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Model Comparison

Granite 4.2 8B vs Nemotron 3.5 LightningWhich Is Better in 2026?

IBM Granite•NVIDIA: Nemotron 3.5 Lightning logoNVIDIA

Granite 4.2 8B vs Nemotron 3.5 Lightning: which should you choose in 2026?

Granite 4.2 8B (by IBM Granite) and Nemotron 3.5 Lightning (by NVIDIA) are compared below. Here is how they stack up on benchmarks, price, and capabilities, and which one to pick in 2026.

There are not enough shared, protocol-compatible benchmark results to declare a performance leader.

Their blended API prices are effectively the same.

Nemotron 3.5 Lightning has the larger context window (262,144 tokens vs 131,072 tokens).

Choose Granite 4.2 8B if…

  • • your own prompt tests favor its output; shared comparable evidence does not identify a unique advantage

Choose Nemotron 3.5 Lightning if…

  • • you work with longer documents, transcripts, or codebases

The benchmark count includes only results measured with a matching benchmark version and protocol. Arena scores are shown separately. Missing, preliminary, and incompatible data is not treated as a controlled win. Published point-score comparisons are labeled separately when protocol details are incomplete. For text-output models, the verdict also compares token pricing and context windows.

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Performance benchmarks

Every value links to its source. A dash means that no reviewed result is available for that exact model and protocol.

Granite 4.2 8B and Nemotron 3.5 Lightning benchmark results
BenchmarkGranite 4.2 8BNemotron 3.5 Lightning
AutomationBench-AA

A 657-task benchmark of multi-step work across simulated SaaS applications in six business domains. The Artificial Analysis protocol reports a guardrail-aware score and is distinct from both the public Zapier split and the unrelated dynamic AutoBench framework.

Guardrail-aware score

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BrowseComp

A benchmark of difficult, verifiable information-seeking questions designed to measure an agent's ability to locate hard-to-find facts through web browsing.

Accuracy

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OSWorld-Verified

A verified computer-use benchmark in which multimodal agents operate desktop applications and are graded from the resulting environment state.

Mean task reward

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SWE-Bench Verified

A human-validated subset of real GitHub issues used to measure whether a coding agent can produce repository patches that resolve the associated tests.

Resolved

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Terminal-Bench 2.1

Version 2.1 of the benchmark for completing realistic tasks in terminal environments. Harness, resource limits, and attempt count are part of the protocol.

Mean task success

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AutoBench

A dynamic LLM evaluation framework in which models generate questions, answer them, and participate in reciprocal peer assessment. AutoBench is distinct from Zapier's AutomationBench.

Weighted peer-assessment score

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GPQA Diamond

The highest-quality subset of Graduate-Level Google-Proof Q&A, designed to test expert-level scientific reasoning in biology, physics, and chemistry.

Accuracy

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Humanity's Last Exam

A 2,500-question expert-level benchmark spanning dozens of academic fields. Tool-assisted and no-tools results are separate protocols and must not be merged.

Accuracy

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Arena preference scores
Arena (Text)

Human preference score

1287 ±11
—

Benchmark sources

Reviewed evidence last updated 2026-08-09. Arena data last refreshed Sep 21, 2026.

Pricing, capabilities, and model facts

Granite 4.2 8B and Nemotron 3.5 Lightning model facts
FeatureGranite 4.2 8BNemotron 3.5 Lightning
Context & model facts
DeveloperIBM GraniteNVIDIA
API providerIBMNVIDIA
Input context131,072 tokens262,144 tokens
Maximum output117,964 tokens235,929 tokens
Released——
Added to WritingmateAug 31, 2026Aug 11, 2026
LicenseNot availableNot available
Knowledge cutoff——
Capabilities
InputsTextText
OutputsTextText
Provider endpoint accepts tool parametersYesYes
ReasoningYesYes
VisionNoNo
Image GenerationNoNo
Video GenerationNoNo
API pricing
Input (per 1M tokens)$0.06$0.07
Output (per 1M tokens)$0.25$0.20
Blended 3:1 input/output$0.1075$0.1025
API performance
p95 latencyNot measuredNot measured
Output throughputNot measuredNot measured
Writingmate shows API performance only when both models have enough observations from the same measurement window, prompt profile, and provider. Third-party latency values are not copied into this table.

Data sources

  • Writingmate model catalog (pricing, limits, and availability)

Catalog data last updated Aug 31, 2026.

Why Pay for Multiple Subscriptions?

Comparing Granite 4.2 8B from IBM Granite with Nemotron 3.5 Lightning from NVIDIA? Instead of managing separate API keys and subscriptions, get both with Writingmate.

Subscription-plan access for Granite 4.2 8B and Nemotron 3.5 Lightning
PlanPriceGranite 4.2 8BNemotron 3.5 LightningAI ImagesAI Video
Writingmate Pro
Most popular
$20/moIncludedIncludedNano Banana Pro, FLUX.2, DALL-E & moreSora 2, VEO 3.1
Writingmate Ultimate
Power users
$60/moIncludedIncludedNano Banana Pro, FLUX.2, DALL-E & moreSora 2, VEO 3.1
View Plans & Pricing

Granite 4.2 8B vs Nemotron 3.5 Lightning FAQ

Which is better, Granite 4.2 8B or Nemotron 3.5 Lightning?

There are not enough shared, protocol-compatible benchmark results to declare a performance leader. Their blended API prices are effectively the same. Nemotron 3.5 Lightning has the larger context window (262,144 tokens vs 131,072 tokens).

Which model is cheaper to use through an API?

Their blended API prices are effectively the same.

Which model supports more context?

Nemotron 3.5 Lightning has the larger context window (262,144 tokens vs 131,072 tokens).

Can I switch between Granite 4.2 8B and Nemotron 3.5 Lightning?

Yes. Use the model selector on this page to open any current Writingmate model comparison. You can also run the same prompt with both models in Writingmate.