Qwen3 30B (Non-reasoning)

High-Performance, Cost-Optimized Non-Reasoning Model

Qwen3 30B (Non-reasoning)

Qwen3 30B A3B (Non-reasoning) offers above-average intelligence and competitive speed, making it a strong contender for high-throughput, cost-sensitive applications, particularly when leveraging Deepinfra's optimized pricing.

Non-reasoningOpen License33k ContextHigh ThroughputCost-Effective (Deepinfra)Text-to-Text

The Qwen3 30B A3B (Non-reasoning) model, developed by Alibaba, positions itself as a robust solution for a variety of generative AI tasks where complex reasoning is not the primary requirement. This model stands out with its above-average intelligence score within its class, making it capable of handling sophisticated content generation, summarization, and data extraction tasks effectively. Its open license further enhances its appeal, offering developers and enterprises significant flexibility in deployment and customization.

Performance-wise, Qwen3 30B A3B demonstrates a compelling balance of speed and cost efficiency, though provider choice significantly impacts these metrics. Alibaba Cloud delivers an impressive output speed of 72 tokens/s, making it suitable for high-volume applications where rapid content generation is critical. However, Deepinfra (FP8) emerges as the leader in both latency, with a remarkable 0.25s time to first token, and overall blended price, offering a significantly more economical option at $0.13 per million tokens.

With a generous 33k token context window, Qwen3 30B A3B is well-equipped to handle longer inputs and generate more extensive outputs, supporting complex document processing and conversational AI scenarios. While its overall pricing can be considered 'expensive' compared to the average for input and output tokens across the market, strategic provider selection, particularly Deepinfra, can unlock substantial cost savings, making it a highly competitive option for budget-conscious projects.

This analysis delves into the nuances of Qwen3 30B A3B's performance across key providers, highlighting its strengths in intelligence and throughput, while also guiding users on how to navigate its pricing structure to achieve optimal cost-effectiveness for real-world applications. Understanding the trade-offs between speed, latency, and price across providers like Alibaba Cloud and Deepinfra is crucial for maximizing the value of this powerful non-reasoning model.

Scoreboard

Intelligence

26 (#16 / 55 / Above Average)

Qwen3 30B A3B (Non-reasoning) scores 26 on the Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index, placing it above average among comparable models (averaging 20).
Output speed

72.0 tokens/s

Alibaba Cloud provides the fastest output speed at 72 tokens/s, though the model is generally slower than the average of 93 tokens/s.
Input price

$0.08 USD per 1M tokens

Deepinfra (FP8) offers the lowest input token price at $0.08 per 1M tokens, significantly below Alibaba Cloud's $0.20.
Output price

$0.29 USD per 1M tokens

Deepinfra (FP8) also provides the lowest output token price at $0.29 per 1M tokens, a substantial saving compared to Alibaba Cloud's $0.80.
Verbosity signal

N/A

Data for verbosity is not available for this model.
Provider latency

0.25s seconds

Deepinfra (FP8) achieves the lowest latency (Time to First Token) at 0.25s, making it ideal for real-time applications.

Technical specifications

Spec Details
Model Name Qwen3 30B
Variant A3B (Non-reasoning)
Owner Alibaba
License Open
Context Window 33k tokens
Input Type Text
Output Type Text
Intelligence Index 26 (Above Average)
Max Output Speed 72 tokens/s (Alibaba Cloud)
Lowest Latency 0.25s (Deepinfra FP8)
Lowest Blended Price $0.13 / 1M tokens (Deepinfra FP8)
Min Input Price $0.08 / 1M tokens (Deepinfra FP8)
Min Output Price $0.29 / 1M tokens (Deepinfra FP8)

