Model Comparison
Grok-4.1 vs Qwen3 MaxWhich is better in 2026?
Comparing Grok-4.1 and Qwen3 Max across benchmarks, pricing, and capabilities.
Verdict: Grok-4.1 vs Qwen3 Max — which is better?
Grok-4.1 (by xAI) and Qwen3 Max (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.
On price, Qwen3 Max is roughly 3.7x cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 input/output basis, which adds up quickly at production volume.
Choose Grok-4.1 if…
- you want predictable pricing at $3.00/M input and $15.00/M output
Choose Qwen3 Max if…
- cost matters — it's about 3.7x cheaper per token
- you want the most recent training data — it shipped Dec 2025
Performance Benchmarks
Comparative analysis across standard metrics
Grok-4.1 and Qwen3 Maxdon't have any common benchmark datasets to compare. They may have been evaluated on different testing suites.
Arena Performance
Human preference votes
Pricing Analysis
Price comparison per million tokens
For input processing, Grok-4.1 ($3.00/1M tokens) is 6.0x more expensive than Qwen3 Max ($0.50/1M tokens).
For output processing, Grok-4.1 ($15.00/1M tokens) is 3.0x more expensive than Qwen3 Max ($5.00/1M tokens).
In conclusion, Grok-4.1 is more expensive than Qwen3 Max.*
* Using a 3:1 ratio of input to output tokens
Context Window
Maximum input and output token capacity
Both models have the same input context window of 256,000 tokens. Qwen3 Max can generate longer responses up to 131,072 tokens, while Grok-4.1 is limited to 8,000 tokens.
Input Capabilities
Supported data types and modalities
Grok-4.1 supports multimodal inputs, whereas Qwen3 Max does not.
Grok-4.1 can handle both text and other forms of data like images, making it suitable for multimodal applications.
Grok-4.1
Qwen3 Max
License
Usage and distribution terms
Both models are licensed under proprietary licenses.
Both models have usage restrictions defined by their respective organizations.
Proprietary
Closed source
Proprietary
Closed source
Release Timeline
When each model was launched
Grok-4.1 was released on 2025-11-17, while Qwen3 Max was released on 2025-12-15.
Qwen3 Max is 1 month newer than Grok-4.1.
Nov 17, 2025
8 months ago
Dec 15, 2025
7 months ago
4w newerKnowledge Cutoff
When training data ends
Neither model specifies a knowledge cutoff date.
Unable to compare the recency of their training data.
Provider Availability
Grok-4.1 is available from xAI. Qwen3 Max is available from Novita.
Grok-4.1
Qwen3 Max
Outputs Comparison
Key Takeaways
Qwen3 Max
View detailsAlibaba Cloud / Qwen Team
Detailed Comparison
Interactive Arena
Judge for yourself.
Run your own prompts against Grok-4.1 and Qwen3 Max side-by-side, then vote on the output you prefer.
FAQ
Common questions about Grok-4.1 vs Qwen3 Max.