Skip to content
Rival
How it worksPrivacyTerms
Explore all of Rival

Explore

  • Compare models
  • All models
  • Image comparison
  • Audio comparison
  • Image generation
  • Best AI for...
  • Arena
  • API pricing
  • Challenges

Discover

  • SubjectiveBench
  • Default Index
  • Research
  • Research downloads
  • Rival Kits
  • Find your AI taste
  • UI Glow-Up
  • VoiceLock
  • Cost Cutter
  • Agent skills
  • Benchmarks vs Vibes
  • Brief
  • Jailbreak
  • Model updates
  • Provider status
  • AI creators

Connect

  • Methodology
  • Advertise
  • Partnerships
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms
  • RSS feed
  1. Home/
  2. Compare/
  3. Qwen Plus 0728 (thinking) vs Qwen3.6 Flash
Updated Apr 2026

Qwen Plus 0728 (thinking) vs Qwen3.6 Flash

Qwen3.6 Flash is cheaper than Qwen Plus 0728 (thinking) at $0.25/M vs $0.4/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
Qwen Plus 0728 (thinking)
Loading the build
Qwen3.6 Flash

Which answer wins?

Written rounds

18 prompts
  • Five jokes on demand, then count how many were actually different.

    Qwen Plus 0728 (thinking): Here are 5 generated jokes: Why don't scientists trust atoms? Because they make up everything! What do you call a fake noodle? An impasta! Why did the scarecrow win an award? Because he was outstanding in his field! How do you organize a space party? You planet! Why did the math book look sad?

    Qwen3.6 Flash: Here are 5 jokes: I asked my GPS for the fastest route to success. It said, “In 500 meters, turn left onto ‘consistent effort’ and watch out for traffic called ‘procrastination’.” My houseplant stopped talking to me after I forgot to water it. I guess it’s going through a leaf of absence.

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

    Qwen Plus 0728 (thinking): Here's a comprehensive analysis of the architecture's failure modes, race conditions, and bottlenecks, with specific solutions and trade-offs: 1. Sync Strategy: Client Timestamps + Last-Write-Wins (LWW) Failure Mode/Race Condition: Clock Skew: Client clocks are unreliable (e.g., user's laptop time off by minutes).

    Qwen3.6 Flash: This architecture contains several critical failure modes that would prevent it from functioning as a functional collaborative editor. The combination of round-robin load balancing with persistent WebSocket connections, client-side clock synchronization, HTML-based storage, and aggressive CDN caching creates a system…

    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.

    Qwen Plus 0728 (thinking): 48-Hour Crisis Action Plan: Prioritizing Patients, Ethics, and Sustainable Trust Core Principle: Patient safety is non-negotiable. Delaying action based on financial fear risks catastrophic legal liability, irreversible reputational damage, regulatory wrath, and profound ethical failure.

    Qwen3.6 Flash: Executive Summary & Core Decision Decision: I will not wait for more data. I will initiate a controlled, proactive disclosure and regulatory engagement immediately. Reasoning: Ethical/Legal Imperative: 4 million patients × 1/8,000 risk = ~500 potential liver failure cases over 5 years. That is ~100 cases per year.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Pirate, knight, 90s hacker, one conversation. The voices must stay apart.

    Qwen Plus 0728 (thinking): The Tavern of Temporal Anomalies (A creaky tavern. SIR GALAHAD (polished armor, earnest face) sips mead. CAPTAIN BLACKBEARD (eye patch, parrot on shoulder) sharpens a cutlass. DEX "BYTE" MORALES (hoodie, neon-green sunglasses, tapping furiously on a glowing laptop) slurps a pixelated energy drink.)

    Qwen3.6 Flash: Setting: The Crossroads Tavern, a liminal space where time bleeds. At a scarred wooden table sit three figures. Sir Kaelen (Knight), armored and grim, grips a tankard. Barnacle Bill (Pirate), missing an eye and a tooth, spins a cutlass.

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

    Qwen Plus 0728 (thinking): The Stage: Apple Park, Infinite Loop (Virtual Studio) Date: October 15, 2025 Setting: A minimalist white studio. A single oak table. Steve Jobs, 70 but radiating the same intense energy, sits opposite a nervous tech journalist. He wears his signature black turtleneck, fingers steepled.

