Grok 4 vs Qwen3.6-Max
Grok 4 (2025) and Qwen3.6-Max (2026) are frontier reasoning models from xAI and Alibaba. Grok 4 ships a 256k-token context window, while Qwen3.6-Max ships a 262k-token context window. On Google-Proof Q&A, Qwen3.6-Max leads by 4.3 pts. This comparison covers specs, pricing, API access, capabilities, benchmarks, input and output token costs, and production fit for coding and agent workloads. It focuses on practical selection signals rather than broad model-family marketing.
Qwen3.6-Max is safer overall; choose Grok 4 when coding workflow support matters.
Decision scorecard
Local evidence first| Signal | Grok 4 | Qwen3.6-Max |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | reasoning-heavy apps, multimodal apps, and tool-calling agents | multimodal apps |
| Decision fit | Coding, RAG, and Agents | Long context and Vision |
| Context window | 256k | 262k |
| Cheapest output | $2.50/1M tokens | - |
| Provider routes | 4 tracked | 1 tracked |
| Shared benchmarks | 2 shared | Google-Proof Q&A leader |
Decision tradeoffs
- Grok 4 has broader tracked provider coverage for fallback and route flexibility.
- Grok 4 uniquely exposes Reasoning, JSON / Tool use, and Structured outputs in local model data.
- Local decision data tags Grok 4 for Coding, RAG, and Agents.
- Qwen3.6-Max holds a shared-benchmark lead on Google-Proof Q&A, ahead by 4.3 points.
- Qwen3.6-Max has the larger context window for long prompts, retrieval packs, or transcript analysis.
- Local decision data tags Qwen3.6-Max for Long context and Vision.
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-Max
Unavailable
No complete token price in local provider data
Cost delta unavailable until both models have sourced input and output token prices.
Switch friction
- No overlapping tracked provider route is sourced for Grok 4 and Qwen3.6-Max; plan for SDK, billing, or endpoint changes.
- Check replacement coverage for Reasoning, JSON / Tool use, and Structured outputs before moving production traffic.
- No overlapping tracked provider route is sourced for Qwen3.6-Max and Grok 4; plan for SDK, billing, or endpoint changes.
- Grok 4 adds Reasoning, JSON / Tool use, and Structured outputs in local capability data.
Specs
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2025-07-09 | 2026-04-13 |
| Context window | 256k | 262k |
| Parameters | — | — |
| Architecture | Decoder Only | - |
| License | Proprietary | Apache 2.0OSI-approved |
| Openness | Proprietary | Open source |
| Weights | Not released | Unknown |
| Code | Unknown | Unknown |
| Commercial use | Commercial use: conditional | Commercial use: permitted |
| Knowledge cutoff | - | - |
Pricing and availability
| Pricing attribute | Grok 4 | Qwen3.6-Max |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | $1.25/1M tokens | - |
| Output price | $2.50/1M tokens | - |
| Providers |
Capabilities
| Capability | Grok 4 | Qwen3.6-Max |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | Yes | Yes |
| Multimodal | Yes | Yes |
| Reasoning | Yes | No |
| JSON / Tool use | Yes | No |
| 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-Max |
|---|---|---|
| Google-Proof Q&A | 87.5 | 91.8 |
| AIME 2025 | 91.7 | 97.3 |
Continue comparing
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Last reviewed: 2026-10-09. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.