameters
IBM
Granite 3.3 8B Base
8.2Bparameters
1.0B
Gemma 3 1B
8.2B
Granite 3.3 8B Base

Input Capabilities

Supported data types and modalities

Granite 3.3 8B Base supports multimodal inputs, whereas Gemma 3 1B does not.

Granite 3.3 8B Base can handle both text and other forms of data like images, making it suitable for multimodal applications.

Gemma 3 1B

Text
Images
Audio
Video

Granite 3.3 8B Base

Text
Images
Audio
Video

License

Usage and distribution terms

Gemma 3 1B is licensed under Gemma, while Granite 3.3 8B Base uses Apache 2.0.

License differences may affect how you can use these models in commercial or open-source projects.

Gemma 3 1B

Gemma

Open weights

Granite 3.3 8B Base

Apache 2.0

Open weights

Release Timeline

When each model was launched

Gemma 3 1B was released on 2025-03-12, while Granite 3.3 8B Base was released on 2025-04-16.

Granite 3.3 8B Base is 1 month newer than Gemma 3 1B.

Gemma 3 1B

Mar 12, 2025

1.2 years ago

Granite 3.3 8B Base

Apr 16, 2025

1.1 years ago

1mo newer

Knowledge Cutoff

When training data ends

Granite 3.3 8B Base has a documented knowledge cutoff of 2024-04-01, while Gemma 3 1B's cutoff date is not specified.

We can confirm Granite 3.3 8B Base's training data extends to 2024-04-01, but cannot make a direct comparison without Gemma 3 1B's cutoff date.

Gemma 3 1B

—

Granite 3.3 8B Base

Apr 2024

Outputs Comparison

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Key Takeaways

Google
Higher GSM8k score (62.8% vs 59.0%)
Higher IFEval score (80.2% vs 74.8%)
IBM
Supports multimodal inputs
Higher BIG-Bench Hard score (69.1% vs 39.1%)
Higher HumanEval score (89.7% vs 41.5%)

Detailed Comparison

AI Model Comparison Table
Feature
Google
Gemma 3 1B
IBM
Granite 3.3 8B Base

FAQ

Common questions about Gemma 3 1B vs Granite 3.3 8B Base.

Which is better, Gemma 3 1B or Granite 3.3 8B Base?

Both models are evenly matched across the benchmarks. Gemma 3 1B is made by Google and Granite 3.3 8B Base is made by IBM. The best choice depends on your use case — compare their benchmark scores, pricing, and capabilities above.

How does Gemma 3 1B compare to Granite 3.3 8B Base in benchmarks?

Gemma 3 1B scores IFEval: 80.2%, GSM8k: 62.8%, Natural2Code: 56.0%, MATH: 48.0%, HumanEval: 41.5%. Granite 3.3 8B Base scores HumanEval: 89.7%, AttaQ: 88.5%, HumanEval+: 86.1%, AIME 2024: 81.2%, HellaSwag: 80.1%.

What are the main differences between Gemma 3 1B and Granite 3.3 8B Base?

Key differences include multimodal support (no vs yes), licensing (Gemma vs Apache 2.0). See the full comparison above for benchmark-by-benchmark results.

Who makes Gemma 3 1B and Granite 3.3 8B Base?

Gemma 3 1B is developed by Google and Granite 3.3 8B Base is developed by IBM.

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