Qwen 3 vs DeepSeek: The Complete Comparison
Which ai chatbots & assistants tool is right for you? A detailed side-by-side analysis of features, pricing, and performance.
Qwen 3 wins for most users due to its free tier and open-source with commercial license. Choose Qwen 3 if you need Multilingual applications. Choose DeepSeek for Budget users.
- Price: Qwen 3 starts at Free, DeepSeek at Free
- Free tier: Both offer free tiers
- Best for: Qwen 3 β Multilingual applications | DeepSeek β Budget users
- Features: 19+ features across 7 categories
- Our pick: Qwen 3 for budget-conscious users
Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | Qwen 3 | DeepSeek |
|---|---|---|
| Vendor | Alibaba Cloud | DeepSeek AI |
| Starting Price | Free | Free |
| Free Tier | Yes | Yes |
| API Access | Yes | Yes |
| Web App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile App | Yes | Yes |
| Best For | Multilingual applications | Budget users |
What Are We Comparing?
Qwen 3
Alibaba's flagship AI model supporting 119+ languages with advanced reasoning and hybrid thinking modes. Features both dense models and Mixture-of-Experts architecture for efficient AI processing across diverse tasks.
Qwen 3 represents Alibaba's latest advancement in large language models, released in 2025 with significant improvements in reasoning, multilingual support, and efficiency. The model series features both dense models and innovative Mixture-of-Experts (MoE) variants, trained on 36 trillion tokens to deliver exceptional performance across coding, mathematics, and multilingual tasks. With support for 119 languages and hybrid thinking modes, Qwen 3 demonstrates Alibaba's commitment to creating versatile AI solutions. The model family includes various specialized variants such as Qwen 3 (235 billion parameters), Qwen2.5-VL for visual processing, and Qwen-Omni for multimodal capabilities. Available through both open-source releases and Alibaba Cloud's managed API services, Qwen 3 offers flexibility for developers and enterprises. The series incorporates advanced safety measures with Qwen3Guard and supports seamless integration into Alibaba's ecosystem, making it suitable for global business applications requiring trustworthy and scalable AI solutions.
DeepSeek
Chinese AI lab offering powerful open-source models including DeepSeek V3.2 and R1. Features strong reasoning, coding capabilities, and extremely competitive pricing for developers.
DeepSeek produces high-performance AI models at remarkably low API costs. Their R1 reasoning model and coding models compete with top Western models while being significantly cheaper.
Qwen 3 vs DeepSeek Pricing
Here's how the pricing compares between both tools:
Qwen 3
Free Tier AvailableDeepSeek
Free Tier AvailableFeatures Comparison
Qwen 3 Features
- β Web App
- β Api Access
- β Mobile App
- β File Upload
- β Image Input
- β Open Source
- β Multilingual
- β Code Execution
DeepSeek Features
- β Chat
- β Math
- β Web App
- β Api Access
- β Mobile App
- β Open Source
- β Reasoning Mode
- β Code Generation
Pros and Cons
Qwen 3
Pros
- Open-source with commercial license
- Extensive 119+ language support
- Advanced MoE architecture
- Strong coding and reasoning performance
Cons
- Requires technical setup for self-hosting
- Limited third-party integrations
- Newer model with less community support
DeepSeek
Pros
- Extremely cheap API pricing
- Strong reasoning with R1 model
- Good coding capabilities
- Open-source models
Cons
- Chinese company
- Data privacy concerns
- Less ecosystem
- Can be slow
Who Should Use Each Tool?
Choose Qwen 3 if you need:
- Multilingual applications
- Developers and researchers
- Enterprise AI deployments
Final Verdict: Qwen 3 vs DeepSeek
π Winner: Qwen 3
After comparing all aspects, Qwen 3 comes out slightly ahead for most users. The free tier makes it easy to get started without commitment. Key strength: Open-source with commercial license.
Bottom line: Use Qwen 3 for Multilingual applications. Use DeepSeek for Budget users. Both are excellent ai chatbots & assistants tools in 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Qwen 3 and DeepSeek?
Qwen 3 is alibaba's flagship ai model supporting 119+ languages with advanced reasoning and hybrid thinking modes. features both dense models and mixture-of-experts architecture for efficient ai processing across diverse tasks. DeepSeek is chinese ai lab offering powerful open-source models including deepseek v3.2 and r1. features strong reasoning, coding capabilities, and extremely competitive pricing for developers. The main differences are in pricing (Free vs Free), target users, and specific features offered.
Which is better: Qwen 3 or DeepSeek?
Qwen 3 is generally better for most users due to its free tier and open-source with commercial license. Qwen 3 is best for Multilingual applications, while DeepSeek shines at Budget users.
Is Qwen 3 free to use?
Yes, Qwen 3 offers a free tier with limited features. You can upgrade to paid plans starting at Free for more capabilities.
Is DeepSeek free to use?
Yes, DeepSeek offers a free tier with limited features. Paid plans start at Free.
Can I switch from Qwen 3 to DeepSeek?
Yes, you can switch between these tools at any time. Both are standalone services. Consider your specific needs for Multilingual applications vs Budget users when deciding.