Alternatives · 15 models compared · checked 10 Oct 2026
Qwen3.6 27B alternatives: 15 models in or near grid D4
The closest model to Qwen3.6 27B on the atlas is Qwen3 Coder 480B A35B, in the same square, at $0.30 per 1M input tokens against Qwen3.6 27B’s . 13 of the 15 nearest models are cheaper on input; the cheapest is Qwen3 30B A3B Instruct 2507 at $0.10. We rank by position on the atlas, not by capability, because we hold no capability data.
$0.32
observed We measured
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- Our catalogue
- Retrieved
- 10 Oct 2026
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ModelsAtlas. “Qwen3.6 27B alternatives: 15 models in or near grid D4”. Retrieved 10 Oct 2026. https://modelsatlas.com/models/qwen/3-6-27b/alternatives
Where the alternatives sit
Each square is a price band (A–H) × a context band (1–6). How the grid works
Same squareGRIDD43 modelsDevstral 2 2512, Qwen3 Coder 480B A35B and Qwen3.5 397B A17B
Qwen3.6 27BIts 15 nearest modelsOther modelsOpen weights
View the map as a table (2 squares)
| Square | Price band | Context band | Models |
|---|---|---|---|
| GRIDC4 | $0.10–0.30 | 256K–1M | Qwen3 30B A3B Instruct 2507, Qwen3 Next 80B A3B Instruct, Qwen3.5-9B, Qwen3.6 35B A3B, Qwen3 Coder Next, Ministral 3 8B 2512, Mistral Small 4, Qwen3 VL 30B A3B Instruct, Ministral 3 14B 2512, Qwen3 VL 235B A22B Instruct, Qwen3 VL 8B Instruct, Qwen3.5-122B-A10B |
| GRIDD4 | $0.30–1 | 256K–1M | Qwen3.6 27B, Qwen3 Coder 480B A35B, Devstral 2 2512, Qwen3.5 397B A17B |
Top 15 alternatives
Ranked by steps away on the atlas, then cheaper before pricier, then input price
| # | Model | Grid | Why it fits | Input / 1M | vs Qwen3.6 27B | Output / 1M | Context | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Qwen3.6 27BQwen (Alibaba) · the model you’re replacing | GRIDD4 | Baseline | $0.32 | — | $3.20 | 262K | |
| 1 | Qwen3 Coder 480B A35BQwen (Alibaba) | GRIDD4 | Same maker, same square, 6% cheaper input | $0.30 | −6% | $1.00 | 262K | Compare → |
| 2 | Devstral 2 2512Mistral AI | GRIDD4 | Same square, 25% pricier input | $0.40 | +25% | $2.00 | 262K | Compare → |
| 3 | Qwen3.5 397B A17BQwen (Alibaba) | GRIDD4 | Same maker, same square, 72% pricier input | $0.55 | +72% | $3.50 | 262K | Compare → |
| 4 | Qwen3 30B A3B Instruct 2507Qwen (Alibaba) | GRIDC4 | Same maker, neighbouring square C4, 69% cheaper input | $0.10 | −69% | $0.30 | 262K | |
| 5 | Qwen3 Next 80B A3B InstructQwen (Alibaba) | GRIDC4 | Same maker, neighbouring square C4, 69% cheaper input | $0.10 | −69% | $1.10 | 262K | |
| 6 | Qwen3.5-9BQwen (Alibaba) | GRIDC4 | Same maker, neighbouring square C4, 69% cheaper input | $0.10 | −69% | $0.15 | 262K | |
| 7 | Qwen3.6 35B A3BQwen (Alibaba) · open weights | GRIDC4 | Same maker, neighbouring square C4, 69% cheaper input, open weights | $0.10 | −69% | $0.95 | 262K | |
| 8 | Qwen3 Coder NextQwen (Alibaba) | GRIDC4 | Same maker, neighbouring square C4, 63% cheaper input | $0.12 | −62% | $0.80 | 262K | |
| 9 | Ministral 3 8B 2512Mistral AI | GRIDC4 | Neighbouring square C4, 53% cheaper input | $0.15 | −53% | $0.15 | 262K | |
| 10 | Mistral Small 4Mistral AI | GRIDC4 | Neighbouring square C4, 53% cheaper input | $0.15 | −53% | $0.60 | 262K | |
| 11 | Qwen3 VL 30B A3B InstructQwen (Alibaba) | GRIDC4 | Same maker, neighbouring square C4, 53% cheaper input | $0.15 | −53% | $0.60 | 262K | |
| 12 | Ministral 3 14B 2512Mistral AI | GRIDC4 | Neighbouring square C4, 38% cheaper input | $0.20 | −37% | $0.20 | 262K | |
| 13 | Qwen3 VL 235B A22B InstructQwen (Alibaba) | GRIDC4 | Same maker, neighbouring square C4, 34% cheaper input | $0.21 | −34% | $1.90 | 262K | |
| 14 | Qwen3 VL 8B InstructQwen (Alibaba) · open weights | GRIDC4 | Same maker, neighbouring square C4, 22% cheaper input, open weights | $0.25 | −22% | $0.75 | 262K | |
| 15 | Qwen3.5-122B-A10BQwen (Alibaba) | GRIDC4 | Same maker, neighbouring square C4, 19% cheaper input | $0.26 | −19% | $2.08 | 262K |
What switching saves
3,000 input + 800 output tokens × 1,000 requests a day
Σ Derived from standard-tier prices; excludes caching and batch discounts. Use your own numbers →
Larger-context alternatives
| Model | Input / 1M | Context | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DeepSeek V4.1 FlashDeepSeek | $0.30 | 1.05M | |
| Gemini 2.5 FlashGoogle | $0.30 | 1.05M | |
| Gemini 3.5 Flash LiteGoogle | $0.30 | 1.05M | |
| MiniMax M3MiniMax | $0.30 | 1.05M | |
| Qwen3.5 Plus 2026-04-20Qwen (Alibaba) | $0.30 | 1M |
Free alternatives
| Model | Input / 1M | Context | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lyria 3 Clip PreviewGoogle | Free | 1.05M | |
| Lyria 3 Pro PreviewGoogle | Free | 1.05M |
Compare Qwen3.6 27B head to head
Questions
What is the best alternative to Qwen3.6 27B?
Qwen3 Coder 480B A35B ranks first: same maker, same square, 6% cheaper input. Input is $0.30 per 1M tokens against $0.32 for Qwen3.6 27B. Ranking is by position on the atlas, not by quality.
What is the cheapest alternative to Qwen3.6 27B?
Qwen3 30B A3B Instruct 2507 at $0.10 per 1M input tokens, 69% less than Qwen3.6 27B, among the 15 closest.
Is there an open-weight alternative to Qwen3.6 27B?
Yes, 2 of the 15: Qwen3.6 35B A3B and Qwen3 VL 8B Instruct.
Which alternative has a larger context window?
None of the 15 closest holds more than Qwen3.6 27B's 262K.
How are alternatives ranked?
By distance on the atlas grid from Qwen3.6 27B's square D4: the same square first, then neighbouring squares. Within the same distance, cheaper models come before pricier ones, then the lowest input price wins. We hold no capability data, so we do not claim a model can do what Qwen3.6 27B does, only that it costs and holds about the same. No vendor pays for position.
More alternatives
Keep going in your AI
Opens with this page as the source. We add nothing else to the prompt.
- What is the best alternative to Qwen3.6 27B?
- What is the cheapest alternative to Qwen3.6 27B?
- Is there an open-weight alternative to Qwen3.6 27B?