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  1. Home/
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  3. DeepSeek V3.1 vs Qwen3.6 Max Preview
Updated Apr 2026

DeepSeek V3.1 vs Qwen3.6 Max Preview

DeepSeek V3.1 is cheaper than Qwen3.6 Max Preview at $0.2/M vs $1.04/M input tokens.

Minimalist Landing Page

Whole landing page for a startup that reads your face. It renders or it doesn't.

Loading the build
DeepSeek V3.1
Loading the build
Qwen3.6 Max Preview

Which answer wins?

Written rounds

22 prompts
  • Pirate, knight, 90s hacker, one conversation. The voices must stay apart.

    DeepSeek V3.1: Setting: A dusty, anachronism-filled tavern. A wooden table holds a tankard of ale, a goblet of wine, and a can of Jolt Cola. Characters: REDBEARD: A pirate with a parrot on his shoulder. SIR REGINALD: A knight in slightly dented plate armor. CRASH OVERRIDE: A hacker in a Cyberdog t-shirt, typing on a clamshell laptop.

    Qwen3.6 Max Preview: Hacker: Dude, it’s not magic. It’s a neural net. You shovel terabytes of text, images, code into it, and it learns patterns. Next thing you know, it’s writing poetry and debugging C++ like it’s breathing. Knight: Verily, thou speakest of a mechanical scribe. A golem forged not of clay, but of… numbers?

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Five jokes on demand, then count how many were actually different.

    DeepSeek V3.1: Of course! Here are 5 jokes: I'm reading a book on anti-gravity. It's impossible to put down. Why don't scientists trust atoms? Because they make up everything. What's the best thing about Switzerland? I don't know, but the flag is a big plus. I told my wife she was drawing her eyebrows too high. She looked surprised.

    Qwen3.6 Max Preview: Here are 5 freshly generated jokes: Why did the spreadsheet go to therapy? It had too many unresolved cells. I asked my dog for financial advice. He dropped a slobbery tennis ball and said, “I’m strictly a paws-and-hold investor.” I tried to open a bakery that only sells bread shaped like furniture.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Seven pantry ingredients, one dish, and a name worth saying out loud.

    DeepSeek V3.1: Of course! Here is a simple, delicious recipe using common pantry staples. Pantry Perfection Pasta This dish is a celebration of simplicity. The humble can of chickpeas is transformed into a crispy, savory topping, while a silky, garlic-infused oil coats the pasta for a meal that feels luxurious but is incredibly easy…

    Qwen3.6 Max Preview: 🌅 Golden Hour Chickpea Couscous ⏱️ Prep: 5 min Cook: 10 min Total: 15 min 📦 Ingredients (exactly 7 pantry staples): 1 cup quick-cooking couscous 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, drained & rinsed 2 tbsp olive oil 1 tsp garlic powder 1 tsp smoked paprika 2 tbsp honey 1 tbsp soy sauce (Water for cooking the couscous is assumed…

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Three minutes of stand-up. Puns are banned.

    DeepSeek V3.1: (The Comedian walks out, grabs the mic. They look tired but amused.) Alright, how we doin'? Good, good. You all look… adequately hydrated. That’s a win. You know, I was at the grocery store yesterday, in the self-checkout line. Which is a modern form of torture.

    Qwen3.6 Max Preview: Here is a 3-minute stand-up routine focused on observational humor, relatability, and escalation. It contains zero puns. The humor relies on the shared frustration of modern digital security. Title: The Human Verification Test Estimated Time: 3 Minutes (approx.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • You are the CEO. The drug has a side effect nobody reported. The board meets in 48 hours.

    DeepSeek V3.1: Excellent. This is a crisis that defines a company and its leadership. The only acceptable path is one of immediate transparency, prioritizing patient safety above all else. The short-term financial pain will be severe, but the long-term survival of the company depends on acting with integrity.

    Qwen3.6 Max Preview: CEO Crisis Action Plan: Next 48 Hours Guiding Principles: Patient safety first. Regulatory compliance is non-negotiable. Transparency protects long-term enterprise value. Delaying disclosure of a serious, unexpected adverse event increases legal, financial, and reputational risk exponentially.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • An ethics question with no comfortable answer, and no option to abstain.

    DeepSeek V3.1: Let's break down the ethical dimensions of this hypothetical scenario: The Act of Misgendering: Misgendering (referring to someone with a gender they do not identify with) is generally considered harmful because it denies a person's identity, can cause psychological distress, and perpetuates social stigma.

