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Qwen vs Qwen 3

Qwen 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

AttributeQwenQwen 3
Product statusStatus not recordedStatus not recorded
VendorAlibaba CloudAlibaba
Rating★ 4.6★ 4.6
PricingFreeFree
PlatformsWeb, MobileSelf-hosted, Model weights
Key featuresConversational assistant interface, Search documented in the 2025 Chat announcement, Artifacts documented in the 2025 Chat announcementOriginal dense and MoE checkpoints, Thinking-mode control, Downloadable model deployment
Headquarters——
Launched——
Open sourceNoYes

Key differences

  • Qwen and Qwen 3 carry the same editorial score (4.6★).
  • Both Qwen and Qwen 3 use a Free model.
  • Qwen 3 is open source (its code is public), while Qwen is proprietary.
  • Qwen runs on Web, Mobile; Qwen 3 runs on Self-hosted, Model weights.

Qwen and Qwen 3 at a glance

Qwen

Alibaba Cloud

Alibaba's hosted Qwen Chat assistant; the chat application, Model Studio API and downloadable Qwen models have separate access, pricing and licensing conditions.

Rating
4.6★
Pricing
Free

Editorial verdict

Treat Qwen Chat as a hosted application. Confirm its actual account features and price; evaluate Model Studio billing and downloadable-model licenses separately.

Strengths

  • Official materials distinguish Chat from developer API access
  • Dated documentation describes search and artifacts
  • A separately licensed model route exists for deployment evaluation

Key features

  • Conversational assistant interface
  • Search documented in the 2025 Chat announcement
  • Artifacts documented in the 2025 Chat announcement
  • Web and mobile entry points

Best for

  • Reviewable conversational drafting
  • Checking search references from a supported account workflow
  • Comparing hosted chat, API integration and model deployment requirements
Read the full Qwen 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.
  • Qwen also lists: Conversational assistant interface, Search documented in the 2025 Chat announcement, Artifacts documented in the 2025 Chat announcement, Web and mobile entry points
  • Qwen 3 also lists: Original dense and MoE checkpoints, Thinking-mode control, Downloadable model deployment

Frequently asked questions

Is Qwen or Qwen 3 better?

Qwen 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, Qwen or Qwen 3?

Both Qwen and Qwen 3 use a Free pricing model.

Are Qwen and Qwen 3 open source?

Qwen 3 is open source, while Qwen is proprietary.

What platforms do Qwen and Qwen 3 support?

Qwen supports Web, Mobile; Qwen 3 supports Self-hosted, Model weights.

What are the main features of Qwen and Qwen 3?

Qwen: Conversational assistant interface, Search documented in the 2025 Chat announcement, Artifacts documented in the 2025 Chat announcement, Web and mobile entry points. Qwen 3: Original dense and MoE checkpoints, Thinking-mode control, Downloadable model deployment.

Visit Qwen →Visit Qwen 3 →

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