GPT-5.4 vs Qwen3.5-397B-A17B
GPT-5.4 (2026) and Qwen3.5-397B-A17B (2026) are frontier-tier reasoning models from OpenAI and Alibaba. GPT-5.4 ships a 1.05m-token context window, while Qwen3.5-397B-A17B ships a 262k-token context window. On MMLU PRO, Qwen3.5-397B-A17B leads by 0.3 pts. On pricing, GPT-5.4 ranges from $2.50 to $5/1M input tokens by tier; Qwen3.5-397B-A17B costs $0.39/1M input tokens. This comparison covers specs, pricing, API access, capabilities, benchmarks, input and output token costs, and production fit for coding and agent workloads.
GPT-5.4 fits 4x more tokens; pick it for long-context work and Qwen3.5-397B-A17B for tighter calls.
Decision scorecard
Local evidence first| Signal | GPT-5.4 | Qwen3.5-397B-A17B |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | reasoning-heavy apps, multimodal apps, and tool-calling agents | reasoning-heavy apps, multimodal apps, and tool-calling agents |
| Decision fit | Coding, RAG, and Agents | Coding, RAG, and Agents |
| Context window | 1.05m | 262k |
| Cheapest output | $15/1M tokens | $2.34/1M tokens |
| Provider routes | 3 tracked | 4 tracked |
| Shared benchmarks | 8 rows | MMLU PRO leader |
Decision tradeoffs
- GPT-5.4 holds a shared-benchmark lead on Google-Proof Q&A, ahead by 2.7 points.
- GPT-5.4 has the larger context window for long prompts, retrieval packs, or transcript analysis.
- GPT-5.4 uniquely exposes Code execution in local model data.
- Local decision data tags GPT-5.4 for Coding, RAG, and Agents.
- Qwen3.5-397B-A17B holds a shared-benchmark lead on MMLU PRO, ahead by 0.3 points.
- Qwen3.5-397B-A17B has the lower cheapest tracked output price at $2.34/1M tokens.
- Qwen3.5-397B-A17B has broader tracked provider coverage for fallback and procurement flexibility.
- Local decision data tags Qwen3.5-397B-A17B for Coding, RAG, and Agents.
Monthly cost at traffic
Estimate token spend from the cheapest tracked input and output route or tier on this page.
GPT-5.4
$5,750
Cheapest tracked route/tier: OpenAI API
Qwen3.5-397B-A17B
$897
Cheapest tracked route/tier: OpenRouter
Estimated monthly gap: $4,853. Batch, cache, alternate speed tiers, and negotiated pricing are excluded from this local estimate.
Switch friction
- Provider overlap exists on OpenRouter; start route-level A/B tests there.
- Qwen3.5-397B-A17B is $12.66/1M tokens lower on cheapest tracked output pricing before cache, batch, or negotiated discounts.
- Check replacement coverage for Code execution before moving production traffic.
- Provider overlap exists on OpenRouter; start route-level A/B tests there.
- GPT-5.4 is $12.66/1M tokens higher on cheapest tracked output pricing, so quality gains need to justify the spend.
- GPT-5.4 adds Code execution in local capability data.
Specs
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2026-03-05 | 2026-02-16 |
| Context window | 1.05m | 262k |
| Parameters | — | 397B |
| Architecture | decoder only | MoE |
| License | Proprietary | Apache 2.0(OSI) |
| Openness | Proprietary | Open source |
| Commercial use | Commercial use with conditions | Commercial use allowed |
| Knowledge cutoff | 2025-08 | - |
Pricing and availability
| Pricing attribute | GPT-5.4 | Qwen3.5-397B-A17B |
|---|---|---|
| Input price |
| $0.39/1M tokens |
| Output price |
| $2.34/1M tokens |
| Providers |
Capabilities
| Capability | GPT-5.4 | Qwen3.5-397B-A17B |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | Yes | Yes |
| Multimodal | Yes | Yes |
| Reasoning | Yes | Yes |
| Function calling | Yes | Yes |
| Tool use | Yes | Yes |
| Structured outputs | Yes | Yes |
| Code execution | Yes | No |
| IDE integration | No | No |
| Computer use | No | No |
| Parallel agents | No | No |
Benchmarks
| Benchmark | GPT-5.4 | Qwen3.5-397B-A17B |
|---|---|---|
| MMLU PRO | 87.5 | 87.8 |
| SWE-bench Verified | 71.7 | 76.2 |
| Google-Proof Q&A | 92.0 | 89.3 |
| Massive Multi-discipline Multimodal Understanding | 82.1 | 85.0 |
| Humanity's Last Exam | 41.6 | 28.7 |
| Terminal-Bench 2.0 | 75.1 | 52.5 |
| τ-bench | 78.3 | 86.7 |
| MultiChallenge | 69.2 | 67.6 |
Deep dive
On shared benchmark coverage, MMLU PRO has GPT-5.4 at 87.5 and Qwen3.5-397B-A17B at 87.8, with Qwen3.5-397B-A17B ahead by 0.3 points; SWE-bench Verified has GPT-5.4 at 71.7 and Qwen3.5-397B-A17B at 76.2, with Qwen3.5-397B-A17B ahead by 4.5 points; Google-Proof Q&A has GPT-5.4 at 92 and Qwen3.5-397B-A17B at 89.3, with GPT-5.4 ahead by 2.7 points. The largest visible gap is 4.5 points on SWE-bench Verified, which matters most when that benchmark mirrors your workload. Treat isolated benchmark wins as directional, because provider routing, prompt style, and tool access can move real application results.
