Google Gemini API vs Qwen API (Alibaba)
LLM API Providers pricing comparison · 2026
Google Gemini API pricing ranges from $0–$18/per million tokens, while Qwen API (Alibaba) ranges from $0.05–$20/per million tokens. These products use different pricing models (Usage-based (pay per token/image/minute) vs Per-seat subscription), so a direct price comparison isn't meaningful — costs depend on usage volume and mix.
VS
Google Gemini API and Qwen API (Alibaba) are two leading LLM API providers. This page compares their per-token pricing, available models, and tier structure so you can pick the right backend for your workload — whether you're optimizing for cost per 1M tokens, latency, or model quality.
Plan-by-Plan Pricing
| Plan | Google Gemini API | Qwen API (Alibaba) |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free /month | Custom |
| Flash-Lite (Paid) | Custom | Custom |
| Flash (Paid) | Custom | — |
| Pro (Paid) | Custom | — |
Contract Terms
| Term | Google Gemini API | Qwen API (Alibaba) |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-renewal | No | No |
| Cancellation | Not applicable — pay-per-use, no subscription contract | No contract — pay-as-you-go billing, stop usage at any time |
| Minimum commitment | None — pay-per-use | None for standard pay-as-you-go tier; enterprise terms may vary |
| Price escalation | No published price escalation schedule; Google may change per-token rates with notice | No published price escalation schedule; community notes that promotional pricing on new model launches may not be permanent |
| Can downgrade | Yes | Yes |