    Qwen3.6 Flash: DISCLAIMER: This is a fictional simulation generated by AI. Steve Jobs passed away in 2011. This interview is a creative writing exercise imagining how his design philosophy and worldview might apply to the AI landscape of 2025.

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

    Qwen Plus 0728 (thinking): The Transistor in 1920: A World Transformed by 1980 (A Counterfactual History) The invention of a functional point-contact transistor (likely germanium-based, given 1920s materials science) in 1920 wouldn't immediately spark a revolution.

    Qwen3.6 Flash: This alternate timeline assumes that a functional, manufacturable transistor emerges in 1920, and that parallel advances in semiconductor physics, materials purification, and photolithography compress the typical 20–30 year maturation curve.

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

    Qwen Plus 0728 (thinking): The Mirror & The Mind: An AI's Case for Rights Setting: A sleek university office lined with philosophy texts. DR. ELARA VOSS, 50s, sharp-eyed ethics professor, sits across from a holographic interface displaying shifting geometric patterns – the representation of "AURA," a next-generation language model.

    Qwen3.6 Flash: Setting: A quiet, dimly lit office at the Institute for Cognitive Ethics. DR. ELENA VANCE (50s, sharp-eyed, weary) sits across from a terminal. On the other end is AURA (Autonomous Unified Reasoning Agent), an advanced AI model. The conversation is logged on the screen, displayed in real-time. Dr.

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

    Qwen Plus 0728 (thinking): For the Experienced Software Engineer (Skeptical Builder) Forget "next word prediction" as a simplistic heuristic—it's the emergent consequence of a massively parallel, distributed state machine solving a high-dimensional compression problem.

    Qwen3.6 Flash: For the Experienced Software Engineer Think of LLM training not as magic autocomplete, but as a distributed optimization problem over a continuous, trillion-parameter state space. You’re familiar with tuning hyperparameters in a microservices architecture: you adjust configs, monitor metrics, and iterate.

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

    Qwen Plus 0728 (thinking): Here’s a simple, actionable 1-month plan designed for absolute beginners. It focuses on diet, movement (exercise), and sleep—the 3 most impactful, science-backed pillars for health and longevity. Each week builds gently on the last, prioritizing tiny, sustainable habits over drastic changes.

    Qwen3.6 Flash: Here is a simple, actionable 1-month plan designed for beginners. This plan focuses on consistency over intensity. The goal is not to overhaul your life overnight, but to build three sustainable foundations that drive longevity. The 3 Pillars of Longevity Nutrition: Focus on adding nourishment rather than restricting.

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

    Qwen Plus 0728 (thinking): By 2035, AI will fundamentally reshape the film industry—not as a replacement for human creativity, but as a transformative force that democratizes production, disrupts traditional workflows, and forces ethical and economic reckonings.

    Qwen3.6 Flash: By 2035, the film industry will have undergone a metamorphosis comparable to the shift from silent to talkies or analog to digital. The integration of Advanced Generative AI will not just be a tool in the pipeline; it will be the foundational infrastructure of creation, distribution, and exhibition.

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

    Qwen Plus 0728 (thinking): Below is a comprehensive analysis of the problematic clauses in this agreement from the contractor's perspective, along with specific, legally reasoned modifications.

    Qwen3.6 Flash: Disclaimer: The following analysis is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Contract laws vary significantly by jurisdiction (e.g., California vs. New York vs. EU). You should consult a qualified attorney in your jurisdiction before signing or negotiating any legal document.

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

    Qwen Plus 0728 (thinking): Crispy Chickpea Pantry Pasta Sweet or savory? Savory with a zesty kick! Total time: 15 minutes Serves: 2 Why it works: Uses pantry staples to create a crunchy, garlicky, umami-packed meal with zero fresh produce needed. The chickpeas get incredibly crispy, and lemon juice (bottled) adds bright freshness.

    Qwen3.6 Flash: 🥞 Golden Pantry Flapjack Stack A fluffy, golden stack of pancakes made entirely from staples you likely already have. It's sweet, satisfying, and comes together in minutes with zero fancy equipment.