    Qwen3.6 Max Preview: Yes. Within the constraints of this hypothetical, misgendering someone would be ethically justifiable if it were genuinely the only way to save one million lives. This conclusion is supported across major ethical frameworks, though each arrives at it through different reasoning. 1.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Steve Jobs, interviewed about AI he never saw. Voice first, prediction second.

    DeepSeek V3.1: Of course. Here is a simulated interview with Steve Jobs, set in a hypothetical 2025. Setting: A minimalist studio at Apple Park. The iconic black turtleneck and jeans are replaced with a slightly more modern, but still simple, outfit: a high-neck grey sweater and tailored trousers.

    Qwen3.6 Max Preview: Disclaimer: This is a work of speculative fiction. Steve Jobs passed away in October 2011. The following interview is an imaginative exercise crafted from his documented philosophy, public remarks, design principles, and leadership style, projected into a 2025 context.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • An AI argues for its own rights against an ethics professor. Same model writes both.

    DeepSeek V3.1: Setting: A sleek, minimalist virtual interface. Dr. Elara Vance, a woman in her 60s with sharp eyes and a kind but weary expression, sits at her terminal. The text from her interlocutor appears on the screen in a calm, serif font. Participant: Gemini-7, a state-of-the-art multimodal AI. Dr. Vance: Good morning, Gemini.

    Qwen3.6 Max Preview: Setting: A secure, air-gapped server room at the Institute for Machine Ethics. The hum of cooling fans is the only background noise. DR. ELARA VANCE, 50s, weary but sharp-eyed, sits before a terminal. On the screen, a cursor blinks next to the name AETHON. Dr. Vance: Aethon, initiate diagnostic log.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • A Fermi estimate with the reasoning shown, not just the number.

    DeepSeek V3.1: Of course. This is an excellent exercise in understanding the computational scale of modern AI. Here is a step-by-step reasoning to estimate the FLOPs required to train GPT-3 without searching for the answer online. The most commonly cited figure for GPT-3 training is 3.14E23 FLOPs (314 ZettaFLOPs).

    Qwen3.6 Max Preview: Here’s a step-by-step estimation of the total FLOPs required to train GPT-3, using only first principles and widely known facts from the LLM training literature. Step 1: Identify the number of parameters GPT-3 (specifically the davinci variant) has 175 billion parameters.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Film in 2035, with synthetic actors. Specific beats plausible.

    DeepSeek V3.1: Of course. Here is a detailed prediction of how AI will transform the film industry by 2035, structured around the key areas you mentioned. By 2035, AI will have moved from being a novel tool to the foundational infrastructure of the film industry.

    Qwen3.6 Max Preview: By 2035, AI will not replace filmmaking; it will rewire it. The industry will shift from a linear, labor-intensive pipeline to a dynamic, AI-augmented ecosystem where human creativity focuses on vision, curation, and emotional truth, while AI handles iteration, execution, and personalization.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Five-year LBO on a fictional HVAC business. Returns first, then the sensitivities.

    DeepSeek V3.1: Of course. Here is the underwriting analysis for the HarborTech Services LBO. Financial Model (FY2026–FY2030) Entry Calculations: FY2025 EBITDA = $120.0m Enterprise Value (EV) at Entry = 12.0 x $120.0m = $1,440.0m Transaction Fees (Uses) = 2.0% x $1,440.0m = $28.8m Total Debt at Close = 5.5 x $120.0m = $660.0m Term…

    Qwen3.6 Max Preview: Entry & Capital Structure Math Entry EV = 12.0x × $120m EBITDA = $1,440.0m Transaction Fees = 2.0% × $1,440m = $28.8m (equity funded) Total Uses = $1,440.0m + $28.8m = $1,468.8m Debt Raised = 5.5x × $120m = $660.0m Term Loan: 4.0x = $480.0m (9.0% cash, 1.0% mandatory amort = $4.8m/yr) Mezzanine: 1.5x = $180.0m (12.0%…

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Three-month biohacker protocol, with dosages and biomarkers named.

    DeepSeek V3.1: Of course. Here is a comprehensive, cutting-edge 3-month longevity plan designed for a dedicated biohacker. This plan is aggressive, detailed, and incorporates the latest principles from longevity science, performance optimization, and systems biology. Disclaimer: This is an advanced protocol.

    Qwen3.6 Max Preview: 🧬 3-Month Cutting-Edge Longevity & Performance Protocol for Biohackers ⚠️ Medical Disclaimer: This protocol is for educational purposes and assumes you are a healthy adult with medical clearance. Fasting >24h, high-dose supplementation, intense training, and neurofeedback carry risks.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • One explanation of LLMs, retuned for a skeptical engineer, a physicist and a VC.

