LightweightAlibaba

Qwen 3.5 9B

Qwen 3.5 9B is Alibaba's lightweight multimodal model supporting text, image, and video inputs with a 256K token context window.

Context 256K
Tier Lightweight
Modalities text, image, video
Input from
$0.065 / 1M tokens
across 2 providers

API Pricing

Cheapest on OpenRouter 21% below avg
ProviderInput / 1MOutput / 1MSpeedTTFTUpdated
$0.065$0.260149 t/s362ms4/14/2026
$0.100$0.150149 t/s362ms4/14/2026

Prices updated daily. Last check: 4/14/2026

Model Details

General

Creator
Alibaba
Family
Qwen
Tier
Lightweight
Context Window
256K
Modalities
Text, Image, Video

Capabilities

Tool Calling
No
Open Source
No
Aliases
qwen3-5-flash-02-23

Strengths & Limitations

  • Multimodal support for text, image, and video inputs
  • Large 256K token context window for processing lengthy documents
  • Fast inference speed at 114.53 output tokens per second
  • Quick response initiation with 289ms time to first token
  • Lightweight architecture suitable for high-throughput applications
  • Video understanding capabilities beyond standard text and image models
  • Efficient resource utilization compared to larger models in family
  • No tool calling or function execution capabilities
  • Proprietary model with no open-source availability
  • Limited to 9B parameters compared to larger Qwen family models
  • Lightweight tier may have reduced reasoning capabilities versus flagship models

Key Features

256K token context window
Text input and generation
Image processing and understanding
Video content analysis
Streaming response support
Multi-language text processing
Fast inference optimization
Batch processing capabilities

About Qwen 3.5 9B

Qwen 3.5 9B is a lightweight multimodal model developed by Alibaba as part of the Qwen family. Positioned as an efficient option within the Qwen lineup, this model balances capability with speed for applications requiring moderate complexity processing. The model features a 256K token context window and supports multimodal inputs including text, image, and video content. With benchmark performance showing 114.53 output tokens per second and a time to first token of 289ms, Qwen 3.5 9B demonstrates competitive inference speeds. The model operates as a proprietary system without open-source availability and does not include tool calling functionality, focusing instead on core multimodal understanding and generation tasks.

Common Use Cases

Qwen 3.5 9B is well-suited for applications requiring multimodal content processing at scale, including document analysis with embedded images, video content summarization, and educational content creation. Its lightweight architecture and fast inference speeds make it appropriate for real-time applications like customer service chatbots that need to handle mixed media inputs, content moderation systems processing images and videos, and automated transcription services. The large context window supports processing of lengthy documents with multimedia elements, while the efficient performance characteristics enable deployment in cost-sensitive environments where high throughput is prioritized over maximum model capability.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Qwen 3.5 9B cost per million tokens?

Qwen 3.5 9B pricing varies by provider and pricing type (standard vs batch). Check the pricing table above for current rates across all providers.

What is Qwen 3.5 9B best used for?

Qwen 3.5 9B excels at multimodal content processing tasks including document analysis with images, video summarization, and real-time applications requiring fast inference speeds. Its lightweight architecture makes it suitable for high-throughput scenarios where efficiency is prioritized.

Does Qwen 3.5 9B support tool calling and function execution?

No, Qwen 3.5 9B does not include tool calling or function execution capabilities. It focuses on multimodal understanding and generation tasks across text, image, and video inputs without external tool integration.