kitio.aiQwen Chat vs Z.ai
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Qwen Chat starts at Free and Z.ai starts at Free. 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
- Model switcher
- Deep thinking
- Web search
- Image and video generation
- Artifacts preview
- GLM model choice
- Thinking mode
- Web search
- Slide and web page generation
- File uploads
| Feature | Qwen Chat | Z.ai |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Alibaba's free assistant running the Qwen family of models | Free chatbot running Zhipu's GLM models for chat, code and slides |
| Category | Chat assistants | Chat assistants |
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Starting price | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes, fully free | Yes, fully free |
| Made by | Alibaba | Z.ai (formerly Zhipu AI) |
| Based in | China | China |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
|
|
Both offer: Web search.
Pricing compared
Qwen Chat starts at Free and Z.ai 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
Qwen Chat
- Free access to large Qwen models
- Many tools in one app
- Good multilingual support
- Data stored by a Chinese company
- Interface changes frequently
- Less polished mobile apps
Z.ai
- Free access to a frontier-class model
- Good at building small web apps
- Open-weight models behind it
- Less known outside developer circles
- Data handled by a Chinese company
- Fewer integrations than big rivals
Which one should you choose?
Choose Qwen Chat if you want:
- Free access to large Qwen models
- Many tools in one app
- Good multilingual support
Watch out: data stored by a chinese company.
Choose Z.ai if you want:
- Free access to a frontier-class model
- Good at building small web apps
- Open-weight models behind it
Watch out: less known outside developer circles.
Qwen Chat vs Z.ai FAQ
What is the difference between Qwen Chat and Z.ai?
Qwen Chat: Alibaba's free assistant running the Qwen family of models. Z.ai: Free chatbot running Zhipu's GLM models for chat, code and slides. Both are chat assistants tools.
Is Qwen Chat or Z.ai cheaper?
Qwen Chat starts at Free and Z.ai starts at Free. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Do Qwen Chat and Z.ai have free plans?
Qwen Chat: Yes, fully free. Z.ai: Yes, fully free.
Who makes Qwen Chat?
Qwen Chat is made by Alibaba, based in China.
Who makes Z.ai?
Z.ai is made by Z.ai (formerly Zhipu AI), based in China.
Which should I choose, Qwen Chat or Z.ai?
Choose Qwen Chat if you value free access to large qwen models and many tools in one app. Choose Z.ai if you value free access to a frontier-class model and good at building small web apps.