In short
How they differ.
Worked out from the makers' own pages, read Oct 20, 2026. Prices change; check before you pay.
- Only Qwen has a free plan.
- Qwen also has a phone app.
Side by side
The details.
| DeepSeek | Qwen | |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | DeepSeek · China | Alibaba · China |
| What it says it is | “Now live on our website, app, and API.” | “With a single command, it can generate a full research report” |
| Free plan | Not statedNot verified from a fetched page (see unverified). DeepSeek's own pages read did not state prices or a free/paid split. | YesSCMP (2026-08-11): "The Qwen chatbot remains free to use." |
| Plans | Not shown | Qwen chatbot: freeQwenWork (office assistant): not in US$ |
| Runs on | web, app, API | mobile app, web |
| Latest update | DeepSeek-V4.1-Flash-1017: Wish-Driven Programming Made Real, Oct 17, 2026 | — |
| Its terms | “To provide you with our services, we directly collect, process and store your Personal Data in People's Republic of China.”What it does with your data · DeepSeek Privacy Policy | — |
| Disputes | None on file | None on file |
| Sources | Prices, Oct 20, 2026 · Description · company-reported | Prices, Aug 11, 2026 · Description · news-reported |
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