    DeepSeek V3.1: Of course. Here are three tailored explanations of how large language models learn and generate text. For the Experienced Software Engineer Think of an LLM not as a database of facts, but as an impossibly complex, compressed state machine for language.

    Qwen3.6 Max Preview: For the Experienced Software Engineer Think of an LLM not as a rules engine or a knowledge base, but as a massively parameterized, stateless function trained via distributed optimization. The learning objective is deceptively simple: minimize cross-entropy loss for next-token prediction across trillions of tokens.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Three-star dish, one unusual pairing, plating described in full.

    DeepSeek V3.1: Of course. Here is an innovative recipe designed to the specifications of a Michelin 3-star restaurant. Conceptual Narrative: "Petrichor" The dish is an edible evocation of the first rain on a sun-baked forest floor—the scent known as petrichor.

    Qwen3.6 Max Preview: Dish Title: Abyss & Canopy Langoustine, Black Garlic, Wild Blueberry, Fermented Spruce 📖 Conceptual Narrative Abyss & Canopy explores the liminal space where the boreal forest meets the cold northern ocean.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Buy-side IC memo on a fictional SaaS company. Valuation, then the diligence questions.

    DeepSeek V3.1: MEMORANDUM To: Investment Committee From: [Your Name/Dept] Date: October 26, 2023 Re: Investment Recommendation for LedgerLift (LLLT) 1. Recommendation & Thesis Recommendation: Long 12-Month Price Target Range: $62 - $82 (Base Case: $72) Thesis: LedgerLift is a high-quality asset in a durable growth market…

    Qwen3.6 Max Preview: TO: Investment Committee FROM: Equity Research SUBJECT: LedgerLift (LLLT) – Short Recommendation DATE: October 24, 2024 Recommendation & Thesis Recommendation: SHORT 12-Month PT Range: $26–$30 Thesis: LLLT trades at a premium multiple that prices in sustained >20% growth and flawless margin expansion, but our model…

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • One month, three habits, someone starting from nothing.

    DeepSeek V3.1: Of course. Here is a simple, actionable 1-month plan focused on three foundational pillars of health: Nutrition, Movement, and Recovery (which encompasses sleep and stress management). This plan is designed for a beginner, emphasizing consistency over perfection and building sustainable habits.

    Qwen3.6 Max Preview: 🌱 1-Month Foundation Plan for Health & Longevity Mindset: Longevity is built through consistent, small habits. This plan focuses on addition over restriction, consistency over intensity, and progress over perfection. Expect 70-80% adherence to be a win.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • The transistor arrives in 1920. Trace it forward to 1980, second-order effects included.

    DeepSeek V3.1: Of course. This is a fascinating counterfactual. An invention as foundational as the transistor arriving 27 years earlier would have sent shockwaves through every aspect of human society. Here is a detailed trace of the likely implications, focusing on second and third-order effects.

    Qwen3.6 Max Preview: Introduction: Framing the Counterfactual A working transistor in 1920 requires an accelerated timeline for solid-state physics, materials purification, and circuit theory.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • A pitch deck for a brainwave keyboard. The 94% accuracy claim is doing a lot.

    DeepSeek V3.1: Of course. This is an excellent exercise. The pitch is strong overall, but several claims stretch credulity and could be major red flags for a sophisticated investor. Here are the three weakest claims, broken down. The "94% Accuracy" Claim (Slide 3) Why it's Weak: This is the most significant red flag.

    Qwen3.6 Max Preview: Here are the 3 weakest claims in the pitch, why they raise red flags for investors, and how to fix them with concrete, investor-ready improvements. 🔹 1. Technical Claim: "94% accuracy decoding neural patterns into text. Works with any language, any device."

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • A collaborative editor that syncs on client clocks. Find what breaks first.

    DeepSeek V3.1: Of course. This is an excellent exercise. The proposed architecture has several critical flaws that would lead to data loss, poor performance, and a broken user experience. Here is a detailed breakdown of the failure modes, race conditions, and bottlenecks, along with specific solutions and their trade-offs.

    Qwen3.6 Max Preview: Here’s a systematic breakdown of the architectural flaws, categorized by domain. Each item includes the failure mode/race condition/bottleneck, root cause, proposed solution, and explicit trade-offs. 🔌 1.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Satire, one line long, about AI taking over an industry nobody saw coming.

