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Model Comparison

Hermes 4 405B vs Grok 4.6Which Is Better in 2026?

Nous Research•SpaceXAI: Grok 4.6 logoxAI

Hermes 4 405B vs Grok 4.6: which should you choose in 2026?

Hermes 4 405B (by Nous Research) and Grok 4.6 (by xAI) are compared below. Here is how they stack up on benchmarks, price, and capabilities, and which one to pick in 2026.

There are not enough shared, protocol-compatible benchmark results to declare a performance leader.

At least one model uses context-dependent token-pricing tiers, so the published base rates do not support an unconditional blended price comparison.

Grok 4.6 has the larger context window (500,000 tokens vs 131,072 tokens).

Choose Hermes 4 405B if…

  • • your own prompt tests favor its output; shared comparable evidence does not identify a unique advantage

Choose Grok 4.6 if…

  • • you work with longer documents, transcripts, or codebases
  • • you need image inputs

The benchmark count includes only results measured with a matching benchmark version and protocol. Arena scores are shown separately. Missing, preliminary, and incompatible data is not treated as a controlled win. Published point-score comparisons are labeled separately when protocol details are incomplete. For text-output models, the verdict also compares token pricing and context windows.

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Performance benchmarks

Every value links to its source. A dash means that no reviewed result is available for that exact model and protocol.

Hermes 4 405B and Grok 4.6 benchmark results
BenchmarkHermes 4 405BGrok 4.6
AutomationBench-AA

A 657-task benchmark of multi-step work across simulated SaaS applications in six business domains. The Artificial Analysis protocol reports a guardrail-aware score and is distinct from both the public Zapier split and the unrelated dynamic AutoBench framework.

Guardrail-aware score

——
BrowseComp

A benchmark of difficult, verifiable information-seeking questions designed to measure an agent's ability to locate hard-to-find facts through web browsing.

Accuracy

——
OSWorld-Verified

A verified computer-use benchmark in which multimodal agents operate desktop applications and are graded from the resulting environment state.

Mean task reward

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SWE-Bench Verified

A human-validated subset of real GitHub issues used to measure whether a coding agent can produce repository patches that resolve the associated tests.

Resolved

——
Terminal-Bench 2.1

Version 2.1 of the benchmark for completing realistic tasks in terminal environments. Harness, resource limits, and attempt count are part of the protocol.

Mean task success

——
AutoBench

A dynamic LLM evaluation framework in which models generate questions, answer them, and participate in reciprocal peer assessment. AutoBench is distinct from Zapier's AutomationBench.

Weighted peer-assessment score

——
GPQA Diamond

The highest-quality subset of Graduate-Level Google-Proof Q&A, designed to test expert-level scientific reasoning in biology, physics, and chemistry.

Accuracy

——
Humanity's Last Exam

A 2,500-question expert-level benchmark spanning dozens of academic fields. Tool-assisted and no-tools results are separate protocols and must not be merged.

Accuracy

——

Benchmark sources

    Reviewed evidence last updated 2026-08-09.

    Pricing, capabilities, and model facts

    Hermes 4 405B and Grok 4.6 model facts
    FeatureHermes 4 405BGrok 4.6
    Context & model facts
    DeveloperNous ResearchxAI
    API providerNousSpaceXAI
    Input context131,072 tokens500,000 tokens
    Maximum output——
    Released——
    Added to WritingmateAug 26, 2025Aug 12, 2026
    LicenseNot availableNot available
    Knowledge cutoff2024-08-31—
    Capabilities
    InputsTextText, Image, File
    OutputsTextText
    Provider endpoint accepts tool parametersNoYes
    ReasoningYesYes
    VisionNoYes
    Image GenerationNoNo
    Video GenerationNoNo
    API pricing
    Base input (per 1M tokens)$1.00$2.00
    Base output (per 1M tokens)$3.00$6.00
    Higher-context pricing tiersBase rate only
    • ≥200,000 prompt tokens$4.00 input · $12.00 output per 1M
    Price-comparison caveatAt least one model changes token rates above a prompt-token threshold. Base rates are shown, but an unconditional blended price ratio would not be like-for-like.
    API performance
    p95 latencyNot measuredNot measured
    Output throughputNot measuredNot measured
    Writingmate shows API performance only when both models have enough observations from the same measurement window, prompt profile, and provider. Third-party latency values are not copied into this table.

    Data sources

    • Writingmate model catalog (pricing, limits, and availability)

    Catalog data last updated Aug 12, 2026.

    Why Pay for Multiple Subscriptions?

    Comparing Hermes 4 405B from Nous Research with Grok 4.6 from xAI? Instead of managing separate API keys and subscriptions, get both with Writingmate.

    Subscription-plan access for Hermes 4 405B and Grok 4.6
    PlanPriceHermes 4 405BGrok 4.6AI ImagesAI Video
    Writingmate Pro
    Most popular
    		$20/moIncludedIncludedNano Banana Pro, FLUX.2, DALL-E & moreSora 2, VEO 3.1
    Writingmate Ultimate
    Power users
    		$60/moIncludedIncludedNano Banana Pro, FLUX.2, DALL-E & moreSora 2, VEO 3.1
    View Plans & Pricing

    Hermes 4 405B vs Grok 4.6 FAQ

    Which is better, Hermes 4 405B or Grok 4.6?

    There are not enough shared, protocol-compatible benchmark results to declare a performance leader. At least one model uses context-dependent token-pricing tiers, so the published base rates do not support an unconditional blended price comparison. Grok 4.6 has the larger context window (500,000 tokens vs 131,072 tokens).

    Which model is cheaper to use through an API?

    At least one model uses context-dependent token-pricing tiers, so the published base rates do not support an unconditional blended price comparison.

    Which model supports more context?

    Grok 4.6 has the larger context window (500,000 tokens vs 131,072 tokens).

    Can I switch between Hermes 4 405B and Grok 4.6?

    Yes. Use the model selector on this page to open any current Writingmate model comparison. You can also run the same prompt with both models in Writingmate.