General AI chatbots
Qwen: review, pricing, data and alternatives
Qwen helps people ask questions in a conversation, write and understand code, and conduct research. It also analyzes images and documents and generates images from requests. A free tier exists. Access and transparency score: 58/100, #11 of 20 in its category.
| Access | 20/30 | |
|---|---|---|
| Openness | 10/30 | |
| Trust | 28/40 |
What is Qwen?
Qwen helps people ask questions in a conversation, write and understand code, and conduct research. It also analyzes images and documents and generates images from requests.
According to its documentation, Qwen lets you:
- answer questions in a conversation
- write and explain code
- conduct research
- analyze images and documents
- generate images from a request
We file it under General AI chatbots, the category of tools to chat with a general-purpose AI, and it also overlaps with aI image generators and aI coding assistants. The category lists 20 verified tools on this site.
The publisher is Alibaba Cloud (Singapore) Private Limited, based in Singapore. The service launched in 2025.
Who is it for?
It is mostly useful to these profiles: developers, students, and content writers. The need it covers is simple to state: chat with a general-purpose AI.
Qwen is a good candidate if:
- you want to try before paying
- you plan to connect it to your tools or automations through its API
- you also work from your phone
Before deciding, run a trial on a real task and measure the time saved: it is the only criterion that really counts.
How much does Qwen cost?
Pricing model: freemium (limited free use, then paid). A free plan is offered, usually limited in volume or features.
The entry price is not shown publicly: you have to contact the publisher or create an account to see it.
To estimate what the same work would cost done directly with an AI model, use our API price calculator. Prices change often: always check the official site before subscribing.
Data and privacy
According to its privacy policy, data is processed in several regions depending on the plan.
No export feature is documented: keep a copy of your content elsewhere.
Three habits apply to every AI tool:
- turn off the use of your content for training if the option exists
- use a work account separate from your personal account
- review everything the tool produces before publishing or sending it
Platforms, languages and API
Qwen runs on: web browser, iPhone and iPad, and macOS.
The interface is available in 17 languages.
A public API lets you call it from your own programs or an automation tool, and plug it into an AI agent.
How we scored it
Our 58/100 score does not judge output quality: it measures what can be publicly verified about access to the tool, its openness and how far the publisher can be trusted.
| Criterion | Points | What counts |
|---|---|---|
| Access | 20/30 | free tier, published price, French interface |
| Openness | 10/30 | API, data export, open code |
| Trust | 28/40 | identified publisher, declared hosting, age, presence in reference lists |
The full calculation is explained on our method page.
Comparison with alternatives
Qwen against other tools in the general AI chatbots category:
Verdict
Qwen is a decent option; compare its price and terms with the category leaders.
Strengths
- Free tier to try it
- Public API
Limitations
- Price not published
- Data export not documented
Avoid if…
- You need to easily retrieve your full history
Alternatives
Categories and jobs
Learn more
Frequently asked questions
Is Qwen free?
Yes, a free plan exists, with usage limits.
Where is Qwen data stored?
According to the publisher, in several regions depending on the plan.
Does Qwen have an API?
Yes, a public API is documented.
What are the alternatives to Qwen?
In the same category: Gemini, ChatGPT, LibreChat, and Claude.
Qwen or Gemini: which one to choose?
Our score is 58/100 for Qwen and 85/100 for Gemini. Try both on the same task before paying.
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Neutrality. No affiliate links. No vendor pays to be reviewed, rated or ranked. Reviews are directed by François Chollet, neutral and factual, and every data point is dated and sourced. How we score