While using chat.qwen.ai in a browser, I noticed an “Upgrade” button to the right of my username. That means there is now a way to pay for extended chat usage. Previously, paying was an option only for those using an API key, which made using Qwen as a chatbot uniquely generous. On the downside, this strongly suggests the free offer will be much more limited than it was until now. Maybe it already kicks you out after a few prompts, but I wouldn’t know because I use Qwen as a secondary chatbot!

Things started getting weird when I noticed the Android app had no upgrade option. Then I remembered I needed to download new APKs manually because apps in the Google Play Store are restricted geographically.

As I recently “debated” with Lumo, there are two Qwen apps in the Play Store, both saying that “This app is not available for any of your devices.”

Visiting qwen.ai/download and clicking the Google Play button triggers the download of download.qwen.ai/android/Qwen_release.apk. This still works, but guess what happened?

  • Previously, Qwen_release.apk was a version of “Qwen Studio” (ai.qwenlm.chat.android).
  • Now, Qwen_release.apk is a version of “Qwen” (com.tongyi.intl)!

So instead of updating my older app, I now have two of them, and the second one offers paid plans! 😮

The “old” and the “new” app (which are actually different apps) have slightly different designs, but they both can use my Google account:

Strangely, the “new” Android app (once again, new in that this is what download.qwen.ai/android/Qwen_release.apk is now) only displays subscription fees for Germany, even when I use a VPN. In Firefox on a computer, using a VPN makes it ignore my Google account and use the IP to list prices. I needed the prices for Romania because Eastern Europe tends to have better prices, and indeed, that was the case.

💰 Germany:

💰 Romania (1 euro is about 5.25-5.26 RON):

So, despite Romania having a higher VAT and these prices being VAT-inclusive:

CountryGoPlusPro
Germany€4.49€19.99€104.99
Romaniaabout €2.85about €18less than €98

I have a bad feeling the free plan will be severely restricted, like it is with ChatGPT and Grok… Et tu, Brute? 😭