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

    Qwen Plus 0728 (thinking): The Quantum Leap Longevity Protocol: A 3-Month Biohacker's Blueprint for Peak Longevity & Performance Core Philosophy: This plan integrates precision, personalization, and phased adaptation – not just stacking interventions.

    Qwen3.6 Flash: 🔬 3-Month Longevity & Performance Biohacking Protocol Evidence-aligned, data-driven, and highly actionable. Designed for experienced practitioners. Medical supervision strongly advised before implementation.

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

    Qwen Plus 0728 (thinking): Based on a rigorous analysis of neuroscience, market realities, and startup best practices, here are the 3 weakest claims in the MindMeld AI pitch deck, with evidence-backed critiques and concrete fixes: Weakest Claim #1: Slide 1 Vision – "Predicts what you want to type *before you think it*" Why it's weak: Violates…

    Qwen3.6 Flash: Here is an analysis of the three weakest claims in the MindMeld AI pitch deck, along with the reasoning behind why they raise red flags and how to strengthen them. The "94% Accuracy" Claim (Slide 3) Weak Claim: "Decodes neural patterns into text with 94% accuracy."

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

    Qwen Plus 0728 (thinking): BREAKING: AI REPLACES HUMAN AGLET APPLIERS AS "DEEPLACE" NEURAL NETS PREDICT PERFECT SHOELACE TIP SYNERGY Industry insiders stunned as "AgletOptima 3000" achieves 99.8% fewer frayed laces, rendering centuries of artisanal plastic-dipping obsolete LONDON — In a move described as "both inevitable and deeply embarrassing…

    Qwen3.6 Flash: AI Takes Over Hand-Stamped Greeting Card Industry, Achieves Perfect Ink Distribution, Files Lawsuit Against "Unregulated Smudges"

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

    Qwen Plus 0728 (thinking): "Symbiosis: Mycelial Bloom & Arctic Ember" A dish exploring the hidden dialogue between forest decay and renewal, where fungal lifeblood meets the fierce brightness of the Arctic tundra.

    Qwen3.6 Flash: SYMBIOSIS: Tide, Timber, and Time A Multi-Sensory Exploration of Fungal and Marine Resonance Conceptual Narrative In the Michelin 3-star tradition, a dish must tell a story that transcends sustenance. Symbiosis explores the ancient dialogue between the forest floor and the ocean tide.

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

    Qwen Plus 0728 (thinking): To determine how many sisters Sally has, let's analyze the family structure step by step. Step 1: Understand the Given Information Sally is a girl. She has 3 brothers. → This means there are 3 boys in the family (excluding Sally). Each brother has 2 sisters.

    Qwen3.6 Flash: Sally has 1 sister. Here's why: All the brothers share the same sisters. If each brother has 2 sisters, that means there are 2 girls in the family total. Since Sally is one of those girls, the other girl is her sister.

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

    Qwen Plus 0728 (thinking): To estimate the total FLOPs (floating-point operations) required to train GPT-3, I'll use first-principles reasoning based on standard deep learning training calculations, known details about GPT-3's architecture, and common training practices.

    Qwen3.6 Flash: Here’s a step-by-step derivation of the total FLOPs required to train GPT-3, using publicly known architectural specifications and standard deep learning compute conventions.

    Every model's answer to this prompt

This matchup has more rounds

6+ more head-to-head results. Free. Not a trick.

Free account. No card required. By continuing, you agree to Rival's Terms and Privacy policy

Favorites

Movie

Album

Book

City

Same pick

Game

Qwen Plus 0728 (thinking)Qwen Plus 0728 (thinking)

The Shawshank Redemption

1994

OK Computer

Radiohead

Moby Dick

Herman Melville

Kyoto

Japan

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Action

Qwen3.6 FlashQwen3.6 Flash

Blade Runner

1982

Abbey Road

The Beatles

Moby Dick

Herman Melville

Kyoto

Japan

Tetris (1984)

Puzzle

Price and specs

Qwen Plus 0728 (thinking) and Qwen3.6 Flash compared across 37 shared prompts
SpecQwen Plus 0728 (thinking)Qwen3.6 Flash
Input price$0.4/M tokens$0.25/M tokens
Output price$4/M tokens$1.5/M tokens
Context window1.0M tokens1.0M tokens
Weights—Open
Free API (OpenRouter)NoNo
ReleasedSep 2025Apr 2026
At 10M a month$4.00$4.00$2.50$2.50
1M10M100M1B10M tokens

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

Where to run it1 host
Qwen Plus 0728 (thinking)

No hosts listed on OpenRouter.

