text model comparison
GPT-4.1 vs Qwen3.8-Max
GPT-4.1 and Qwen3.8-Max are both current text models, from OpenAI and Alibaba Qwen. Both cost $2 per 1M input tokens. On Arena Text, GPT-4.1 scores 1415 Elo and Qwen3.8-Max 1483 Elo (Arena, measured October 8, 2026). Both accept about 1.05M tokens of context (1,047,576 and 1,000,000).
Data verified October 12, 2026 · Dataset 2026-10-12
Side by side
Standard-tier prices in effect today. The better value in each row is highlighted.
| Fact | GPT-4.1 | Qwen3.8-Max |
|---|---|---|
| Price per 1M input tokens | $2 | $2 |
| Price per 1M output tokens | $8 | $6 (better) |
| Cost of 10M input and 2M output tokens | $36 | $32 (better) |
| Arena Text | 1415 Elo (#36 of 39) | 1483 Elo (#12 of 39) (better) |
| GPQA Diamond | 66.9% (#35 of 37) | 92.7% (#17 of 37) (better) |
| FrontierMath Tiers 1-3 (v2) | 6% (#37 of 37) | 74.7% (#17 of 37) (better) |
| SimpleQA Verified | 31.1% (#29 of 34) | 45.8% (#22 of 34) (better) |
| Provider | OpenAI | Alibaba Qwen |
| Release date | April 14, 2025 | August 3, 2026 |
| Access | API only | API only |
| Context window | 1,047,576 tokens | 1,000,000 tokens |
| Max output | 32,768 tokens | 131,072 tokens |
| Input | text, image | text, image, video |
| Output | text | text |
When to choose each
GPT-4.1
Best for
- Long-context API trials using text and image inputs
Watch out for
- Not in the pinned LiveBench snapshot; its independent scores here come from Epoch AI's own GPQA Diamond, FrontierMath and SimpleQA Verified runs
Qwen3.8-Max
Best for
- Output-heavy generation workloads where the $6 per million output rate is the deciding factor
- Agentic and coding evaluations that need a 1M-token window at mid-tier cost
Watch out for
- Two releases share the name: the original 3 August 2026 model and the 0902 refresh. The rates and limits here are read from the 0902 listing
- Reported benchmark placements come from Alibaba and from public arena boards rather than a common pinned snapshot, so they are not comparable with the LiveBench results in this dataset
GPT-4.1 vs Qwen3.8-Max FAQ
Which is cheaper, GPT-4.1 or Qwen3.8-Max?
Both cost $2 per 1M input tokens. For 10M input and 2M output tokens, GPT-4.1 costs $36 and Qwen3.8-Max $32 at standard rates.
Which scores higher on independent benchmarks, GPT-4.1 or Qwen3.8-Max?
Qwen3.8-Max leads on Arena Text, 1483 Elo to 1415 Elo; Qwen3.8-Max leads on GPQA Diamond, 92.7% to 66.9%; Qwen3.8-Max leads on FrontierMath Tiers 1-3 (v2), 74.7% to 6%. Scores are independent evaluations, not either vendor's launch figures.
Which has the larger context window, GPT-4.1 or Qwen3.8-Max?
Both accept about 1.05M tokens of context (1,047,576 and 1,000,000).
Related comparisons
Production evaluation
Choosing between GPT-4.1 and Qwen3.8-Max?
Public benchmarks narrow the shortlist. We run both on your own tasks, data and cost limits, then build the routing and review controls to run the winner in production.
- A head-to-head evaluation on your real workload
- Routing between models by cost and difficulty