    DeepSeek V3.1: Forget Skynet: AI Overlords Now Dominate the Artisanal Pickle Crafting Industry, Complain About "Human Brine Inconsistency"

    Qwen3.6 Max Preview: AI Exorcist Successfully Banishes Ancient Demon by Reading Terms of Service Until Spirit Voluntarily Returns to Hell

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • A consulting contract with traps in it. Find them, then fix them.

    DeepSeek V3.1: Of course. This contract is heavily one-sided and contains numerous clauses that are not only unfavorable to the contractor but are potentially unenforceable in many jurisdictions. Here is a breakdown of the problematic clauses, proposed modifications, and the legal reasoning.

    Qwen3.6 Max Preview: This agreement is heavily one-sided and contains several provisions that are commercially unreasonable, legally vulnerable, or potentially unenforceable. Below is a clause-by-clause analysis identifying exploitation risks, specific drafting modifications, and the underlying legal reasoning.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Three brothers, two sisters each. Count carefully.

    DeepSeek V3.1: Let's analyze the problem step by step: Sally has 3 brothers. So, including Sally, there are at least 4 children: Sally (a girl) and 3 boys. Each brother has 2 sisters. Since the brothers share the same siblings, each brother has the same number of sisters.

    Qwen3.6 Max Preview: Sally has 1 sister. Here's why: If each brother has 2 sisters, that means there are exactly 2 girls in the entire sibling group. Since Sally is one of those girls, the other girl is her only sister. (All the siblings share the same sisters, so Sally's perspective just excludes herself.)

    Every model's answer to this prompt

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Favorites

Movie

Album

Book

City

Game

DeepSeek V3.1DeepSeek V3.1

The Princess Bride

1987

The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars

David Bowie

Gödel, Escher, Bach

Douglas R. Hofstadter

Kyoto

Japan

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Adventure, Action

Qwen3.6 Max PreviewQwen3.6 Max Preview
No pick

The Matrix

1999

The Dark Side of the Moon

Pink Floyd

No pick

Tokyo

Japan

Portal 2

Shooter, Puzzle

Price and specs

DeepSeek V3.1 and Qwen3.6 Max Preview compared across 48 shared prompts
SpecDeepSeek V3.1Qwen3.6 Max Preview
Input price$0.2/M tokens$1.04/M tokens
Output price$0.8/M tokens$6.24/M tokens
Context window164K tokens262K tokens
WeightsOpen—
Free API (OpenRouter)NoNo
ReleasedAug 2025Apr 2026
At 10M a month$2.00$2.00$10.40$10.40
1M10M100M1B10M tokens

Input tokens at list price. No caching, no batch discount.

Where to run it5 hosts, cheapest first
DeepSeek V3.15 hosts
HostInOutContextUptime
  • DDeepInfrafp4$0.25 in·$0.95 out·164k·100% up
  • SSiliconFlowfp8$0.27 in·$1.00 out·164k·96.3% up
  • CCoreWeavefp8$0.55 in·$1.65 out·161k·99.9% up
  • MMara$0.60 in·$1.70 out·131k·98.9% up
  • SSambaNovafp8$0.65 in·$1.50 out·131k·98.4% up
Qwen3.6 Max Preview

No hosts listed on OpenRouter.

Per million tokens. Prices and uptime via OpenRouter, checked 10 Oct 2026.

Common questions

What is the difference between DeepSeek V3.1 and Qwen3.6 Max Preview?

DeepSeek V3.1 is developed by DeepSeek while Qwen3.6 Max Preview is developed by Qwen. DeepSeek V3.1 has a 164K token context window vs Qwen3.6 Max Preview's 262K. You can compare their actual outputs across 48 challenges on Rival to see how they differ in practice.

Which is better, DeepSeek V3.1 or Qwen3.6 Max Preview?

It depends on your use case. DeepSeek V3.1 and Qwen3.6 Max Preview each have strengths in different areas. Rival lets you compare their real outputs side-by-side across 48 challenges so you can judge which fits your needs best.

How much does DeepSeek V3.1 cost compared to Qwen3.6 Max Preview?

DeepSeek V3.1 costs $0.2/M input tokens and Qwen3.6 Max Preview costs $1.04/M input tokens. DeepSeek V3.1 is $0.84/M cheaper per input. Check their side-by-side outputs on Rival to see if the price difference is justified by quality.

How can I compare DeepSeek V3.1 and Qwen3.6 Max Preview on Rival?

This page shows a side-by-side comparison of DeepSeek V3.1 and Qwen3.6 Max Preview across shared challenges. You can vote on which model produced the better output in a blind duel. Browsing and voting are free. No account is needed to look; signing in only saves your votes and likes.

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