Qwen, ChatGPT and DeepSeek: Which Generative AI Should You Choose in 2025?

5 February 2025 · 3 min read

Generative artificial intelligence is evolving rapidly, with several leading models standing out for their particular strengths. Among them, Qwen (Alibaba Cloud), ChatGPT (OpenAI) and DeepSeek are among the most powerful. But which one should you choose for your needs?

In this article, we compare these three models on the basis of independent benchmarks, their features and their suitability for a variety of contexts.

1. Overview and Aims of the Models

Qwen (Alibaba Cloud)

Qwen is a family of models developed by Alibaba Cloud, the most powerful of which, Qwen-72B, rivals GPT-4. It stands out for its versatility (text, code, multimodal) and its strong emphasis on multilingualism, making it a serious alternative to Western models.

ChatGPT (OpenAI, GPT-4)

ChatGPT, based on GPT-4-turbo, is optimised for conversational interactions and natural text generation. It is the most fluent and coherent model in English, with a strong reasoning ability. OpenAI also offers custom GPTs to tailor the AI to users' specific needs.

DeepSeek (DeepSeek AI)

DeepSeek AI is a Chinese initiative that aims to offer a local alternative to Western models. It is mainly focused on speed and accuracy of text generation, with a specialisation in Chinese and decent support for English.

2. Technical and Functional Comparison

Benchmark Results (LMSys Chatbot Arena - January 2025)

Model	Overall Ranking	English	French	Chinese	Code
GPT-4-turbo (ChatGPT)	⭐ 1st	✅ Excellent command	✅ Good but could be better	❌ Average	✅ Very good
Qwen-72B	⭐ 2e	✅ Very good	✅ Very good	✅ Excellent	✅ Excellent
DeepSeek-R1	⭐ 5e	✅ Decent but limited	❌ Poor	✅ Very good	❌ Average

Analysis

GPT-4-turbo remains the best in English and for natural text generation. It also performs well in code but is less optimised for French than Qwen-72B.
Qwen-72B excels in multilingualism, notably in French and Chinese. It is also very strong in code.
DeepSeek-R1 positions itself as a strong model for Chinese, but less versatile and weaker in French.

Specific Capabilities

Criterion	Qwen-72B	GPT-4-turbo (ChatGPT)	DeepSeek-R1
Multilingualism	✅ Excellent coverage, good in French	✅ Very good in English, average in French	❌ Focused on Chinese
Fluency and Coherence	✅ Good	✅ Excellent, the best conversational AI	❌ Less fluent, sometimes rigid
Code Generation	✅ Very good (supports Python, C++, Java)	✅ Very good (optimised for Python)	❌ Average
Images / Multimodality	✅ Handles images and text	❌ Text only	❌ Text only
Customisation (GPTs, API, etc.)	✅ Flexible API	✅ Customisable GPTs	❌ Less flexible
Speed and Latency	✅ Fast	✅ Fast	✅ Very fast
Accessibility	✅ Open-source for some versions	❌ Paid (ChatGPT Plus $20/month)	✅ Free but limited

3. Use Cases: Which Model for Which Need?

Qwen-72B: The Versatile AI for Developers and Creators

If you are looking for a multilingual AI that handles text, code and images equally well, Qwen-72B is an excellent choice. It is particularly strong in French and can be used for programming, writing and multimodal content creation.

👉 Ideal for: Developers, content creators, businesses looking for an all-round AI assistant.

ChatGPT (GPT-4-turbo): The Best for Conversation and Writing

If you want an AI that is fluent, natural and strong in English, ChatGPT is the benchmark. It is perfect for long discussions, writing complex texts and learning. Its access via API and the ability to create custom GPTs make it attractive to businesses.

👉 Ideal for: Writers, researchers, businesses, customer support, users looking for an intuitive AI.

DeepSeek: Accuracy and Speed, but Focused on Chinese

DeepSeek is very strong in Chinese, but more limited in other languages. It is optimised for speed and accuracy, which can be useful where response time is crucial (financial analysis, automated services).

👉 Ideal for: Chinese-speaking users, analysts, developers looking for a fast model.

4. Price and Accessibility

Model	Price	Accessibility
Qwen-72B	Free (open-source versions)	Available via Alibaba Cloud and API
ChatGPT (GPT-4-turbo)	$20/month for ChatGPT Plus	Available from OpenAI and via API
DeepSeek-R1	Free	Available via API and open-source

Note: Qwen-72B and DeepSeek-R1 are available as open-source, which gives them an advantage for businesses wishing to self-host their AI models. ChatGPT, on the other hand, is a paid service for accessing GPT-4-turbo.

5. Conclusion: Which AI Should You Choose in 2025?

The choice depends on your specific needs:

✅ Do you want a complete, multilingual AI that is strong in code? → Qwen-72B

✅ Are you looking for a fluent, effective conversational AI for writing in English? → ChatGPT (GPT-4-turbo)

✅ Do you need a fast AI optimised for Chinese? → DeepSeek-R1

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