Grok 4 vs Qwen3.6-35B-A3B
Grok 4 (2025) and Qwen3.6-35B-A3B (2026) compare a standalone API model against a coding-specialized model. Grok 4 ships a 256k-token context window, while Qwen3.6-35B-A3B ships a 262k-token context window. On MMLU PRO, Grok 4 leads by 1.8 pts. On pricing, Qwen3.6-35B-A3B costs $0.15/1M input tokens versus $1.25/1M for the alternative. This page treats the result as workflow and deployment fit, not a universal model winner.
Treat this as a product-type comparison: Grok 4 is standalone API model, while Qwen3.6-35B-A3B is coding-specialized model. Choose based on workflow fit before reading any benchmark or price row as decisive.
Decision scorecard
Local evidence first| Signal | Grok 4 | Qwen3.6-35B-A3B |
|---|---|---|
| Product type | Standalone API model | Coding-specialized model |
| Best for | reasoning-heavy apps, multimodal apps, and tool-calling agents | custom coding agents, code generation, and tool loops |
| Decision fit | Coding, RAG, and Agents | Coding, RAG, and Agents |
| Context window | 256k | 262k |
| Cheapest output | $2.50/1M tokens | $1/1M tokens |
| Provider routes | 4 tracked | 2 tracked |
| Shared benchmarks | MMLU PRO leader | 4 shared |
Decision tradeoffs
- Grok 4 holds a shared-benchmark lead on MMLU PRO, ahead by 1.8 points.
- Grok 4 has broader tracked provider coverage for fallback and route flexibility.
- Grok 4 uniquely exposes Reasoning, Structured outputs, and Code execution in local model data.
- Local decision data tags Grok 4 for Coding, RAG, and Agents.
- Qwen3.6-35B-A3B holds a shared-benchmark lead on LiveCodeBench, ahead by 1.4 points.
- Qwen3.6-35B-A3B has the larger context window for long prompts, retrieval packs, or transcript analysis.
- Qwen3.6-35B-A3B has the lower cheapest tracked output price at $1/1M tokens.
- Local decision data tags Qwen3.6-35B-A3B 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.
Grok 4
$1,625
Cheapest tracked route/tier: xAI Console
Qwen3.6-35B-A3B
$370
Cheapest tracked route/tier: OpenRouter
Estimated monthly gap: $1,255. 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.
- Qwen3.6-35B-A3B is $1.50/1M tokens lower on cheapest tracked output pricing before cache, batch, or negotiated discounts.
- Check replacement coverage for Reasoning, Structured outputs, and Code execution before moving production traffic.
- Provider overlap exists on OpenRouter; start route-level A/B tests there.
- Grok 4 is $1.50/1M tokens higher on cheapest tracked output pricing, so quality gains need to justify the spend.
- Grok 4 adds Reasoning, Structured outputs, and Code execution in local capability data.
Specs
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2025-07-09 | 2026-04-16 |
| Context window | 256k | 262k |
| Parameters | — | 35B |
| Architecture | Decoder Only | Mixture of Experts |
| License | Proprietary | Apache 2.0OSI-approved |
| Openness | Proprietary | Open source |
| Weights | Not released | Available |
| Code | Unknown | Unknown |
| Commercial use | Commercial use: conditional | Commercial use: permitted |
| Knowledge cutoff | - | - |
Pricing and availability
| Pricing attribute | Grok 4 | Qwen3.6-35B-A3B |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | $1.25/1M tokens | $0.15/1M tokens |
| Output price | $2.50/1M tokens | $1/1M tokens |
| Providers |
Capabilities
| Capability | Grok 4 | Qwen3.6-35B-A3B |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | Yes | Yes |
| Multimodal | Yes | Yes |
| Reasoning | Yes | No |
| JSON / Tool use | Yes | Yes |
| Structured outputs | Yes | No |
| Code execution | Yes | No |
| IDE integration | No | No |
| Computer use | No | No |
| Parallel agents | No | No |
Benchmarks
| Benchmark | Grok 4 | Qwen3.6-35B-A3B |
|---|---|---|
| MMLU PRO | 87.0 | 85.2 |
| SWE-bench Verified | 76.7 | 73.4 |
| Google-Proof Q&A | 87.5 | 86.0 |
| LiveCodeBench | 79.0 | 80.4 |
Continue comparing
Popular comparisons for Grok 4
Popular comparisons for Qwen3.6-35B-A3B
Last reviewed: 2026-07-10. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.