kitio.aimini-SWE-agent vs Qwen Code
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. mini-SWE-agent starts at Free and Qwen Code starts at Free. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
At a glance
Best for
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Bash-only agent loop
- Works with any model via LiteLLM
- Docker and sandbox environments
- SWE-bench batch runner
- Trajectory inspector
- Python bindings
- Terminal agent
- Long-context support
- OpenAI-compatible providers
- Subagents
- Apache 2.0 license
| Feature | mini-SWE-agent | Qwen Code |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Minimal open-source coding agent that works through bash alone | Open-source terminal coding agent tuned for Qwen models |
| Category | Coding | Coding |
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Starting price | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes, fully free | Yes, fully free |
| Made by | SWE-agent team (Princeton and Stanford) | Alibaba Qwen Team |
| Based in | United States | China |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
mini-SWE-agent starts at Free and Qwen Code starts at Free. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
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
mini-SWE-agent
- Small codebase that is easy to read and modify
- Model-agnostic through common LLM routers
- Strong SWE-bench results for its size
- No graphical interface
- You pay for your own model API usage
- Aimed more at research than everyday editing
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 mini-SWE-agent if you want:
- Small codebase that is easy to read and modify
- Model-agnostic through common LLM routers
- Strong SWE-bench results for its size
Watch out: no graphical interface.
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.
mini-SWE-agent vs Qwen Code FAQ
What is the difference between mini-SWE-agent and Qwen Code?
mini-SWE-agent: Minimal open-source coding agent that works through bash alone. Qwen Code: Open-source terminal coding agent tuned for Qwen models. Both are coding tools.
Is mini-SWE-agent or Qwen Code cheaper?
mini-SWE-agent starts at Free and Qwen Code starts at Free. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Do mini-SWE-agent and Qwen Code have free plans?
mini-SWE-agent: Yes, fully free. Qwen Code: Yes, fully free.
Who makes mini-SWE-agent?
mini-SWE-agent is made by SWE-agent team (Princeton and Stanford), based in United States.
Who makes Qwen Code?
Qwen Code is made by Alibaba Qwen Team, based in China.
Which should I choose, mini-SWE-agent or Qwen Code?
Choose mini-SWE-agent if you value small codebase that is easy to read and modify and model-agnostic through common llm routers. Choose Qwen Code if you value free and open source and works with cheap open models.