Model Comparison

Grok-2 mini vs Qwen2.5 VL 7B InstructWhich is better in 2026?

Both models are evenly matched across the benchmarks.

Verdict: Grok-2 mini vs Qwen2.5 VL 7B Instruct — which is better?

Grok-2 mini (by xAI) and Qwen2.5 VL 7B Instruct (by Alibaba Cloud / Qwen Team) are two of the AI models people compare most. Here is how they stack up on benchmarks, price and capabilities, and which one to pick in 2026.

Grok-2 mini outperforms in 1 benchmarks (MMMU), while Qwen2.5 VL 7B Instruct is better at 1 benchmark (DocVQA). Both models are evenly matched across the benchmarks.

Choose Grok-2 mini if…

  • you are already invested in the xAI ecosystem

Choose Qwen2.5 VL 7B Instruct if…

  • you want the most recent training data — it shipped Jan 2025
  • you need open weights you can self-host or fine-tune
Want to compare interactively?Try the playground

Performance Benchmarks

Comparative analysis across standard metrics

2 benchmarks

Grok-2 mini outperforms in 1 benchmarks (MMMU), while Qwen2.5 VL 7B Instruct is better at 1 benchmark (DocVQA).

Both models are evenly matched across the benchmarks.

Thu Jun 25 2026 • llm-stats.com

Arena Performance

Human preference votes

Input Capabilities

Supported data types and modalities

Both Grok-2 mini and Qwen2.5 VL 7B Instruct support multimodal inputs.

They are both capable of processing various types of data, offering versatility in application.

Grok-2 mini

Text
Images
Audio
Video

Qwen2.5 VL 7B Instruct

Text
Images
Audio
Video

License

Usage and distribution terms

Grok-2 mini is licensed under a proprietary license, while Qwen2.5 VL 7B Instruct uses Apache 2.0.

License differences may affect how you can use these models in commercial or open-source projects.

Grok-2 mini

Proprietary

Closed source

Qwen2.5 VL 7B Instruct

Apache 2.0

Open weights

Release Timeline

When each model was launched

Grok-2 mini was released on 2024-08-13, while Qwen2.5 VL 7B Instruct was released on 2025-01-26.

Qwen2.5 VL 7B Instruct is 6 months newer than Grok-2 mini.

Grok-2 mini

Aug 13, 2024

1.9 years ago

Qwen2.5 VL 7B Instruct

Jan 26, 2025

1.4 years ago

5mo newer

Knowledge Cutoff

When training data ends

Neither model specifies a knowledge cutoff date.

Unable to compare the recency of their training data.

No cutoff dates available

Outputs Comparison

Notice missing or incorrect data?Start an Issue discussion→

Key Takeaways

xAI
Higher MMMU score (63.2% vs 58.6%)
Alibaba Cloud / Qwen Team

Qwen2.5 VL 7B Instruct

View details

Alibaba Cloud / Qwen Team

Has open weights
Higher DocVQA score (95.7% vs 93.2%)

Detailed Comparison

AI Model Comparison Table
Feature
xAI
Grok-2 mini
Alibaba Cloud / Qwen Team
Qwen2.5 VL 7B Instruct

FAQ

Common questions about Grok-2 mini vs Qwen2.5 VL 7B Instruct.

Which is better, Grok-2 mini or Qwen2.5 VL 7B Instruct?

Both models are evenly matched across the benchmarks. Grok-2 mini is made by xAI and Qwen2.5 VL 7B Instruct is made by Alibaba Cloud / Qwen Team. The best choice depends on your use case — compare their benchmark scores, pricing, and capabilities above.

How does Grok-2 mini compare to Qwen2.5 VL 7B Instruct in benchmarks?

Grok-2 mini scores DocVQA: 93.2%, MMLU: 86.2%, HumanEval: 85.7%, MATH: 73.0%, MMLU-Pro: 72.0%. Qwen2.5 VL 7B Instruct scores DocVQA: 95.7%, Android Control Low_EM: 91.4%, MobileMiniWob++_SR: 91.4%, ChartQA: 87.3%, OCRBench: 86.4%.

What are the main differences between Grok-2 mini and Qwen2.5 VL 7B Instruct?

Key differences include licensing (Proprietary vs Apache 2.0). See the full comparison above for benchmark-by-benchmark results.

Who makes Grok-2 mini and Qwen2.5 VL 7B Instruct?

Grok-2 mini is developed by xAI and Qwen2.5 VL 7B Instruct is developed by Alibaba Cloud / Qwen Team.

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