kitio.aiAzure OpenAI vs Baidu Qianfan
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Azure OpenAI starts at See pricing page and Baidu Qianfan starts at See pricing page. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
At a glance
Best for
Category
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- OpenAI models via API
- Fine-tuning
- Provisioned throughput
- Private networking
- Built-in content filtering
- ERNIE model access
- Third-party models like DeepSeek
- Function calling
- Structured output
- Visual understanding models
- Seat and member key management
| Feature | Azure OpenAI | Baidu Qianfan |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | OpenAI models served from Microsoft Azure with enterprise controls | Baidu AI Cloud platform for ERNIE and other models via API |
| Category | Models & APIs | Models & APIs |
| Pricing model | Paid | Paid |
| Starting price | See pricing page | See pricing page |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Made by | Microsoft | Baidu |
| Based in | United States | China |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Azure OpenAI starts at See pricing page and Baidu Qianfan starts at See pricing page. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
3 plans
ERNIE 4.5 Turbo
$0.11 / 1M input tokens
- $0.45 per 1M output tokens
- 32K and 128K context versions
DeepSeek-V4-Flash
$0.14 / 1M input tokens
- $0.28 per 1M output tokens
- Cache hits at $0.028 per 1M
ERNIE 5.1
$0.56 / 1M input tokens
- $2.53 per 1M output tokens
- Higher rates above 32K input
Prices in USD, checked Nov 5, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
Azure OpenAI
- Enterprise security and compliance
- Choice of regions for data
- Works with OpenAI SDKs
- Needs an Azure subscription
- New models can arrive later than on OpenAI
- Quota limits per region and model
Baidu Qianfan
- Low token prices on ERNIE Turbo models
- Several model families in one API
- Cached input is billed at a discount
- Documentation is sparse in English
- Prices change with input length
- Smaller ecosystem outside China
Which one should you choose?
Choose Azure OpenAI if you want:
- Enterprise security and compliance
- Choice of regions for data
- Works with OpenAI SDKs
Watch out: needs an azure subscription.
Choose Baidu Qianfan if you want:
- Low token prices on ERNIE Turbo models
- Several model families in one API
- Cached input is billed at a discount
Watch out: documentation is sparse in english.
Azure OpenAI vs Baidu Qianfan FAQ
What is the difference between Azure OpenAI and Baidu Qianfan?
Azure OpenAI: OpenAI models served from Microsoft Azure with enterprise controls. Baidu Qianfan: Baidu AI Cloud platform for ERNIE and other models via API. Both are models & apis tools.
Is Azure OpenAI or Baidu Qianfan cheaper?
Azure OpenAI starts at See pricing page and Baidu Qianfan starts at See pricing page. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Do Azure OpenAI and Baidu Qianfan have free plans?
Azure OpenAI: No. Baidu Qianfan: No.
Who makes Azure OpenAI?
Azure OpenAI is made by Microsoft, based in United States.
Who makes Baidu Qianfan?
Baidu Qianfan is made by Baidu, based in China.
Which should I choose, Azure OpenAI or Baidu Qianfan?
Choose Azure OpenAI if you value enterprise security and compliance and choice of regions for data. Choose Baidu Qianfan if you value low token prices on ernie turbo models and several model families in one api.