Qwen: what you get free and paid, and what an office may use
Alibaba's Qwen gives a lot for free: a flagship model, images, video and Deep Research. But the free chat is for private, non-commercial use, and offices have other routes. Here is what you really get, what it costs and what to pick for each task. Checked October 2026.
01What Qwen is and who it suits
Qwen is Alibaba's family of AI models. The free chat lives at chat.qwen.ai and is now called Qwen Studio, with apps for Windows, macOS, iOS and Android. The chat offers three models: Qwen3.8-Max (the flagship), Qwen3.7-Plus and Qwen3.8-Omni-Flash, all with a 1M-token context. Some models are also published as open weights you can run on your own computer.
It suits personal use and students who want free images, video, slides and Deep Research in one place, and developers looking for a cheap API. But note: the consumer Service Agreement says: "The Services are for private and non-commercial use only". An office doing client work should look at the business routes instead, QwenWork or the API, which are separate products with their own terms; read those terms before you rely on them.
Qwen is several products under different Alibaba companies in Singapore, so it is a little confusing. This page sorts it out and compares, where useful, with ChatGPT guide, Claude for the office and DeepSeek guide.
02Qwen in one picture
Think of Qwen as a big mall with one name and three floors. On the ground floor there is a very generous free tasting stand, but the sign says: private guests only. Upstairs there is a business service desk that charges by credits (QwenWork). In the basement there is a wholesale warehouse that sells by weight (the API, by tokens). And at the door they hand out a recipe book you can take home (the open weights).
03Free vs paid: what you really get
Qwen Studio (chat and apps), free
- The flagship Qwen3.8-Max with a 1M-token context, even without signing in.
- Image generation and editing of up to 3 input images, plus text-to-video, with a limited allowance.
- Web search and Deep Research with sources.
- Web Dev and Artifacts, Slides, Translate and Learn modes.
- Code interpreter to check calculations; uploads of documents, audio up to 3 hours and video up to 1 hour (per the chat's public settings).
- Voice and video chat, Memory, up to 10 Projects and Temporary chat.
- Apps for Windows, macOS, iOS and Android.
Limit: The Service Agreement says the service is for private and non-commercial use only, so not for client work. There are also limits on images, video and Deep Research, but the numbers are not published.
Work routes: QwenWork and the API
QwenWork Plus: 20 USD per month, or 16 USD per month billed yearly. Model Studio API (Singapore): qwen3.8-max at 2 USD in and 6 USD out per million tokens, and new users get 1M free tokens per model (Singapore region only, for 90 days). Consumer plans in the app: check the price in the app (the Israeli App Store lists Qwen Plus at 69.90 ILS without stating the period).
- QwenWork: an agent that produces documents, slides, web pages with hosting, research and media; 2,000 credits a month on Plus.
- QwenWork desktop (Windows 10+, macOS 14+) works on local files you authorise and drives the browser.
- QwenWork Enterprise Standard at 30 USD per seat: admin console, seat and credit controls.
- A very cheap, OpenAI-compatible API, so many tools that accept a custom base URL can use Qwen.
- Model Studio says it will not use your API data for training without your separate consent, and keeps prompts and responses no longer than 30 days by default; enterprise customers can get Zero Data Retention.
- For coding: Qwen Code with Coding Plan Pro at 50 USD, or QwenCloud Token Plan from 6 USD (limited-time price).
When paying is worth it: When an office wants Qwen for client work: QwenWork for documents and slides, the API for your own tools. These are business products with their own terms, separate from the consumer agreement: read them, and check that the route is offered in your country.
04The weak sides
In the free version
- Private and non-commercial use only under the terms: an office should not run client work on it.
- Image, video and Deep Research limits exist, but the numbers are not published.
- No Hebrew interface.
- By default your content may be used to train models (the privacy policy says only de-identified data); opting out is by email to privacy@qwen.com only, with no settings toggle, and feedback is still used.
- iOS apps were not found in the US store or in several European stores (they were found in Israel).
- No official Word, Excel, Outlook or Gmail add-ins.
Even when you pay
- A confusing split: Qwen Studio, the Qwen app, QwenWork, Model Studio, QwenCloud, Coding Plan and Token Plan, under different Singapore companies.
- Consumer plan prices are not published on the website; the app store shows them only as in-app purchases, without the billing period.
