Qwen Chat
Alibaba Cloud's powerful multilingual and open-source AI assistant
Overview
Qwen (通义千问) is the family of AI models developed by Alibaba Cloud. The web chat at qwen.ai is free and offers impressive capabilities: large context window, image and document analysis, code generation, and particularly solid multilingual performance in Chinese, Arabic, and French. Qwen3, launched in 2025, rivals the best Western models.
For SMBs with business relationships in Asia or seeking a powerful open-source alternative to ChatGPT, Qwen is a serious option. The API is among the least expensive on the market. Like DeepSeek, data transits through non-European servers, which may be a barrier for sensitive industries.
Our verdict
Interesting for e-commerce SMBs with Asian partners, or for developers seeking a highly competitive AI API in price. For general-purpose SMB use in a Western market, ChatGPT or Claude offer better support, better integration with the European ecosystem, and greater clarity on GDPR compliance.