Qwen
: How to use it, features, and the business problems it solves

How to Use

1. Create an account

   Go to the official site (chat.qwen.ai) and sign in with an email address, Google account, or similar. You can get started for free.

2. Start a chat

   Type your question or instruction into the input field in natural language. It handles a wide range of tasks, including writing, summarizing, translation, and code generation.

3. Choose a model

   You can switch between Qwen's various models depending on your needs. Choose from reasoning-enhanced models, multimodal models that handle text, images, and video, and more.

4. Use multimodal features

   Call on image generation, video generation, image and document reading, web search, and other capabilities as needed. You can also upload files and have their contents analyzed.

5. Export and put it to use

   Copy or download the generated text, images, and code to use them. Developers can also access each model via API (such as Alibaba Cloud's Model Studio / Bailian).

Features

• Conversational AI assistant (Qwen Chat)

  Handles question answering, writing, summarizing, translation, brainstorming, and more across many languages, including Japanese.

• Multimodal support

  In addition to text, it can understand images and video. A key strength is its ability to handle multiple formats within a single conversation.

• Image generation

  Generate photorealistic images from text, with support for rendering text within images.

• Video generation (Wan series)

  Generate video from text or images using Alibaba's video generation models.

• Web search and document processing

  Supports web searches for the latest information, as well as summarizing and analyzing uploaded documents.

• Code generation

  Strong at generating, completing, and explaining code in programming languages, making it useful for development support.

• Open-source models

  Many Qwen models are released as open source, allowing local deployment and custom modifications.

Pricing

Pricing is current as of June 2026. Qwen Chat is free to use from your browser. API usage is billed on a pay-as-you-go basis and priced in US dollars, so the equivalent in yen will vary with exchange rates. For the latest information, check the official pricing page (Alibaba Cloud Model Studio).

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Qwen Chat is free to use and supports Japanese input and output
• Multimodal support handles text, images, and video
• Many models are open source, allowing local deployment and customization
• Relatively low API rates make it easier to keep development costs down

Cons

• Because the provider is a Chinese company (Alibaba), some businesses may need to be mindful of how data is handled
• The UI can be switched to Japanese, but explanations of the latest features are often primarily in English or Chinese
• Whether commercial use is allowed depends on checking each model's license

Reviews & Reputation

• Users praise its cost-performance, noting that "you can use even the multimodal features for free" and "Japanese conversations feel natural."
• Developers appreciate that "the open-source models perform well and can be run locally."
• On the other hand, some take a cautious view, citing "concerns about the provider being a Chinese company" and "wanting to avoid entering confidential information."

FAQ

Q. Is Qwen free to use?

Yes. Qwen Chat is free to use from your browser. Many models are released as open source and can be used locally as well. API usage is billed on a pay-as-you-go basis.

Q. Does it support Japanese?

It supports Japanese input and output, and you can converse in natural Japanese. You can also switch the UI display language to Japanese from the settings screen.

Q. Can I use it commercially?

This depends on the license of the model you use. Always check each model's license terms to confirm whether commercial use is permitted.

Q. How does it differ from ChatGPT or DeepSeek?

Qwen's strengths are its multimodal support, open-source availability, and low-cost API. Being able to try out image and video generation for free sets it apart from other chat AIs.

How Qwen Differs from DeepSeek and Other Conversational AIs

For a more detailed comparison, please also see the pages for related services.