The capability footprint differs most on code execution: GPT-5.4. Both models share vision, multimodal input, reasoning mode, and function calling, so the practical split is not just feature count. Use those differences to decide whether the page is about raw model quality, agentic coding support, multimodal ingestion, or predictable structured API behavior.
For cost, GPT-5.4 lists tiered pricing: 0-272,000t is $2.50/1M input and $15/1M output; 272,000t+ is $5/1M input and $22.50/1M output, while Qwen3.5-397B-A17B lists $0.39/1M input and $2.34/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider. A 70/30 input-output blend puts Qwen3.5-397B-A17B lower by about $5.28 per million blended tokens. For tiered rows, this cheapest-track view can understate interactive or fast-lane spend, so compare the tier you will actually use. Availability is 3 providers versus 4, so concentration risk also matters.
Choose GPT-5.4 when coding workflow support and larger context windows are central to the workload. Choose Qwen3.5-397B-A17B when vision-heavy evaluation, lower input-token cost, and broader provider choice are more important. For production, rerun your own prompts through the exact provider, region, and tool stack you plan to ship.
FAQ
Which has a larger context window, GPT-5.4 or Qwen3.5-397B-A17B?
GPT-5.4 supports 1.05m tokens, while Qwen3.5-397B-A17B supports 262k tokens. That gap matters most for long documents, large codebases, retrieval-heavy agents, and conversations where earlier context must remain visible. Use this as a quick comparison signal, then confirm the provider-specific limits before committing to production.
Which is cheaper, GPT-5.4 or Qwen3.5-397B-A17B?
GPT-5.4 lists tiered pricing: 0-272,000t is $2.50/1M input and $15/1M output; 272,000t+ is $5/1M input and $22.50/1M output. Qwen3.5-397B-A17B lists $0.39/1M input and $2.34/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider. Compare the tier you will actually use; cheap async pricing can overstate savings for interactive workflows. Provider discounts or batch pricing can still change the final bill.
Is GPT-5.4 or Qwen3.5-397B-A17B open source?
GPT-5.4 is listed under Proprietary. Qwen3.5-397B-A17B is listed under Apache 2.0. License labels affect whether you can self-host, redistribute weights, or rely only on hosted APIs, so confirm the upstream license before deployment.
Which is better for vision, GPT-5.4 or Qwen3.5-397B-A17B?
Both GPT-5.4 and Qwen3.5-397B-A17B expose vision. The better choice depends on benchmark fit, context budget, pricing, and whether your provider route exposes the same capability surface. Use this as a quick comparison signal, then confirm the provider-specific limits before committing to production.
Which is better for multimodal input, GPT-5.4 or Qwen3.5-397B-A17B?
Both GPT-5.4 and Qwen3.5-397B-A17B expose multimodal input. The better choice depends on benchmark fit, context budget, pricing, and whether your provider route exposes the same capability surface. Use this as a quick comparison signal, then confirm the provider-specific limits before committing to production.
Where can I run GPT-5.4 and Qwen3.5-397B-A17B?
GPT-5.4 is available on OpenAI API, OpenRouter, and Vercel AI Gateway. Qwen3.5-397B-A17B is available on OpenRouter, Together AI, Alibaba Cloud PAI-EAS, and Novita AI. Provider coverage can affect latency, region availability, compliance posture, and fallback options.
Continue comparing
Last reviewed: 2026-06-04. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.