- QwenWork is still a public beta, its interface is English and Chinese only, and the announced markets are Asia, the Middle East and Latin America, with no explicit word on Israel or Europe.
- QwenWork's privacy page does not say whether data is used for training.
- Coding Plan Pro is capacity-limited, non-refundable and for interactive tools only; Lite is closed.
- The API needs an Alibaba Cloud account, keys are tied to a region, and prices change with input length. It is not a chat app.
05Plans and prices
| Plan | Price per month | For whom | Main limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qwen Studio and Qwen app, Free | 0 USD | Personal use | Private and non-commercial only; unpublished limits; 18+ |
| Qwen Go, Plus and Pro (consumer app) | Check in the app | Heavy private users | Israeli App Store in-app purchases: Go 14.90, Plus 69.90, Pro 349.90 ILS (period not stated); still private and non-commercial |
| QwenWork Free | 0 USD | Trying the agent | 500 sign-up and 200 daily credits (limited time); 1GB; 5 published pages; beta |
| QwenWork Plus | 20 USD (16 USD billed yearly) | Freelancers and professionals | 2,000 credits a month; 10GB; 10 pages; no downgrades |
| QwenWork Pro | 40 USD (32 USD billed yearly) | Heavy agent users | 4,500 credits a month; 20GB; 50 pages |
| QwenWork Enterprise Standard | 30 USD per seat (360 USD a year) | Offices and teams | 2,000 credits per seat a month; 100GB; Premium at a custom price |
| Model Studio API | Per token: qwen3.8-max 2 USD in and 6 USD out per million | Your own tools and offices | Alibaba Cloud account; region-bound key; price varies by region; 1M free tokens per model for new users (Singapore only, 90 days) |
| Coding Plan Pro | 50 USD | Programmers with coding tools | Up to 6,000 requests per 5 hours; interactive only; non-refundable |
| QwenCloud Token Plan | From 6 USD (limited-time, normally 8) | Developers and agent tools | Only for tools calling OpenAI or Anthropic APIs |
| Full comparison | AI Price Comparison: Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, DeepSeek, Qwen, Kimi and GLM | All assistants in one table | Prices in USD, checked October 2026 |
06The Qwen family in one minute
Qwen Studio and the Qwen app
The free chat on the web and in the apps. Very rich, but for private, non-commercial use only.
QwenWork
An agent for work: documents, slides, web pages, research and local file work. Runs on credits.
Model Studio API
Alibaba Cloud's API (formerly DashScope), OpenAI-compatible and billed per token. For your own tools.
QwenCloud and Coding Plan
Monthly plans for coding and agent tools such as Qwen Code, Claude Code and Cursor.
Open weights
Models such as Qwen3.8-27B (Apache-2.0 licence) to download from Hugging Face and run with Ollama on your own PC.
07The best setup for each task
Write an email or letterA clear letter in the right tone that you read and correct before sending.5
Free way
- Qwen Studio (chat, Qwen3.8-Max)Writes English well and understands Hebrew; private use only under the terms.
- Projects and MemoryKeep your letter style and contact details in a project so you do not re-explain each time.
- Weak spot: no Gmail or Outlook linkCopy the thread by hand; if you want an assistant inside the mailbox, see Copilot guide or Gemini guide.
Paid way
- QwenWork PlusA paid route for work: the agent produces finished documents from your files.
- Model Studio APIFor an office tool that accepts an OpenAI-compatible key; Model Studio says API data is not used for training without your consent.
"Write a formal English letter to a supplier about a delayed delivery of 500 anchors: firm but polite, 150 words, a subject line and 3 action items." For Hebrew letters, proofread carefully.
Write a technical reportA report with fixed chapters, marked assumptions and numbers you checked yourself.5
Free way
- File upload in chatA 1M-token context and up to 5 documents per message, about 20MB each per the public settings: site notes, photos and spec together.
- Project with a templateUp to 10 projects with 5 files each; keep your report template there.
- Thinking modeLonger reasoning before the answer, useful for the conclusions chapter.
Paid way
- QwenWork (office document generation)The agent produces a finished document from your files, on a route meant for work.
- QwenWork Enterprise StandardFor an office: admin console, seat and credit controls, 100GB storage.
Upload site notes, then: "Write a report with Scope, Findings, Calculations, Recommendations; mark every assumption [ASSUMPTION]; output a Word-ready outline."
