AI Index

MiniMax-M3vsQwen3.8 Max

Both language models, compared at each maker’s own API list prices. Every figure links to its source.

Compare at your usage

Every model priced for the same request
Prompt per request
Cache hits
Service tier

8,000 tokens in, 2,000 out

MiniMax-M3 on MiniMax APIQwen3.8 Max on Alibaba Cloud Model Studio
Rate appliedBase rateBase rate
Inputper 1M tokens$0.30 $1.65
Cache readper 1M tokens$0.060 $0.206
Outputper 1M tokens$1.20 $4.951
Cost per request$0.0048$0.0231
Per 1,000 requests$4.80$23.10

Every model is priced for the same request at its maker’s own list prices (each with its source and date), so bold marks the cheapest. A model that can’t serve the request is named, not ranked; a condition its seller doesn’t price says which rate was used.

Cost per request as prompts grow

2K tokens out, list price on each maker’s API. MiniMax-M3 charges $0.60 / $2.40 above 512K tokens. A line ends at the model’s context window.

0$0.20$0.40$0.600500K1Mprompt tokens per request512K8KMiniMax-M3$0.0048 at 8KQwen3.8 Max$0.0231 at 8K
  • MiniMax-M3 · MiniMax API
  • Qwen3.8 Max · Alibaba Cloud Model Studio

Where each stands among all scored models

Each line runs from the lowest to the highest score on the board; the tick is the median.

Epoch Capabilities Index#67 vs #27 of 118Qwen3.8 Max: 157.4MiniMax-M3: 147.6LMArena Text#64 vs #19 of 163Qwen3.8 Max: 1,482MiniMax-M3: 1,439LMArena Text · Coding#59 vs #23 of 163Qwen3.8 Max: 1,525MiniMax-M3: 1,495LMArena Vision#42 vs #9 of 89Qwen3.8 Max: 1,313MiniMax-M3: 1,251
  • MiniMax-M3
  • Qwen3.8 Max

Key differences

MiniMax-M3Qwen3.8 Max
InputMaker’s official API · global · USD
$0.30 / 1M tokens Pricing Overview - MiniMax API Docs · as of Nov 1, 2026
$1.65 / 1M tokens Alibaba Cloud Model Studio pricing · as of Nov 2, 2026
OutputMaker’s official API · global · USD
$1.20 / 1M tokens Pricing Overview - MiniMax API Docs · as of Nov 1, 2026
$4.951 / 1M tokens Alibaba Cloud Model Studio pricing · as of Nov 2, 2026
InputMaker’s official API · china · CNY
¥2.10 / 1M tokens MiniMax 按量计费价格in Chinese · as of Nov 1, 2026
¥12.00 / 1M tokens 阿里云百炼：模型价格in Chinese · as of Nov 2, 2026
OutputMaker’s official API · china · CNY
¥8.40 / 1M tokens MiniMax 按量计费价格in Chinese · as of Nov 1, 2026
¥36.00 / 1M tokens 阿里云百炼：模型价格in Chinese · as of Nov 2, 2026
Max output
512,000 MiniMax Text API OpenAI · as of Nov 5, 2026
131,072 Qwen3.8 Max model · as of Nov 1, 2026
Cache readMaker’s official API · global · USD
$0.060 / 1M tokens Pricing Overview - MiniMax API Docs · as of Nov 1, 2026
$0.206 / 1M tokens Qwen3.8 Max model · as of Nov 1, 2026

These differences use verified vendor specifications or each maker’s official API on the same region, currency, meter and billing conditions. Different conditions remain side by side in the full table; they do not establish which model is cheaper. Declared features describe support, not measured quality or a recommendation. Missing evidence does not mean a feature is unsupported.

Full comparison

MiniMax-M3 MiniMax Qwen3.8 Max Alibaba Qwen
Overview
ReleasedJun 1, 2026 Aug 2, 2026
Open weightsYes —
Specs
Context1M 1M
Max inputNot stated 991.81K
Max output512K 131.07K
Input modalitiesText, Image, Video Text, Image, Video
Output modalitiesText Text
ReasoningYes Yes
Reasoning effortsNot stated low, medium, xhigh
Reasoning can be offYes Yes
Max thinking budgetNot stated 262.14K
Tool useYes Yes
Structured outputNot stated Yes
Pricing · per 1M tokens
Input price$0.30Also priced under other conditions: Prompts over 512K tokens, Priority tier $1.65
Output price$1.20Also priced under other conditions: Prompts over 512K tokens, Priority tier $4.951
Cache read price$0.060Also priced under other conditions: Prompts over 512K tokens, Priority tier $0.206Also priced under other conditions: Explicit cache
Cache write price— $2.063Explicit cache
Blended price (3 input : 1 output)$0.525 $2.47525
Pricing under conditions · per 1M tokens
Input price, long prompts$0.60Prompts over 512K tokens Not offered
Output price, long prompts$2.40Prompts over 512K tokens Not offered
Priority tier input price$0.45Priority tier Not offered
Priority tier output price$1.80Priority tier Not offered
Cited scores
Epoch Capabilities Index147.6 157.4
LMArena Text1,439 1,482
LMArena Text · Coding1,495 1,525
LMArena Vision1,251 1,313
LMArena Text · Chinese1,472 1,538
Epoch AI · GPQA Diamond90.9% 92.7% xhigh effort
Epoch AI · FrontierMath Tiers 1–3— 74.7% xhigh effort

Headline prices may come from different channels, regions or tiers. Check each source before choosing a model; missing facts stay blank.

Model details and sources

Cited scores