StableLM 3B vs StableLM 3B Multimodal

Comprehensive side-by-side comparison of pricing, performance benchmarks, and capabilities

At a Glance

Best Overall Performance

StableLM 3B Multimodal

Higher overall benchmarks

Best for Coding

StableLM 3B Multimodal

74% coding score

Best for Reasoning

StableLM 3B Multimodal

75% reasoning score

Best MMLU Score

StableLM 3B Multimodal

76% general knowledge

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Detailed Comparison

Feature StableLM 3B StableLM 3B Multimodal Winner
Provider Stability AI Stability AI
Context Window 8k 16k
MMLU Score

General knowledge & reasoning

75% 76% StableLM 3B Multimodal
Coding Score

Code generation & debugging

72% 74% StableLM 3B Multimodal
Reasoning Score

Logic & problem-solving

74% 75% StableLM 3B Multimodal
Release Date 2023 2025
Vision Support ✓ Yes
Function Calling ✓ Yes ✓ Yes

Performance Comparison

MMLU (General Knowledge)

Difference: 1.0%
StableLM 3B 75%
StableLM 3B Multimodal 76%

Coding Performance

Difference: 2.0%
StableLM 3B 72%
StableLM 3B Multimodal 74%

Reasoning & Logic

Difference: 1.0%
StableLM 3B 74%
StableLM 3B Multimodal 75%

Expert Analysis

Performance Analysis

StableLM 3B Multimodal outperforms across 1 of 3 benchmarks, with particularly strong coding abilities (74%).

Final Verdict

Our comprehensive recommendation based on all factors

Both models show comparable coding performance, with less than 5 points separating them on benchmark tests. The optimal choice between these models depends on your specific use case and performance requirements.

Our Recommendation

Choose StableLM 3B Multimodal for applications where response quality directly impacts business outcomes, or evaluate both models based on your specific use case requirements.

Best For These Use Cases

StableLM 3B Excels At:

  • Creative content generation
  • Research assistants
  • Self-hosted experimentation
  • Lightweight chatbots
  • Prototype testing

StableLM 3B Multimodal Excels At:

  • Multimodal research
  • Prototype AI assistants
  • Creative content
  • Fine-tuning experiments
  • Lightweight agents

Strengths & Weaknesses

StableLM 3B

Strengths

  • Open weights
  • Easy fine-tuning
  • Good creative outputs
  • Community-driven

Considerations

  • Short context
  • Limited multimodal support
  • Moderate reasoning
  • Fewer enterprise tools
Full StableLM 3B Review →

StableLM 3B Multimodal

Strengths

  • Open weights
  • Multimodal support
  • Lightweight
  • Creative generation

Considerations

  • Limited context
  • Moderate reasoning
  • Smaller model
  • Not enterprise-ready
Full StableLM 3B Multimodal Review →

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better: StableLM 3B or StableLM 3B Multimodal?

StableLM 3B Multimodal offers superior overall performance with higher benchmark scores across MMLU, coding, and reasoning tests. The best choice depends on your specific use case requirements and performance priorities.

What are the key differences?

StableLM 3B Multimodal leads in overall performance with higher benchmark scores, while StableLM 3B may offer advantages in specific areas like context window size or specialized capabilities. Both models have their strengths depending on your particular needs.

Which is better for coding?

StableLM 3B Multimodal leads in coding performance with a score of 74%, making it 2.0 percentage points better than StableLM 3B. This makes StableLM 3B Multimodal the superior choice for software development, code generation, and debugging tasks.

Can I use both models together?

Yes! Many organizations use multiple models strategically: one model for routine tasks where efficiency matters, and another for complex, mission-critical applications requiring maximum accuracy. This hybrid approach optimizes both performance and resource utilization across different use cases.

How often are these benchmarks updated?

We update all benchmark scores and pricing data daily to reflect the latest model versions and API pricing changes. Benchmark scores are sourced from official documentation, independent testing platforms like Artificial Analysis, and peer-reviewed academic evaluations. Last updated: 2/2/2026.

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