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Model comparison · Updated 10 Oct 2026

Ministral 3 8B 2512 vs Qwen3.6 35B A3B

Qwen3.6 35B A3B is about 1.5× cheaper on input ($0.10 against $0.15 per 1M tokens), though Ministral 3 8B 2512 is cheaper on output. Both have a 262K-token context window. For a support chatbot at 10,000 chats a day, the standard-tier bill is about $81.00 a month for Ministral 3 8B 2512 and $131 for Qwen3.6 35B A3B.

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ModelsAtlas. “Ministral 3 8B 2512 vs Qwen3.6 35B A3B”. Retrieved 10 Oct 2026. https://modelsatlas.com/compare/mistralai/ministral-8b/vs/qwen/3-6-35b-a3b

Model A

Ministral 3 8B 2512

by Mistral AI · weights not marked open · GRIDC4

Input / 1M
$0.15
observed We measured
Source
Our catalogue
Retrieved
17 Aug 2026
Output / 1M$0.15
Context262K
vs

Model B

Qwen3.6 35B A3B

by Qwen (Alibaba) · open weights · GRIDC4

Input / 1M
$0.10
observed We measured
Source
Our catalogue
Retrieved
10 Oct 2026
Output / 1M$0.95
Context262K

Key numbers

Standard tier · highlighted = better

Ministral 3 8B 2512
Qwen3.6 35B A3B
Input / 1M tokens
$0.15
$0.10
Output / 1M tokens
$0.15
$0.95
Batch input / output
$0.08 / $0.08
Not listed
Context window
262,144
262,144
Input types
Not disclosed
text
Weights
Not marked open
Open
License
Not disclosed
apache-2.0
Tiers listed
batch, standard
standard
Prices checked
2026-10-10
2026-10-10

What it costs for real workloads

Monthly, standard tier, 30 days

Support chatbot10k chats/day · 1.5k in, 300 out
$81.00/mo
$131/mo
RAG over documents2k queries/day · 12k in, 500 out
$113/mo
$101/mo
Coding agent300 tasks/day · 60k in, 8k out
$91.80/mo
$122/mo

Ministral 3 8B 2512   Qwen3.6 35B A3B · Derived from the standard-tier prices above, input and output tokens per request as stated, 30 days. Excludes caching discounts and batch. Try your own numbers.

On the atlas

Price band (A–H) × context band (1–6)

Same square. Ministral 3 8B 2512 and Qwen3.6 35B A3B share C4.

Same square as Ministral 3 8B 2512: Qwen3 30B A3B Instruct 2507 ($0.10), Qwen3 Next 80B A3B Instruct ($0.10), Qwen3.5-9B ($0.10). Open C4

AFreeB<$0.10C$0.10–0.30D$0.30–1E$1–3F$3–10G$10–30H$30+1<32K232–128K3128–256K4256K–1M51M6>1MINPUT PRICE PER 1M TOKENS →CONTEXT WINDOW ↑ · position within a square follows the real valueMistral Small 4 · C4Qwen3 VL 30B A3B Instruct · C4Qwen3 Coder Next · C4Ministral 3 14B 2512 · C4Qwen3 VL 235B A22B Instruct · C4Qwen3 30B A3B Instruct 2507 · C4Qwen3.5-9B · C4Qwen3 Next 80B A3B Instruct · C4Ministral 3 8B 2512Ministral 3 8B 2512Qwen3.6 35B A3BQwen3.6 35B A3B
Ministral 3 8B 2512Qwen3.6 35B A3BNearest neighboursOpen weights
View the map as a table (1 squares)
SquarePrice bandContext bandModels
GRIDC4$0.10–0.30256K–1MMinistral 3 8B 2512, Qwen3.6 35B A3B, Mistral Small 4, Qwen3 VL 30B A3B Instruct, Qwen3 Coder Next, Ministral 3 14B 2512, Qwen3 VL 235B A22B Instruct, Qwen3 30B A3B Instruct 2507, Qwen3.5-9B, Qwen3 Next 80B A3B Instruct

Capabilities side by side

Only what our records list

Ministral 3 8B 2512
Qwen3.6 35B A3B
Vision input
Not disclosed
Not recorded
Audio input
Not disclosed
Not recorded
Open weights
Not marked open
Supported
Batch tier
Supported
Not listed
Free tier
Not listed
Not listed
Thinking tier
Not listed
Not listed

Which should you choose?

Editorial

Choose Ministral 3 8B 2512 if…

  • output dominates your bill: $0.15 per 1M output against $0.95
  • work can wait: it lists a batch tier and the other does not

Choose Qwen3.6 35B A3B if…

  • you pay by the token: it costs $0.10 per 1M input against $0.15
  • you want open weights, so you can run the model yourself

Each reason is a fact from the tables above. Picking between them is our judgement, and we do not benchmark quality: price and context are what we can measure, so test both on your own prompts before you commit.

Questions

Is Ministral 3 8B 2512 better than Qwen3.6 35B A3B?
We do not benchmark quality, so we cannot say. On the recorded numbers: Qwen3.6 35B A3B is about 1.5× cheaper on input ($0.10 against $0.15 per 1M tokens), though Ministral 3 8B 2512 is cheaper on output. Both have a 262K-token context window. For a support chatbot at 10,000 chats a day, the standard-tier bill is about $81.00 a month for Ministral 3 8B 2512 and $131 for Qwen3.6 35B A3B. Which is better for you depends on your task; test both on your own prompts.
Which is cheaper, Ministral 3 8B 2512 or Qwen3.6 35B A3B?
Qwen3.6 35B A3B: $0.10 against $0.15 per 1M input tokens, and $0.95 against $0.15 per 1M output, on standard pricing.
How much does each cost per 1M tokens?
Ministral 3 8B 2512: $0.15 input and $0.15 output. Qwen3.6 35B A3B: $0.10 input and $0.95 output. Standard tier, USD.
Which has the larger context window?
Neither: both have 262,144 tokens.
Do both offer batch pricing?
Ministral 3 8B 2512 lists a batch tier, at 50% of its standard price. Qwen3.6 35B A3B lists no batch tier.
Can both read images or audio?
Input types recorded for Ministral 3 8B 2512: none recorded. For Qwen3.6 35B A3B: text. Where a record lists none we say so rather than guess; check each vendor's documentation before relying on a capability.
Is either model open-weight?
Ministral 3 8B 2512: not marked open-weight in our records. Qwen3.6 35B A3B: open weights.
What would each cost for a support chatbot?
At 10,000 chats a day, 1,500 input and 300 output tokens each, 30 days, standard tier: about $81.00 a month for Ministral 3 8B 2512 and $131 for Qwen3.6 35B A3B. This is our calculation from the listed prices, not a quote.

About the two models

Ministral 3 8B 2512

By Mistral AI. $0.15 input and $0.15 output per 1M tokens, 262K context, atlas square C4. Tiers listed: batch, standard.

Full specs & pricing →

Qwen3.6 35B A3B

By Qwen (Alibaba), open weights. $0.10 input and $0.95 output per 1M tokens, 262K context, atlas square C4. Tiers listed: standard.

Full specs & pricing →

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