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o3-mini vs Qwen 3

o3-mini and Qwen 3 are both Conversational AI tools in our directory. This side-by-side comparison covers pricing, editorial scores, supported platforms, key features and open-source status so you can decide which one fits your needs.

Side-by-side comparison

Attributeo3-miniQwen 3
Product statusActiveStatus not recorded
VendorOpenAIAlibaba
Rating★ 4.6★ 4.6
PricingPay-as-you-goFree
PlatformsAPISelf-hosted, Model weights
Key featuresText input and output, 200K context; up to 100K output tokens, Function calling and structured outputsOriginal dense and MoE checkpoints, Thinking-mode control, Downloadable model deployment
Headquarters——
Launched——
Open sourceNoYes

Key differences

  • o3-mini and Qwen 3 carry the same editorial score (4.6★).
  • o3-mini is Pay-as-you-go, while Qwen 3 is Free.
  • Qwen 3 is open source (its code is public), while o3-mini is proprietary.
  • o3-mini runs on API; Qwen 3 runs on Self-hosted, Model weights.

o3-mini and Qwen 3 at a glance

o3-mini

OpenAI

OpenAI's deprecated text reasoning API model; o3-mini and its 2025-01-31 snapshot are scheduled to shut down on 2026-10-23.

Rating
4.6★
Pricing
Pay-as-you-go

Editorial verdict

As of 2026-10-15, o3-mini is deprecated with shutdown scheduled for 2026-10-23. Prioritize migration of existing integrations and use a supported model for new projects.

Strengths

  • Documented structured-output and function interfaces
  • Dated snapshot and shutdown schedule are explicit

Key features

  • Text input and output
  • 200K context; up to 100K output tokens
  • Function calling and structured outputs
  • No image, audio or video input

Best for

  • Inventorying an existing o3-mini integration
  • Preparing schema and tool cases for a replacement
  • Interpreting earlier token-cost records
Read the full o3-mini review →

Qwen 3

Alibaba

Alibaba's original 2025 Qwen3 open-weight family with thinking/non-thinking modes; distinct from Qwen Chat and later Qwen generations.

Rating
4.6★
Pricing
Free

Editorial verdict

Use the exact original checkpoint and its license; confirm cloud access and charges independently.

Strengths

  • Model sizes and deployment examples
  • Explicit thinking-mode settings

Key features

  • Original dense and MoE checkpoints
  • Thinking-mode control
  • Downloadable model deployment

Best for

  • Self-managed text and code experiments
  • Task-specific checkpoint evaluation
Read the full Qwen 3 review →

Feature overlap

  • The two tools have no listed features in common — see both feature lists above.
  • o3-mini also lists: Text input and output, 200K context; up to 100K output tokens, Function calling and structured outputs, No image, audio or video input
  • Qwen 3 also lists: Original dense and MoE checkpoints, Thinking-mode control, Downloadable model deployment

Frequently asked questions

Is o3-mini or Qwen 3 better?

o3-mini and Qwen 3 carry the same editorial score (4.6★), so the better choice depends on your needs — see the feature and platform comparison above.

Which is cheaper, o3-mini or Qwen 3?

o3-mini is Pay-as-you-go and Qwen 3 is Free. Check each product page for current plan details.

Are o3-mini and Qwen 3 open source?

Qwen 3 is open source, while o3-mini is proprietary.

What platforms do o3-mini and Qwen 3 support?

o3-mini supports API; Qwen 3 supports Self-hosted, Model weights.

What are the main features of o3-mini and Qwen 3?

o3-mini: Text input and output, 200K context; up to 100K output tokens, Function calling and structured outputs, No image, audio or video input. Qwen 3: Original dense and MoE checkpoints, Thinking-mode control, Downloadable model deployment.

Visit o3-mini →Visit Qwen 3 →

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