Summarise long documents and PDFsA short summary and a list of every numeric requirement with a page number you can check.4
Free way
- Document upload in chatQwen3.8-Max and Qwen3.7-Plus hold 1M tokens; about 20MB per file per the public settings.
- Temporary chatFor a one-off chat about a document, without keeping it in your history.
Paid way
- Model Studio API (qwen3.7-plus, qwen-flash)Cheap summarising of dozens of files through an OpenAI-compatible API.
- QwenWorkFile comprehension with a document as output, no code needed.
"Summarise in 10 bullets, then list every numeric requirement with its page number." Check the page numbers yourself.
Translate documentsA translation that keeps units, standard numbers and table layout, and gets proofread.4
Free way
- Translate mode in chatA dedicated translation chat type on all three models.
- Project with a glossaryUpload a glossary once and terms stay consistent.
Paid way
- Model Studio APIAutomate translation of many files at low cost, as a business service under Alibaba Cloud's own terms.
- QwenWorkReads your file and returns a finished document; proofread the translation yourself.
Give a glossary first and write: "Keep units, standard numbers and table layout unchanged." There is no official statement on Hebrew quality, so proofread.
Solve an engineering problem with a checked calculationA step-by-step solution with units, checked in code you can see and run again.5
Free way
- Qwen3.8-Max with ThinkingThe flagship model reasons before it answers.
- Code interpreterA built-in tool that runs code and checks the arithmetic instead of guessing.
- ADIT's free softwareFor anchor calculations: AAS and ARS are a reliable way to check the result.
Paid way
- qwen3.8-max via Model Studio APIThe same model inside your own calculation tool: 2 USD in and 6 USD out per million tokens.
- Qwen CodeBuild and test a fixed calculation script on your own computer.
"Solve step by step with units, then verify with Python in the code interpreter and list the code clauses you assumed." It is not a substitute for an engineer's check.
Analyse Excel data and make chartsA clean table, a clear chart and the code that made it.4
Free way
- File upload and code interpreterUpload a CSV and Qwen runs code, calculates and plots charts.
- Weak spot: no Excel add-inNo official Excel add-in was found; for an assistant inside Excel, see Copilot guide or Claude for the office.
Paid way
- QwenWork desktopFile comprehension and operations on local files you authorise.
- Model Studio APIFor recurring data reports inside your own tool.
Export to CSV, upload and write: "Plot load against embedment depth with matplotlib and give me the code."
Create a presentationA deck with one idea per slide and speaker notes, checked before you present.4
Free way
- Slides mode in chatA dedicated chat type for making presentations.
- Image generationIllustrations for the slides, with a limited free allowance.
Paid way
- QwenWork PlusTurns a brief into a presentation, on a work route.
- QwenWork Pro4,500 credits a month for people who make many decks.
"Make 8 slides on correct anchor-hole cleaning for site managers, one idea per slide, with speaker notes." Check the export format before relying on it.
Draw an image or illustrationA clean image without text, with captions added afterwards.4
Free way
- Image generation and image edit in chatGenerate images and edit up to 3 input images, free with a limited allowance.
- Qwen-Image (open weights)The open image model family on Hugging Face, for people who run it locally.
Paid way
- QwenCloud Token PlanImage models in a monthly credit plan.
- QwenWorkImage generation on a work route.
Do not ask for Hebrew text inside the image (not documented); add captions afterwards in Canva or PowerPoint.
Technical drawings, diagrams and flowchartsAn editable SVG flowchart or schematic, not a dimensioned CAD drawing.4
Free way
- Web Dev and ArtifactsGenerates and previews SVG, HTML and Mermaid code in chat.
- Weak spot: not CADFor dimensioned drawings use CAD software; edit the SVG in draw.io.
Paid way
- Qwen CodeWrites scripts that generate DXF or SVG on your own computer.
- Coding Plan ProHosted models inside Qwen Code, 50 USD a month.
"Draw a flowchart of anchor selection as SVG in an artifact", then edit it in draw.io.
Video and animationA short one-shot clip with no text on screen.3
Free way
- Text-to-video in chatVideo from text or an image, free with a limited allowance.
Paid way
- QwenCloud (Wan models)The Wan3.0-Video and Wan2.7-T2V video models on QwenCloud, paid.
- QwenWorkScript, voice, music and video in one place.
Plan a 10-second shot: "Close-up of a drill making a hole in concrete, dust extraction, slow motion, no text."
