Alibaba Cloud vs WaveSpeed AI
API prices for the 26 models both providers list, side by side. Prices as of October 25, 2026.
Alibaba Cloud is cheaper on 0 of the 26 models we can price on both, WaveSpeed AI on 17, and 9 cost the same. WaveSpeed AI is 28% cheaper than Alibaba Cloud on the median shared model.
Each side is its lowest listed price for the model. LLMs are compared on input + output price per 1M tokens; image, video and audio models on their per-unit price. Resolution, tier and variant can change the price. Methodology
At a glance
| Alibaba Cloud | WaveSpeed AI | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Proprietary | Serverless |
| Models we track | 53 | 106 |
| Free tier | Free quota on select models | None on record |
| OpenAI-compatible API | ||
| Function calling | — | |
| JSON mode | — | |
| Vision | ||
| Batch API | — | |
| Fine-tuning | — | — |
| SOC 2 | — | — |
| HIPAA | — | — |
| GDPR | — | — |
| HQ | Hangzhou, China | — |
Prices for models on both
LLM prices are input / output per 1M tokens. The cheaper side is highlighted.
LLMs (25 · Alibaba Cloud cheaper on 0, WaveSpeed AI on 17)
| Model | Alibaba Cloud | WaveSpeed AI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| DeepSeek V3.2 DeepSeek | $0.570 / $1.71 | $1.00 / $1.00 | WaveSpeed AI −12% |
| DeepSeek V4 Flash DeepSeek | $0.200 / $0.400 | $0.140 / $0.280 | WaveSpeed AI −30% |
| DeepSeek V4 Pro DeepSeek | $1.32 / $3.96 0813 | $0.660 / $1.98 0813 | WaveSpeed AI −50% |
| DeepSeek V4.1 Flash DeepSeek | $0.300 / $1.20 | $0.150 / $0.600 | WaveSpeed AI −50% |
| GLM 5.1 Z.ai | $1.40 / $4.40 | $1.40 / $4.40 | Same |
| GLM 5.2 Z.ai | $1.40 / $4.40 | $1.40 / $4.40 | Same |
| GLM 5.3 Z.ai | $1.40 / $4.40 | $1.40 / $4.40 | Same |
| Kimi K2.7 Code Moonshot AI | $0.950 / $4.00 | $0.950 / $4.00 | Same |
| Kimi K3 Moonshot AI | $3.00 / $15.00 | $3.00 / $15.00 | Same |
| Qwen 3.6 Plus Alibaba | $0.500 / $3.00 | $0.325 / $1.95 | WaveSpeed AI −35% |
| Qwen-Plus Alibaba | $0.400 / $1.20 | $0.260 / $0.780 | WaveSpeed AI −35% |
| Qwen3 Coder 480B A35B Alibaba | $1.50 / $7.50 | $0.975 / $4.88 | WaveSpeed AI −35% |
| Qwen3 Coder Next Alibaba | $0.300 / $1.50 | $0.300 / $1.50 | Same |
| Qwen3 VL 235B A22B Instruct Alibaba | $0.400 / $1.60 | $0.260 / $1.04 | WaveSpeed AI −35% |
| Qwen3 VL 30B A3B Instruct Alibaba | $0.200 / $0.800 | $0.130 / $0.520 | WaveSpeed AI −35% |
| Qwen3 VL 32B Instruct Alibaba | $0.160 / $0.640 | $0.104 / $0.416 | WaveSpeed AI −35% |
| Qwen3 VL 8B Instruct Alibaba | $0.180 / $0.700 | $0.117 / $0.455 | WaveSpeed AI −35% |
| Qwen3.5-27B Alibaba | $0.300 / $2.40 | $0.195 / $1.56 | WaveSpeed AI −35% |
| Qwen3.6 27B Alibaba | $0.600 / $3.60 | $0.450 / $2.70 | WaveSpeed AI −25% |
| Qwen3.6 35B A3B Alibaba | $0.375 / $2.25 | $0.150 / $1.00 | WaveSpeed AI −56% |
| Qwen3.6 Flash Alibaba | $0.250 / $1.50 | $0.188 / $1.13 | WaveSpeed AI −25% |
| Qwen3.7 Flash Alibaba | $0.030 / $0.130 | $0.030 / $0.130 | Same |
| Qwen3.7 Max Alibaba | $2.50 / $7.50 | $1.48 / $4.42 | WaveSpeed AI −41% |
| Qwen3.7 Plus Alibaba | $0.400 / $1.60 | $0.320 / $1.28 | WaveSpeed AI −20% |
| Qwen3.8 Flash Alibaba | $0.150 / $0.470 | $0.150 / $0.470 | Same |
Video generation (1 · Alibaba Cloud cheaper on 0, WaveSpeed AI on 0)
| Model | Alibaba Cloud | WaveSpeed AI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wan 2.6 Alibaba | $0.100/sec | $0.100/sec | Same |
Only on Alibaba Cloud (27)
Only on WaveSpeed AI (80)
Alibaba Cloud vs WaveSpeed AI FAQ
Is Alibaba Cloud cheaper than WaveSpeed AI?
Usually no. Alibaba Cloud is cheaper on 0 of the 26 models we can price on both, WaveSpeed AI on 17, and 9 cost the same. WaveSpeed AI is 28% cheaper than Alibaba Cloud on the median shared model.
Which has more models, Alibaba Cloud or WaveSpeed AI?
We track 53 models on Alibaba Cloud and 106 on WaveSpeed AI. 26 are on both, 27 only on Alibaba Cloud and 80 only on WaveSpeed AI.
Do Alibaba Cloud and WaveSpeed AI have a free tier?
Alibaba Cloud: yes (Free quota on select models). WaveSpeed AI: no free tier on record.
Which models do both Alibaba Cloud and WaveSpeed AI offer?
26 models, including DeepSeek V3.2, DeepSeek V4 Flash, DeepSeek V4 Pro, DeepSeek V4.1 Flash, GLM 5.1, GLM 5.2 and more. The full list with both prices is in the table above.