Alibaba Coding Plan API key setup
Alibaba's AI platform (China-side console and billing). Extensive model library including hosted Qwen and open-source models. International users are usually better served by the Qwen Cloud Token Plan on the dashscope-intl endpoint.
Disclosure: the sign-up link in step 1 is a partner link — Dracon may earn a commission when you create an account through it. It never changes the price you pay, and Alibaba Coding Plan's own site is always reachable directly at dashscope.console.aliyun.com.
Get your key
- Open the Alibaba Coding Plan API keys page: www.alibabacloud.com/campaign/ai-scene-coding?referral_code=A9248Z partner link
- Create an account and generate an API key.
- Paste it into the Dracon BYOK provider keys — stored encrypted (AES-256-GCM), used browser-direct, works in every Dracon tool.
Free tier
Yes. 1M free tokens/model (90 days, varies by model), no credit card no credit card required
Rate limits: 1M free tokens/model (90 days)
Connection details
- Base URL
https://dashscope.aliyuncs.com/compatible-mode/v1- API shape
- OpenAI-compatible
- Env var
DASHSCOPE_API_KEY- Models
- qwen-max, qwen-plus, qwen-flash
- Model lineup
- Qwen 3 72B, Qwen 2.5 72B, Qwen 2.5 Coder 32B, DeepSeek V3, Bailian 72B
Gotchas
Browser-direct verified live 2026-08-23: dashscope.aliyuncs.com sends access-control-allow-origin:* on actual GET responses (not just preflight) and the host is in the dashboard CSP connect-src allowlist.
Our verdicts on this kind of provider
Independent comparisons we keep current as pricing and free tiers shift. A guide is setup; a verdict is whether it's worth setting up.