Model Comparison
Gemma 3 4B vs GPT-5.6 TerraWhich is better in 2026?
GPT-5.6 Terra significantly outperforms across most benchmarks. Gemma 3 4B is 225.0x cheaper per token.
Verdict: Gemma 3 4B vs GPT-5.6 Terra — which is better?
Gemma 3 4B (by Google) and GPT-5.6 Terra (by OpenAI) 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 4B outperforms in 0 benchmarks, while GPT-5.6 Terra is better at 1 benchmark (GPQA). GPT-5.6 Terra significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.
On price, Gemma 3 4B is roughly 225.0x cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 input/output basis, which adds up quickly at production volume.
GPT-5.6 Terra also accepts a larger context window (1,050,000 input tokens), making it the stronger choice for long documents and large codebases.
Choose Gemma 3 4B if…
- cost matters — it's about 225.0x cheaper per token
- you need open weights you can self-host or fine-tune
Choose GPT-5.6 Terra if…
- you want the strongest raw capability — it leads on 1 of 1 shared benchmarks
- you process long inputs — it offers a 1,050,000 token context window
- you want the most recent training data — it shipped Jul 2026
Performance Benchmarks
Comparative analysis across standard metrics
Gemma 3 4B outperforms in 0 benchmarks, while GPT-5.6 Terra is better at 1 benchmark (GPQA).
GPT-5.6 Terra significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.
Arena Performance
Human preference votes
Pricing Analysis
Price comparison per million tokens
For input processing, Gemma 3 4B ($0.02/1M tokens) is 125.0x cheaper than GPT-5.6 Terra ($2.50/1M tokens).
For output processing, Gemma 3 4B ($0.04/1M tokens) is 375.0x cheaper than GPT-5.6 Terra ($15.00/1M tokens).
In conclusion, GPT-5.6 Terra is more expensive than Gemma 3 4B.*
* Using a 3:1 ratio of input to output tokens
Context Window
Maximum input and output token capacity
GPT-5.6 Terra accepts 1,050,000 input tokens compared to Gemma 3 4B's 131,072 tokens. Gemma 3 4B can generate longer responses up to 131,072 tokens, while GPT-5.6 Terra is limited to 128,000 tokens.
Input Capabilities
Supported data types and modalities
Both Gemma 3 4B and GPT-5.6 Terra support multimodal inputs.
They are both capable of processing various types of data, offering versatility in application.
Gemma 3 4B
GPT-5.6 Terra
License
Usage and distribution terms
Gemma 3 4B is licensed under Gemma, while GPT-5.6 Terra uses a proprietary license.
License differences may affect how you can use these models in commercial or open-source projects.
Gemma
Open weights
Proprietary
Closed source
Release Timeline
When each model was launched
Gemma 3 4B was released on 2025-03-12, while GPT-5.6 Terra was released on 2026-07-09.
GPT-5.6 Terra is 16 months newer than Gemma 3 4B.
Mar 12, 2025
1.4 years ago
Jul 9, 2026
1 weeks ago
1.3yr newerKnowledge Cutoff
When training data ends
Gemma 3 4B has a knowledge cutoff of 2024-08-01, while GPT-5.6 Terra has a cutoff of 2026-02-16.
GPT-5.6 Terra has more recent training data (up to 2026-02-16), making it potentially better informed about events through that date compared to Gemma 3 4B (2024-08-01).
Aug 2024
Feb 2026
1.5 yr newerProvider Availability
Gemma 3 4B is available from DeepInfra. GPT-5.6 Terra is available from OpenAI.
Gemma 3 4B
GPT-5.6 Terra
Outputs Comparison
Key Takeaways
Gemma 3 4B
View detailsDetailed Comparison
Interactive Arena
Judge for yourself.
Run your own prompts against Gemma 3 4B and GPT-5.6 Terra side-by-side, then vote on the output you prefer.
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FAQ
Common questions about Gemma 3 4B vs GPT-5.6 Terra.