Web research with sourcesA table of claim, link and date where you opened every link.3
Free way
- Web searchAutomatic search, with sources shown in the answers.
- Deep ResearchMulti-step research that also accepts files and images; limited on Free.
Paid way
- QwenWork deep researchAgent research that ends in a document.
"Use only manufacturer and government sources; give a table with claim, URL and date." Open every link: the terms warn outputs may contain errors.
Search standards and regulationsAn answer with the clause number and exact quote, or NOT FOUND.3
Free way
- Deep ResearchFinds what is open online; paid EN, SI and ETA texts are not readable online.
- Project with your standard PDFsUpload the standards you bought and answers rely on them.
Paid way
- QwenWork (file comprehension)The same idea on a work route, with more storage.
"Quote the exact clause number and text for every answer; say NOT FOUND if it is absent." Weak spot: Qwen has no special standards database.
Write code or a small engineering toolA single HTML file with visible formulas and test cases.5
Free way
- Web Dev mode in chatWrites and previews the tool right in the chat.
- Qwen Code with a local modelAn open-source coding agent; with Ollama you can run Qwen3.8-27B on your PC (18GB).
- Qwen CodeCLI, VS Code, Zed and JetBrains; the free Qwen OAuth tier ended, so you need a key or a local model.
Paid way
- Coding Plan Pro50 USD a month, up to 6,000 requests per 5 hours; interactive tools only, personal and non-refundable.
- QwenCloud Token PlanFrom 6 USD a month (limited-time price), works with tools that call OpenAI or Anthropic APIs.
"Write a single HTML file that calculates embedment depth from these inputs, show the formulas and add test cases."
Build a website or landing pageA mobile-first page you preview and then publish.3
Free way
- Web Dev and ArtifactsGenerates and previews pages; you arrange the hosting yourself.
Paid way
- QwenWork PlusPages with hosting and databases: 10 published pages and password protection.
- QwenWork ProUp to 50 published pages and 20GB storage.
"Build a one-page landing page for a concrete anchor product, mobile-first, with a contact form placeholder."
Organise files and folders on the PCA sorting plan you approve, then folders by year and type, with nothing deleted.2
Free way
- Weak spot: chat cannot touch your diskWorkaround: ask for a PowerShell or Python script and run it yourself.
Paid way
- QwenWork desktopThe agent works on local files you authorise, on Windows 10+ and macOS 14+.
Back up first. "Write a PowerShell script that sorts the PDFs in this folder into subfolders by year from the file date; dry run first."
Meetings: transcription and minutesMinutes with decisions, owners and dates, after you checked the names.3
Free way
- Upload a recording (up to 3 hours)Qwen3.8-Max and Qwen3.8-Omni-Flash accept audio (up to 3 hours per the public settings); there is no dedicated meeting feature.
- Weak spot: no meeting botRecord it yourself; for automatic minutes inside Teams see Copilot guide.
Paid way
- ASR and Omni models in Model StudioPaid speech recognition models for transcribing in bulk.
Upload the recording: "Transcribe, then give minutes with decisions, owners and dates." Check names and Hebrew carefully.
Customer service and repeated repliesReplies based only on your policy, handing over to a person when unsure.3
Free way
- Chat with a saved prompt in a ProjectGood for practice and drafts; the terms say private and non-commercial use only, so not for real customers.
Paid way
- Model Studio API in your helpdesk toolA business API outside the consumer agreement; no training on API data without your consent, and retention of up to 30 days by default.
- QwenWork Enterprise StandardA shared team agent with enterprise skills and connectors and seat controls.
Store your policy text and ask: "Answer the customer using only this policy; if unsure, say a person will reply."
Learn a new subject (tutor)Short lessons with a quiz after each one.3
Free way
- Learn mode in chatA dedicated learning chat type, with thinking.
- Voice and video chatAsk by voice on the way to site.
Paid way
- QwenWork PlusProduces study documents and slides from the material.
"Teach me punching shear in reinforced concrete in 5 short lessons; quiz me after each one."
Marketing and SEO contentA post with headings, FAQ and meta description, facts checked.3
Free way
- Chat with web searchDrafts with current web information; private use only under the terms.
Paid way
- QwenWork (Commerce and Create)Turns a product photo into a product page with copy and visuals.
- Model Studio APIContent at scale inside your own tool, under Alibaba Cloud's business terms.
"Write a 600-word blog post about choosing chemical anchors, with H2s, an FAQ and a meta description." Check facts before publishing.
