AI Chat Assistants · Pricing comparison
Qwen (Alibaba) vs DeepSeek: Pricing
Both offer a free plan. Below we break down plans, free tiers, and value so you can decide which fits your budget and workflow.
Last checked September 10, 2026
At a glance
Both offer a free plan.
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Qwen (Alibaba) vs DeepSeek: side-by-side
| Feature | Qwen (Alibaba) | DeepSeek |
|---|---|---|
| Category | AI Chat Assistants | AI Chat Assistants |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free plan details | 1M free tokens per model for 90 days. Flash models are extremely cheap ($0.15/1M input). | Free web chat with V4.1 Flash, fair-use throttling during peak hours. API gives 5M free tokens to new accounts. |
| Starting price | Free (1M tokens/90 days) | Free (web chat) |
| Highest known plan | $80/mo (Token Plan Pro) | Pay-as-you-go API |
| Free trial | No | No |
| Best for | Developers who want cheap, capable models with no peak/off-peak complexity | Developers and power users who want frontier AI at a fraction of Western pricing |
| Team support | Yes | No |
| API access | Yes | Yes |
| Editor rating | 4.5 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
Pricing and free plans
Qwen (Alibaba) uses a freemium model, starting at Free (1M tokens/90 days). 1M free tokens per model for 90 days. Flash $0.15/$0.47, Plus $0.40/$1.60 (promo), Max $2/$6 per 1M tokens. Token Plan: Lite $8/mo, Standard $25/mo, Pro $80/mo. Batch API 50% off. Its free plan: 1M free tokens per model for 90 days. Flash models are extremely cheap ($0.15/1M input).
DeepSeek uses a freemium model, starting at Free (web chat). Web chat is free. API: V4.1 Flash off-peak $0.15/$0.60 per 1M tokens, peak $0.30/$1.20. V4 Pro off-peak $0.66/$1.98, peak $1.32/$3.96 (routes to V4.1 Flash from Sep 14). 5M free tokens for new accounts. Peak hours: 01:00-04:00 and 06:00-10:00 UTC. Its free plan: Free web chat with V4.1 Flash, fair-use throttling during peak hours. API gives 5M free tokens to new accounts.
Which is cheaper?
Neither tool clearly undercuts the other on entry price, so let features and fit for your use case decide.
Qwen (Alibaba): pros and cons
Pros
- Extremely cheap Flash tier
- No time-of-day billing
- Open-weight flagship at same price
- Works with Claude Code, Cursor
Cons
- Free quota expires after 90 days
- Promo rates may revert
- Regional pricing differences
- Many model versions to track
DeepSeek: pros and cons
Pros
- Completely free web chat
- API is 10-35x cheaper than Western rivals
- 1M context window at no extra cost
- Off-peak pricing halves the already-low cost
Cons
- No team or enterprise plans published
- Peak-hour throttling on free tier
- Data processed in China
- No official enterprise SLA
Who each tool is best for
- Best for beginners: Qwen (Alibaba) — lower barrier to entry and easier to start for free or cheaply.
- Best for teams: Qwen (Alibaba).
- Qwen (Alibaba) is best for: Developers who want cheap, capable models with no peak/off-peak complexity.
- DeepSeek is best for: Developers and power users who want frontier AI at a fraction of Western pricing.
Verdict
On price, the two are close. For most people, choose Qwen (Alibaba) if you want developers who want cheap, capable models with no peak/off-peak complexity, and DeepSeek if you want developers and power users who want frontier ai at a fraction of western pricing.
Qwen (Alibaba) vs DeepSeek FAQ
Which is cheaper, Qwen (Alibaba) or DeepSeek?
Qwen (Alibaba) and DeepSeek have similar entry pricing (Free (1M tokens/90 days) vs Free (web chat)), so features should decide it.
Does Qwen (Alibaba) or DeepSeek have a free plan?
Both offer a free plan. Qwen (Alibaba): 1M free tokens per model for 90 days. Flash models are extremely cheap ($0.15/1M input). DeepSeek: Free web chat with V4.1 Flash, fair-use throttling during peak hours. API gives 5M free tokens to new accounts.
Is Qwen (Alibaba) or DeepSeek better for beginners?
Qwen (Alibaba) tends to be the easier starting point thanks to its pricing and free access, though both cover the same core ai chat assistants needs.
Which is better for teams?
Qwen (Alibaba) is the stronger team pick given its collaboration support and rating.