Free AI platform comparison

DeepSeek vs Qwen (Alibaba): Complete Comparison

DeepSeek 和通义千问 (阿里) 深度对比：免费额度、API 价格、模型能力、国内可用性，帮你选最合适的 AI 工具

Quick decision

DeepSeek vs Qwen (Alibaba): Complete Comparison: pricing, free API, and limits

Quick answer: choose DeepSeek if its free tier, model family, or ecosystem fits your app better; choose Qwen (Alibaba) if it gives better free API credits, pricing, or access for your workflow. This comparison focuses on free tier, API pricing, limits, setup, and practical alternatives.

Free tierDeepSeek: 50 requests/day · Qwen (Alibaba): 70M signup tokens via Bailian; runtime/RPM/TPM limits vary by model

Free API$5 vs 7000 万 tokens（新用户一次性；DashScope/Bailian 控制台为准）

Best checkCredits, rate limits, setup friction

DecisionTest both if rank, latency, or access matters

DeepSeek detailsFree tier, API credits, limits and setup Qwen (Alibaba) detailsFree tier, API credits, limits and setup Free AI API directoryCompare all free credits and limits

DeepSeek

95pts

0 wins

Qwen (Alibaba)

95pts

1 wins

🤝 It's a tie — both have their strengths

📊 Side-by-Side

🧠 Model Details

DeepSeek4 models

DeepSeek-V4-Pro

📐 1000k⚡ Rate limited

Released April 2026, 1.6T param MoE (49B active), 1M context, thinking/non-thinking modes

DeepSeek-V4-Flash

📐 1000k⚡ Rate limited

Lightweight V4, 284B params (13B active), 1M context, excellent value

DeepSeek-V3

📐 64k⚡ 50 RPD

Previous flagship, still available

DeepSeek-R1

📐 64k⚡ 50 RPD

Reasoning model, strong at math/code

Qwen (Alibaba)4 models

Qwen3.6-Plus

📐 1000k⚡ Quota and RPM/TPM vary by account

Latest flagship, strong long-context/coding model; verify free-credit coverage, RPM, TPM, and availability in the DashScope console

Qwen3.6-27B

📐 262k (1M extended)⚡ Local/open-source or hosted quota

27B dense open model for local deployment; hosted API quota and free-credit coverage depend on the account tier

Qwen-Max

📐 32k⚡ Higher-cost paid model; quota varies

Alibaba general model; confirm free-credit coverage and output pricing before heavy use

Qwen-VL

📐 32k⚡ Multimodal quota varies

Multimodal model; image/OCR usage may consume different quota than text calls

🎯 Which should you choose?

Choose DeepSeek if…

you want 50 requests/day on the free tier, plus $5 for API tests.

Choose Qwen (Alibaba) if…

you want 70M signup tokens via Bailian; runtime/RPM/TPM limits vary by model on the free tier, plus 7000 万 tokens（新用户一次性；DashScope/Bailian 控制台为准） for API tests.

FAQ

Which is better, DeepSeek or Qwen (Alibaba)?

DeepSeek and Qwen (Alibaba) are closely matched in this comparison. Test both if your workload depends on model quality, API latency, or regional access.

Does DeepSeek have a free tier?

Yes. DeepSeek lists 50 requests/day for free users.

Does Qwen (Alibaba) have a free tier?

Yes. Qwen (Alibaba) lists 70M signup tokens via Bailian; runtime/RPM/TPM limits vary by model for free users.

Which one is better for API experiments?

DeepSeek offers $5; Qwen (Alibaba) offers 7000 万 tokens（新用户一次性；DashScope/Bailian 控制台为准）. Choose the option with enough credits and rate limits for your prototype.

Source snapshot

Data source: yangmao.ai provider YAML tracker plus curated comparison notes. Official dashboards can change credits, limits, model availability, and pricing without notice; verify in the provider console before production.

yangmao.ai comparison slug: deepseek-vs-qwen
DeepSeek source: https://platform.deepseek.com
Qwen (Alibaba) source: https://tongyi.aliyun.com
Dataset freshness: DeepSeek: 2026-06-05 · Qwen (Alibaba): 2026-06-05
Decision data: Free tier, API credits, rate limits, model list, China access notes, and curated comparison dimensions from the yangmao.ai provider tracker.

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