What is the best alternative to Qwen3.6 Max?

Gemini 3.5 Flash is the closest model that scores higher on the BenchLeader Index (62.5 against 62.4). For less money, GPT-6.1 Terra scores 65.2 at $2.00 per 1M tokens.

Is there a cheaper alternative to Qwen3.6 Max?

Yes: GPT-6.1 Terra (65.2, $2.00), Gemini 3.7 Flash (62.2, $1.50) and Muse Spark 1.1 (62.2, $2.00), each within 4 Index points and cheaper than Qwen3.6 Max's $2.96.

Is there an open-source alternative to Qwen3.6 Max?

The best open-weights models on the BenchLeader Index are Kimi K3 (62.1), GLM-5 (60.2) and GLM 5.2 (60.1). You can download and run them yourself; check each licence on its model page.

How are these alternatives chosen?

From the models ranked on the BenchLeader Index today: the ones just above Qwen3.6 Max, cheaper ones within 4 points, ones at least 1.5× as fast within 4 points, and the best open-weights models. Prices are list prices blended three input tokens to one output.

Alibaba

Qwen3.6 Max alternatives

Data as of 2 Nov 2026 · ranked on the BenchLeader Index

As of 2 Nov 2026, Qwen3.6 Max by Alibaba scores 62.4 on the BenchLeader Index at $2.96 per 1M tokens blended. Gemini 3.5 Flash scores higher (62.5); GPT-6.1 Terra is the best cheaper model within 4 points (65.2 at $2.00); Kimi K3 is the best open-weights option (62.1).

Scores higher

The closest models above Qwen3.6 Max on the Index.

Gemini 3.5 Flash Google compare62.5 · $3.38
Claude Opus 4.6 Anthropic compare62.6 · $10.00
GPT-5.3-Codex OpenAI compare62.9 · $4.81

Cheaper, nearly as good

Within 4 Index points, for less per token.

GPT-6.1 Terra OpenAI compare65.2 · $2.00
Gemini 3.7 Flash Google compare62.2 · $1.50
Muse Spark 1.1 Meta compare62.2 · $2.00
Gemini 3.8 Flash Google compare61.9 · $1.50
Muse Spark 1.3 Meta compare61.9 · $2.00

Open weights

The best models whose weights you can run yourself.

Kimi K3 Moonshot AI compare62.1 · $6.00
GLM-5 Zhipu AI60.2 · $1.55
GLM 5.2 Zhipu AI60.1 · $2.15

Every alternative side by side

Model	Index	$ / 1M blended	Tokens / s	Why
Qwen3.6 Max (this model)	62.4	$2.96	–	–
GPT-6.1 Terra	65.2	$2.00	107	cheaper
GPT-5.3-Codex	62.9	$4.81	114	scores higher
Claude Opus 4.6	62.6	$10.00	35	scores higher
Gemini 3.5 Flash	62.5	$3.38	190	scores higher
Gemini 3.7 Flash	62.2	$1.50	91	cheaper
Muse Spark 1.1	62.2	$2.00	206	cheaper
Kimi K3	62.1	$6.00	66	open weights
Gemini 3.8 Flash	61.9	$1.50	131	cheaper
Muse Spark 1.3	61.9	$2.00	194	cheaper
GLM-5	60.2	$1.55	62	open weights
GLM 5.2	60.1	$2.15	89	open weights

Prices are list prices blended three input tokens to one output; speeds are measured medians, credited on each model page. The Index is BenchLeader's own, from independent benchmarks.

Questions people ask

What is the best alternative to Qwen3.6 Max?: Gemini 3.5 Flash is the closest model that scores higher on the BenchLeader Index (62.5 against 62.4). For less money, GPT-6.1 Terra scores 65.2 at $2.00 per 1M tokens.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Qwen3.6 Max?: Yes: GPT-6.1 Terra (65.2, $2.00), Gemini 3.7 Flash (62.2, $1.50) and Muse Spark 1.1 (62.2, $2.00), each within 4 Index points and cheaper than Qwen3.6 Max's $2.96.
Is there an open-source alternative to Qwen3.6 Max?: The best open-weights models on the BenchLeader Index are Kimi K3 (62.1), GLM-5 (60.2) and GLM 5.2 (60.1). You can download and run them yourself; check each licence on its model page.
How are these alternatives chosen?: From the models ranked on the BenchLeader Index today: the ones just above Qwen3.6 Max, cheaper ones within 4 points, ones at least 1.5× as fast within 4 points, and the best open-weights models. Prices are list prices blended three input tokens to one output.