comparison
Qwen3 Max vs GPT-5.4 nano
Token pricing, context window and real monthly cost, side by side. GPT-5.4 nano is the cheaper of the two for a typical workload — about 3.4× less.
Positioned by published specs — size, context and modality — not measured performance; a smaller model can sometimes outperform a larger one on your task.
Qwen3 Max (Flagship) is a much larger technical class than GPT-5.4 nano (Nano). The cheaper model only wins if it can actually do your task; on anything demanding these aren't interchangeable.
| metric | Qwen3 Max | GPT-5.4 nano |
|---|---|---|
| Input / 1M | $0.78 | $0.20 |
| Output / 1M | $3.90 | $1.25 |
| Context | 262K | 400K |
| Technical class | Flagship | Nano |
| Cost @ typical workload | $624/mo | $185/mo |
| Modality | Text only | text + image |
| Price source | routed | list |
| Provider | Qwen | OpenAI |
Snapshot . Cost uses a typical workload; tune it in the calculator. How we measure →
Which should you pick?
On a typical workload, GPT-5.4 nano costs $185/mo against Qwen3 Max's $624/mo — roughly 3.4× cheaper. But the ranking depends on your output-to-input ratio: output is the pricier direction for both, so an output-heavy job (code generation, long answers) widens the gap while an input-heavy one (summarization, retrieval) narrows it. If you need to fit more in a single prompt, GPT-5.4 nano has the larger 400K-token window (~600 pages). Only GPT-5.4 nano accepts image input — decisive if your prompts include images. By technical class (size and context, not measured capability), Qwen3 Max is a Flagship and GPT-5.4 nano a Nano — so the lower price partly reflects a smaller class, not just a discount.
These are list and routed market prices, not measured outcomes. Two models at the same rate can still cost different amounts to finish the same task, because verbose or reasoning-heavy models emit more tokens. That gap is exactly what measured cost-per-task captures. The technical-class read above is likewise spec-based — size, context and modality, not measured performance — so a smaller model can still outperform a larger one on your specific task.
Frequently asked questions
Is Qwen3 Max or GPT-5.4 nano cheaper?
For a typical workload (1,500 input + 500 output tokens × 200,000 requests/month), GPT-5.4 nano costs $185/mo versus $624/mo for Qwen3 Max — about 3.4× less. Because output is priced higher than input, the winner can flip if your workload writes much more or less than this; check your own numbers in the calculator.
What's the main difference between Qwen3 Max and GPT-5.4 nano?
On price, Qwen3 Max is $0.78/$3.90 per 1M (in/out) and GPT-5.4 nano is $0.20/$1.25. By technical class (size & context) it's Flagship (Qwen3 Max) versus Nano (GPT-5.4 nano). GPT-5.4 nano has the larger context window at 400K tokens. Only GPT-5.4 nano accepts image input.
Is GPT-5.4 nano in the same class as Qwen3 Max?
No. By size & context, GPT-5.4 nano is a Nano and Qwen3 Max is a Flagship — 3 classes apart, so they're not drop-in substitutes. This is a spec comparison (size, context, modality), not a measured-performance one; a smaller model can still win on a task it's suited to.
Why is GPT-5.4 nano so much cheaper than Qwen3 Max?
GPT-5.4 nano has a much lower per-token rate — $1.25/1M output versus $3.90, and it's a smaller technical class (Nano vs Flagship). The headline rate isn't the whole story, though: a verbose model can cost more to finish a task than its rate implies — that's what measured cost-per-task captures.
More comparisons
- GPT-5.5 vs GPT-5.4 nano
- GPT-5.4 vs GPT-5.4 nano
- GPT-5.4 vs Qwen3 Max
- GPT-5.4 mini vs GPT-5.4 nano
- GPT-5.4 mini vs Qwen3 Max
- GPT-5.4 nano vs gpt-oss-120b
Related
- Qwen3 Max and GPT-5.4 nano — full specs and price history.
- API cost calculator — compare on your own workload.
- All comparisons — the full head-to-head index.