Qwen3-235B-A22B vs Qwen3.6-27B

Qwen3-235B-A22B (2025) and Qwen3.6-27B (2026) compare a standalone API model against a coding-specialized model. Qwen3-235B-A22B ships a 128k-token context window, while Qwen3.6-27B ships a 262k-token context window. On MMLU PRO, Qwen3.6-27B leads by 3.4 pts. On pricing, Qwen3-235B-A22B costs $0.09/1M input tokens versus $0.32/1M 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: Qwen3-235B-A22B is standalone API model, while Qwen3.6-27B is coding-specialized model. Choose based on workflow fit before reading any benchmark or price row as decisive.

Decision scorecard

Local evidence first
SignalQwen3-235B-A22BQwen3.6-27B
Product typeStandalone API modelCoding-specialized model
Best forprovider-routed productioncustom coding agents, code generation, and tool loops
Decision fitCoding, RAG, and Long contextCoding, RAG, and Agents
Context window128k262k
Cheapest output$0.58/1M tokens$3.20/1M tokens
Provider routes5 tracked5 tracked
Shared benchmarks3 sharedMMLU PRO leader

Decision tradeoffs

Choose Qwen3-235B-A22B when...
  • Qwen3-235B-A22B has the lower cheapest tracked output price at $0.58/1M tokens.
  • Qwen3-235B-A22B uniquely exposes Structured outputs in local model data.
  • Local decision data tags Qwen3-235B-A22B for Coding, RAG, and Long context.
Choose Qwen3.6-27B when...
  • Qwen3.6-27B holds a shared-benchmark lead on MMLU PRO, ahead by 3.4 points.
  • Qwen3.6-27B has the larger context window for long prompts, retrieval packs, or transcript analysis.
  • Qwen3.6-27B uniquely exposes Vision, Multimodal, and Reasoning in local model data.
  • Local decision data tags Qwen3.6-27B 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.

Lower estimate Qwen3-235B-A22B

Qwen3-235B-A22B

$217

Cheapest tracked route/tier: Novita AI

Qwen3.6-27B

$1,056

Cheapest tracked route/tier: OpenRouter

Estimated monthly gap: $839. Batch, cache, alternate speed tiers, and negotiated pricing are excluded from this local estimate.

Switch friction

Qwen3-235B-A22B -> Qwen3.6-27B
  • Provider overlap exists on OpenRouter and Novita AI; start route-level A/B tests there.
  • Qwen3.6-27B is $2.62/1M tokens higher on cheapest tracked output pricing, so quality gains need to justify the spend.
  • Check replacement coverage for Structured outputs before moving production traffic.
  • Qwen3.6-27B adds Vision, Multimodal, and Reasoning in local capability data.
Qwen3.6-27B -> Qwen3-235B-A22B
  • Provider overlap exists on OpenRouter and Novita AI; start route-level A/B tests there.
  • Qwen3-235B-A22B is $2.62/1M tokens lower on cheapest tracked output pricing before cache, batch, or negotiated discounts.
  • Check replacement coverage for Vision, Multimodal, and Reasoning before moving production traffic.
  • Qwen3-235B-A22B adds Structured outputs in local capability data.

Specs

Specification
Released2025-04-292026-04-27
Context window128k262k
Parameters235B27B
ArchitectureDecoder OnlyDecoder Only
LicenseApache 2.0OSI-approvedApache 2.0OSI-approved
OpennessOpen sourceOpen source
WeightsUnknownAvailable
CodeUnknownUnknown
Commercial useCommercial use: permittedCommercial use: permitted
Knowledge cutoff--

Pricing and availability

Pricing attributeQwen3-235B-A22BQwen3.6-27B
Input price$0.09/1M tokens$0.32/1M tokens
Output price$0.58/1M tokens$3.20/1M tokens
Providers
Fireworks AIAWS BedrockOpenRouterVenice AINovita AI
OpenRouterAlibaba Cloud PAI-EASVercel AI GatewayNovita AIFeatherless

Capabilities

CapabilityQwen3-235B-A22BQwen3.6-27B
VisionNoYes
MultimodalNoYes
ReasoningNoYes
JSON / Tool useNoYes
Structured outputsYesNo
Code executionNoNo
IDE integrationNoNo
Computer useNoNo
Parallel agentsNoNo

Benchmarks

BenchmarkQwen3-235B-A22BQwen3.6-27B
MMLU PRO82.886.2
Google-Proof Q&A86.187.8
LiveCodeBench80.483.9

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Last reviewed: 2026-10-09. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.