Qwen-VL Max vs Step 5 Preview.
model vs model · prices as of
Qwen-VL Max takes 3 of 5 rounds against Step 5 Preview. It is also the cheaper of the two to run, at $1.26 per million tokens against $5.70.
Alibaba Cloudwins 3 roundsQwen-VL Max
$1.26/M tokens
cheapest we can explain, at Alibaba Cloud (China) · $0.172 per 1,000 pages
131k context · tool calling · reads images
StepFunStep 5 Preview
$5.70/M tokens
StepFun list price, nothing below it is accounted for · $0.762 per 1,000 pages
1M context · tool calling · reads images
List price in (lower wins)
$0.80/M
$1/M
List price out (lower wins)
$3.20/M
$2.70/M
Cheapest we can explain (lower wins)
$1.26/M at Alibaba Cloud (China)
none below list
Standard price (lower wins)
$5.60/M
$5.70/M
Cost per 1,000 pages (lower wins)
$0.172
$0.762
Context
131k tokens
1M tokens
Open weights
no
no
Tool calling
yes
yes
Structured output
not stated
yes
Reads images
yes
yes
Reasoning
no
yes
Released
8 Apr 2024
16 Sept 2026
Providers selling it
4
4
Price we measure against
the maker's own
the maker's own
Trains on your prompts (no is better)
not stated
no provider to check
Providers selling both · 0
No provider we read sells both, so running the two means two accounts.
Go further
Add a third or fourth model, or switch the weighting, in the tool.
Frequently asked
- Which is cheaper, Qwen-VL Max or Step 5 Preview?
- Qwen-VL Max, at $1.26 per million tokens against $5.70 for Step 5 Preview, three parts input to one part output, read on 22 Sept 2026.
- Where is each one cheapest?
- Qwen-VL Max: $1.26 at Alibaba Cloud (China). Step 5 Preview: nobody goes below the maker's own price with a reason we can point at, so $5.70 is the number to beat.
- Can I buy both from one provider?
- No provider we read sells both, so running the two means two accounts and two bills.
- Which holds more context?
- Step 5 Preview, at 1M tokens against 131k.
Prices exclude tax and are per million tokens, read 22 Sept 2026 from each provider's own catalog. The standard price blends three parts input to one part output; a page is 600 tokens in and 60 out. Bars are scaled to the larger value in each row.