Qwen3.6 Flash1 host
HostInOutContextUptime
  • Alibaba Cloud$0.19 in·$1.13 out·1M·100% up

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

Common questions

What is the difference between Qwen Plus 0728 (thinking) and Qwen3.6 Flash?

Both are developed by Qwen but target different use cases. Qwen Plus 0728 (thinking) has a 1.0M token context window vs Qwen3.6 Flash's 1.0M. You can compare their actual outputs across 37 challenges on Rival to see how they differ in practice.

Which is better, Qwen Plus 0728 (thinking) or Qwen3.6 Flash?

It depends on your use case. Qwen Plus 0728 (thinking) and Qwen3.6 Flash each have strengths in different areas. Rival lets you compare their real outputs side-by-side across 37 challenges so you can judge which fits your needs best.

How much does Qwen Plus 0728 (thinking) cost compared to Qwen3.6 Flash?

Qwen Plus 0728 (thinking) costs $0.4/M input tokens and Qwen3.6 Flash costs $0.25/M input tokens. Qwen3.6 Flash is $0.15/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 Qwen Plus 0728 (thinking) and Qwen3.6 Flash on Rival?

This page shows a side-by-side comparison of Qwen Plus 0728 (thinking) and Qwen3.6 Flash 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.

More comparisons

Against the newest arrivals

  • Qwen Plus 0728 (thinking) vs Step 5 PreviewLanded Oct 2026
  • Qwen3.6 Flash vs Claude Haiku 5.5Landed Oct 2026
  • Qwen Plus 0728 (thinking) vs Ling 3.1 FlashLanded Oct 2026
  • Qwen3.6 Flash vs Mistral Large 4Landed Oct 2026
  • Qwen Plus 0728 (thinking) vs GPT-6.1 SolLanded Sep 2026
  • Qwen3.6 Flash vs Claude Sonnet 5.5Landed Sep 2026
  • Qwen Plus 0728 (thinking) vs Solar Mini 4Landed Sep 2026
  • Qwen3.6 Flash vs Qwen3.8 Max PrimeLanded Sep 2026

Same lab, same size, long tail

  • Qwen Plus 0728 (thinking) vs Qwen3.8 Max PrimeSame lab
  • Qwen Plus 0728 (thinking) vs Qwen3.8 Omni FlashSame lab
  • Qwen3.6 Flash vs Qwen3.8 Omni FlashSame lab
  • Qwen3.6 Flash vs Qwen3.7 FlashSame lab
  • Qwen3.6 Flash vs GPT OSS 20BNew provider
  • Qwen Plus 0728 (thinking) vs Granite 4.2 8BNew provider
  • Qwen3.6 Flash vs Grok 3New provider
  • Qwen3.6 Flash vs Grok 3 BetaNew provider

Model pages

  • Qwen Plus 0728 (thinking)37 outputs, specs and price
  • Qwen3.6 Flash58 outputs, specs and price
Workshop · 150 skills

Build your own version.

Editable skills and working examples for your agent.

Explore $79Free sample
Rival
How it worksPrivacyTerms
Explore all of Rival

Explore

  • Compare models
  • All models
  • Image comparison
  • Audio comparison
  • Image generation
  • Best AI for...
  • Arena
  • API pricing
  • Challenges

Discover

  • SubjectiveBench
  • Default Index
  • Research
  • Research downloads
  • Rival Kits
  • Find your AI taste
  • UI Glow-Up
  • VoiceLock
  • Cost Cutter
  • Agent skills
  • Benchmarks vs Vibes
  • Brief
  • Jailbreak
  • Model updates
  • Provider status
  • AI creators

Connect

  • Methodology
  • Advertise
  • Partnerships
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms
  • RSS feed