Automate a repeating workflow (agents)A weekly task that runs on its own and was tested on copies first.4
Free way
- Agent mode in chat (limited)Up to 10 files per task and 50 in total.
- Qwen Code headless with a local modelThe qwen -p command runs inside a scheduled script.
Paid way
- QwenWork (scheduling and browser automation)Scheduled multi-step cloud tasks with apps and the browser.
- QwenCloud Token PlanA fixed monthly price for agent tools that call the API.
"Every Monday collect the new supplier price lists from this folder and produce a comparison table." Test it on copies first.
08Privacy and Hebrew
Training on your data
The Service Agreement lets Qwen use your content to train models; the privacy policy adds that it uses de-identified content and feedback, not your raw input directly. There is no settings toggle: you opt out by emailing privacy@qwen.com, and feedback (thumbs up or down) is still used after that. Do not upload client data to the free chat.
Who runs it and where data lives
The operator is NTH POWER GLOBAL TECH SINGAPORE PTE. LTD., and data is collected, processed and stored in Singapore per the policy. Hosting and inference are by Alibaba Cloud in Singapore. Some device information may be shared with advertising and analytics partners.
API and business routes
Model Studio says it will not use your API data for training without your separate consent and keeps prompts and responses no longer than 30 days by default, with regions such as Germany (Frankfurt). QwenWork stores data in Singapore but does not say whether it is used for training.
Hebrew and availability
Hebrew is among the 119 languages Qwen3 was trained on, but there is no Hebrew interface (19 interface languages, Arabic included) and no official statement on Hebrew quality or right-to-left layout, so check the text. iOS apps were found in the Israeli store; availability in Europe is not verified, and the chat.qwen.ai website was reachable.
09Set it up in 10 minutes
- 1
Choose the route
For personal use: the free chat. For office work: QwenWork or the API, because the free chat is private and non-commercial only.
- 2
Open an account and get the app
Go to chat.qwen.ai, and download the Windows, macOS and mobile apps from qwen.ai/download. You must be 18 or older.
- 3
Decide on privacy
If you do not want your content used for training, email privacy@qwen.com (feedback is still used). Use Temporary chat for sensitive topics and do not upload client data.
- 4
Pick a model and mode
Qwen3.8-Max with Thinking for hard questions, Web search for current information, and a dedicated mode (Slides, Translate, Learn) for the task.
- 5
Build a first Project
A project with up to 5 files: a glossary, a template and standing instructions such as "answer in Hebrew, SI units, mark assumptions".
- 6
For an office: open a paid route
Sign up for QwenWork Free with bonus credits, or open a Model Studio account, get an API key and 1M free tokens per model (Singapore region, 90 days). Read the business terms of the route you pick.
- 7
Run a real task
Pick a task from the list above and check the result as you would a new employee's work: numbers, sources and Hebrew.
10FAQ
Is the free version enough for a small office?
No, and not because of its abilities. The Service Agreement says the free chat is for private and non-commercial use only. For an office, use QwenWork (from 20 USD a month) or the pay-per-token API; these are separate business products with their own terms, so read them first. If you need a simple office chat, compare ChatGPT guide and Claude for the office.
Which plan for a team of 3?
QwenWork Enterprise Standard: 30 USD per seat a month, so 90 USD a month for 3 seats, with an admin console and credit controls. Or Plus for each person (20 USD, or 16 USD billed yearly). QwenWork is still in beta and has not been announced explicitly for Israel, so check availability first.
Does Qwen write Hebrew?
Usually yes: Hebrew is among the 119 languages Qwen3 was trained on. But there is no Hebrew interface and no official statement on Hebrew quality for the current models. Check the text, the terms and the direction of numbers and units.
Is my data sent to China?
Per the privacy policy, consumer chat data is collected, processed and stored in Singapore, and there is no statement that it goes to China. In the free chat, your content may be used for training (the policy says de-identified only; opt out by emailing privacy@qwen.com). Model Studio says API data is not used for training without your consent.
Can I run Qwen on my own computer?
Yes. Qwen3.8-27B is available as open weights under Apache-2.0, and in Ollama it takes about 18GB. Your data then stays on your PC, but you need a strong computer.
Can I trust its calculations?
Only after checking. Ask for the calculation with units and verification in the code interpreter, and for anchor calculations compare with ADIT's free software. A qualified engineer signs, not Qwen.