GPT-4.1 nano vs Granite 3.3 8B Instruct
GPT-4.1 nano and Granite 3.3 8B Instruct are closely matched at 1.9 and 2.6 on the LLM Stats Score. GPT-4.1 nano is 2.9x cheaper per token.
OpenAI · IBM · Updated for 2026
Which is better?
GPT-4.1 nano and Granite 3.3 8B Instruct are closely matched on the overall LLM Stats Score at 1.9 and 2.6.
In the 3 individual benchmarks reported for both models, Granite 3.3 8B Instruct wins 2; this is a narrower head-to-head signal than the composite indexes.
On price, GPT-4.1 nano is roughly 2.9x cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 input/output basis, which adds up quickly at production volume.
GPT-4.1 nano also accepts a larger context window (1,047,576 input tokens), making it the stronger choice for long documents and large codebases.
Based on current LLM Stats indexes, shared benchmarks, pricing, and model metadata for 2026.
Choose GPT-4.1 nano
- cost matters — it's about 2.9x cheaper per token
- you process long inputs — it offers a 1,047,576 token context window
Choose Granite 3.3 8B Instruct
- your work emphasizes coding — it leads those capability indexes
- you value its reported benchmark strengths — it wins 2 of 3 exact shared results
- you want the most recent training data — it shipped Apr 2025
- you need open weights you can self-host or fine-tune
At a glance
The differences that matter most.
Capability indexes
Additional strengths measured across groups of related public benchmarks
Individual benchmarks
24 reported for GPT-4.1 nano · 14 for Granite 3.3 8B Instruct
GPT-4.1 nano outperforms in 1 benchmarks (MMLU), while Granite 3.3 8B Instruct is better at 2 benchmarks (AIME 2024, IFEval).
Granite 3.3 8B Instruct shows notably better performance in the majority of benchmarks.
Human preference
Blind head-to-head votes and playground preference scores
Pricing Analysis
Price comparison per million tokens
For input processing, GPT-4.1 nano ($0.10/1M tokens) is 5.0x cheaper than Granite 3.3 8B Instruct ($0.50/1M tokens).
For output processing, GPT-4.1 nano ($0.40/1M tokens) is 1.3x cheaper than Granite 3.3 8B Instruct ($0.50/1M tokens).
In conclusion, Granite 3.3 8B Instruct is more expensive than GPT-4.1 nano.*
* Using a 3:1 ratio of input to output tokens
Context Window
Maximum input and output token capacity
GPT-4.1 nano accepts 1,047,576 input tokens compared to Granite 3.3 8B Instruct's 128,000 tokens. GPT-4.1 nano can generate longer responses up to 32,768 tokens, while Granite 3.3 8B Instruct is limited to 8,192 tokens.
Input capabilities
Documented input modalities across available providers
Both GPT-4.1 nano and Granite 3.3 8B Instruct support multimodal inputs.
They are both capable of processing various types of data, offering versatility in application.
GPT-4.1 nano
Granite 3.3 8B Instruct
License
Usage and distribution terms
GPT-4.1 nano is licensed under a proprietary license, while Granite 3.3 8B Instruct uses Apache 2.0.
License differences may affect how you can use these models in commercial or open-source projects.
Proprietary
Closed source
Apache 2.0
Open weights
Release Timeline
When each model was launched
GPT-4.1 nano was released on 2025-04-14, while Granite 3.3 8B Instruct was released on 2025-04-16.
Granite 3.3 8B Instruct is 0 month newer than GPT-4.1 nano.
Apr 14, 2025
1.4 years ago
Apr 16, 2025
1.4 years ago
2d newerKnowledge Cutoff
When training data ends
GPT-4.1 nano has a knowledge cutoff of 2024-05-31, while Granite 3.3 8B Instruct has a cutoff of 2024-04-01.
GPT-4.1 nano has more recent training data (up to 2024-05-31), making it potentially better informed about events through that date compared to Granite 3.3 8B Instruct (2024-04-01).
May 2024
1 mo newerApr 2024
Provider Availability
GPT-4.1 nano is available from OpenAI. Granite 3.3 8B Instruct is available from Replicate.
GPT-4.1 nano
Granite 3.3 8B Instruct
Outputs Comparison
Judge for yourself.
Run your own prompts against GPT-4.1 nano and Granite 3.3 8B Instruct side-by-side, then vote on the output you prefer.
FAQ
Common questions about GPT-4.1 nano vs Granite 3.3 8B Instruct.