kitio.aiClaude Code vs Qwen Code
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Qwen Code is completely free, while Claude Code is paid.
At a glance
Best for
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Terminal agent
- IDE extensions
- Subagents and hooks
- MCP support
- GitHub Actions integration
- Terminal agent
- Long-context support
- OpenAI-compatible providers
- Subagents
- Apache 2.0 license
| Feature | Claude Code | Qwen Code |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Anthropic's agentic coding tool for terminal, IDE and web | Open-source terminal coding agent tuned for Qwen models |
| Category | Coding | Coding |
| Pricing model | Paid | Free |
| Starting price | $20/mo | Free |
| Free plan | No | Yes, fully free |
| Made by | Anthropic | Alibaba Qwen Team |
| Based in | United States | China |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
|
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Both offer: Terminal agent.
Pricing compared
Qwen Code is completely free, while Claude Code is paid.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
5 plans
Pro
$20/mo
- Claude Code included
- More usage than Free
- Claude in Chrome
Max
$100/mo
- From $100; 5x or 20x Pro usage
- Higher output limits
- $100-$200/mo in API credits
Team Standard
$25/mo
- Per seat
- Claude Code and Cowork
- More usage than Pro
Team Premium
$125/mo
- Per seat
- 5x usage of standard seats
Enterprise
$20/seat + usage
- Billed annually, 20-seat minimum
- Usage at API rates
- Admin spend controls
Prices in USD, checked Oct 28, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
Claude Code
- Strong at multi-step coding tasks
- Highly customizable with hooks and skills
- Works where you already code
- Usage limits on Pro plan
- Locked to Anthropic models
Qwen Code
- Free and open source
- Works with cheap open models
- Familiar Gemini CLI workflow
- No longer has a free hosted tier
- Best results need Qwen models
Which one should you choose?
Choose Claude Code if you want:
- Strong at multi-step coding tasks
- Highly customizable with hooks and skills
- Works where you already code
Watch out: usage limits on pro plan.
Choose Qwen Code if you want:
- Free and open source
- Works with cheap open models
- Familiar Gemini CLI workflow
Watch out: no longer has a free hosted tier.
Claude Code vs Qwen Code FAQ
What is the difference between Claude Code and Qwen Code?
Claude Code: Anthropic's agentic coding tool for terminal, IDE and web. Qwen Code: Open-source terminal coding agent tuned for Qwen models. Both are coding tools.
Is Claude Code or Qwen Code cheaper?
Qwen Code is completely free, while Claude Code is paid.
Do Claude Code and Qwen Code have free plans?
Claude Code: No. Qwen Code: Yes, fully free.
Who makes Claude Code?
Claude Code is made by Anthropic, based in United States.
Who makes Qwen Code?
Qwen Code is made by Alibaba Qwen Team, based in China.
Which should I choose, Claude Code or Qwen Code?
Choose Claude Code if you value strong at multi-step coding tasks and highly customizable with hooks and skills. Choose Qwen Code if you value free and open source and works with cheap open models.