What is the best alternative to Qwen3.6 Plus?

DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 is the closest model that scores higher on the BenchLeader Index (59.2 against 59.1). For less money, DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 scores 59.2 at $0.525 per 1M tokens.

Is there a cheaper alternative to Qwen3.6 Plus?

Yes: DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 (59.2, $0.525), GPT-5.6 Luna (58.5, $0.45) and Qwen3.7 Plus (57.8, $0.70), each within 4 Index points and cheaper than Qwen3.6 Plus's $1.13.

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

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 Plus, 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 Plus alternatives

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

As of 2 Nov 2026, Qwen3.6 Plus by Alibaba scores 59.1 on the BenchLeader Index at $1.13 per 1M tokens blended. DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 scores higher (59.2); DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 is the best cheaper model within 4 points (59.2 at $0.525); Claude Opus 5.5 is at least 1.5× as fast at a similar score; Kimi K3 is the best open-weights option (62.1).

Scores higher

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

DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 DeepSeek59.2 · $0.525
Claude Sonnet 5 Anthropic59.4 · $4.00
Claude Opus 4.5 Anthropic59.7 · $10.00

Cheaper, nearly as good

Within 4 Index points, for less per token.

DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 DeepSeek59.2 · $0.525
GPT-5.6 Luna OpenAI58.5 · $0.45
Qwen3.7 Plus Alibaba57.8 · $0.70
DeepSeek V4 Pro DeepSeek57.5 · $0.99
DeepSeek V4 Flash DeepSeek57.3 · $0.262

Faster

At least 1.5× the output speed, within 4 points.

Claude Opus 5.5 Anthropic compare69.2 · $8.00
Gemini 4 Carbon Google compare68.9 · $8.00
GPT-6.1 Sol OpenAI compare67.2 · $4.00

Open weights

The best models whose weights you can run yourself.

Kimi K3 Moonshot AI62.1 · $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 Plus (this model)	59.1	$1.13	54	–
Claude Opus 5.5	69.2	$8.00	96	faster
Gemini 4 Carbon	68.9	$8.00	95	faster
GPT-6.1 Sol	67.2	$4.00	87	faster
Kimi K3	62.1	$6.00	66	open weights
GLM-5	60.2	$1.55	62	open weights
GLM 5.2	60.1	$2.15	89	open weights
Claude Opus 4.5	59.7	$10.00	57	scores higher
Claude Sonnet 5	59.4	$4.00	71	scores higher
DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017	59.2	$0.525	170	scores higher, cheaper
GPT-5.6 Luna	58.5	$0.45	113	cheaper
Qwen3.7 Plus	57.8	$0.70	57	cheaper
DeepSeek V4 Pro	57.5	$0.99	42	cheaper
DeepSeek V4 Flash	57.3	$0.262	49	cheaper

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 Plus?: DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 is the closest model that scores higher on the BenchLeader Index (59.2 against 59.1). For less money, DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 scores 59.2 at $0.525 per 1M tokens.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Qwen3.6 Plus?: Yes: DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 (59.2, $0.525), GPT-5.6 Luna (58.5, $0.45) and Qwen3.7 Plus (57.8, $0.70), each within 4 Index points and cheaper than Qwen3.6 Plus's $1.13.
Is there an open-source alternative to Qwen3.6 Plus?: 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 Plus, 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.