Specifications
Context Window
—
Input Price/1M
$0.03
#198 of 714
Output Price/1M
$0.12
Parameters
—
Speed
221 tok/s
#23 of 537
Latency (TTFT)
410ms
Cost per Task
272
AA Score / US$ · higher = better
Benchmarks
Granite 4.2 3B results on the main AI model evaluation benchmarks. Higher scores indicate better performance.
Coding
| Benchmark | Score | Maximum | Methodology |
|---|---|---|---|
| AA Coding Index | 17.5 | 100.0 | Artificial Analysis official API |
overall
| Benchmark | Score | Maximum | Methodology |
|---|---|---|---|
| AA Intelligence Index | 14.3 | 100.0 | Artificial Analysis official API |
Information
- Release date
- August 25, 2026
- Tool Calling
- ❌ Not supported
- Vision
- ❌ Not supported
- Audio
- ❌ Not supported
Full Analysis: Granite 4.2 3B
What is Granite 4.2 3B?
Granite 4.2 3B is an AI model developed by IBM, classified as a text model. It focuses on text processing and natural language generation. As a proprietary model, it is available via IBM's cloud API.
Pricing & Costs in 2026
Granite 4.2 3B is usage-based, priced at $0.03/1M input tokens and $0.12/1M output tokens. For context: 1 million tokens is approximately 750,000 words, or about 10 average-length books. At this aggressive price point, it is one of the most cost-effective options on the market, ideal for high-volume applications like chatbots, bulk document analysis, and automation.
Benchmarks & Performance
Granite 4.2 3B was evaluated on 2 different benchmarks, covering categories like Coding, overall. Results show moderate performance across available evaluations.
It's important to note that benchmarks measure specific aspects and don't capture the full user experience. Factors like instruction adherence, behavior in long conversations, and real-world task quality vary significantly between models and aren't always reflected in standard scores.
Recommended Use Cases
Granite 4.2 3B specializes in text, offering advanced capabilities for creating and processing text content.
Comparison with Alternatives
In the 2026 AI model ecosystem, Granite 4.2 3B competes directly with similarly capable models. IBM competes in this segment against OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and Meta. The choice between models depends on the specific use case, budget, latency requirements, and need for features like multimodality and tool calling.
For a detailed side-by-side comparison, use our comparison tool or check the overall model ranking.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Granite 4.2 3B?
Granite 4.2 3B is an AI model developed by IBM. It is a text model.
How much does Granite 4.2 3B cost?
Granite 4.2 3B costs $0.03/1M input tokens and $0.12/1M output tokens. For heavy usage (e.g., a chatbot handling 100k messages/month), costs can range from $10 to $1,000 depending on volume.
How does Granite 4.2 3B compare with other models?
In available benchmarks, Granite 4.2 3B scored: AA Coding Index: 17.5/100, AA Intelligence Index: 14.3/100. See the full table above for a detailed comparison.
Is Granite 4.2 3B open source?
No, Granite 4.2 3B is a proprietary model from IBM. It is available via cloud API. For open source alternatives, check our open source model ranking.
What is Granite 4.2 3B best for?
Granite 4.2 3B excels at general-purpose language tasks.
Last updated: September 01, 2026 • View methodology →