What stands out beyond the scoreboard

Where this model wins
  • Exceptional Latency: Deepinfra (FP8) provides an industry-leading 0.25s Time to First Token, crucial for interactive applications.
  • High Throughput: Alibaba Cloud offers a strong 72 tokens/s output speed, suitable for bulk content generation.
  • Cost-Effective with Deepinfra: Deepinfra (FP8) delivers the lowest blended price at $0.13 per million tokens, making it highly economical.
  • Above-Average Intelligence: Scores 26 on the AI Intelligence Index, outperforming many comparable non-reasoning models.
  • Generous Context Window: A 33k token context window supports extensive inputs and detailed outputs.
  • Open License: Offers flexibility and control for deployment and integration into various systems.
Where costs sneak up
  • Alibaba Cloud's Higher Latency: At 1.24s, Alibaba Cloud's latency is significantly higher than Deepinfra's, impacting real-time use cases.
  • Alibaba Cloud's Premium Pricing: Alibaba Cloud's input ($0.20) and output ($0.80) token prices are considerably higher than Deepinfra's, leading to increased operational costs.
  • Overall Price Perception: Despite Deepinfra's competitive rates, the model's average input ($0.10) and output ($0.20) token prices are generally considered expensive compared to the broader market.
  • Deepinfra's Lower Output Speed: While cost-effective, Deepinfra's 34 tokens/s output speed is less than half of Alibaba Cloud's, potentially bottlenecking high-volume tasks.
  • Slower Than Average Overall Speed: Even at its fastest (Alibaba Cloud's 72 t/s), the model is slower than the average model speed of 93 t/s.

Provider pick

Choosing the right provider for Qwen3 30B A3B (Non-reasoning) is paramount, as performance and cost metrics vary significantly. Your decision should align with your primary application requirements, whether that's minimizing latency, maximizing throughput, or achieving the lowest possible operational cost.

Our analysis highlights two key providers: Alibaba Cloud and Deepinfra (FP8). Each offers distinct advantages, making them suitable for different use cases. Below is a breakdown to help you make an informed choice.

Priority Pick Why Tradeoff to accept
Lowest Latency Deepinfra (FP8) Achieves an impressive 0.25s Time to First Token, ideal for highly interactive applications. Output speed is lower (34 t/s) compared to Alibaba Cloud.
Highest Throughput Alibaba Cloud Delivers the fastest output speed at 72 tokens/s, perfect for batch processing and high-volume content generation. Higher latency (1.24s) and significantly higher pricing for both input and output tokens.
Lowest Blended Cost Deepinfra (FP8) Offers the most economical blended price at $0.13 per million tokens, providing substantial cost savings. Slower output speed may require careful planning for high-volume tasks.
Cost-Optimized Performance Deepinfra (FP8) Provides a strong balance of low latency and competitive pricing, making it a versatile choice for many applications. Not the absolute fastest in terms of raw output tokens per second.

Note: Prices and performance metrics are subject to change and may vary based on region and specific API configurations.

Real workloads cost table

Understanding the real-world cost implications of using Qwen3 30B A3B (Non-reasoning) requires examining various common scenarios. These examples leverage the most cost-effective provider, Deepinfra (FP8), to illustrate potential expenses for different types of interactions.

The following table provides estimated costs for typical AI workloads, helping you budget and optimize your usage based on your application's specific needs.

Scenario Input Output What it represents Estimated cost
Short Q&A 100 tokens 50 tokens Quick, interactive responses or simple queries. ~$0.000023
Content Summarization 5,000 tokens 500 tokens Condensing articles, reports, or long documents. ~$0.00055
Data Extraction 1,000 tokens 200 tokens Pulling specific information from structured or unstructured text. ~$0.00014
Long-form Generation 2,000 tokens 1,500 tokens Drafting blog posts, marketing copy, or detailed descriptions. ~$0.00060
Chatbot Interaction (Avg.) 300 tokens 150 tokens A typical turn in a conversational AI application. ~$0.000068

These examples demonstrate that while Qwen3 30B A3B (Non-reasoning) can be cost-effective, especially with Deepinfra, careful management of input and output token counts is essential for controlling expenses in high-volume or long-context applications.

How to control cost (a practical playbook)

Optimizing the cost of using Qwen3 30B A3B (Non-reasoning) involves strategic choices and implementation practices. Given the variations in provider pricing and performance, a thoughtful approach can lead to significant savings without compromising application quality.

Here are key strategies to help you manage and reduce your operational expenditures:

Optimize Provider Choice

The most impactful cost-saving measure is selecting the right API provider based on your primary needs.

  • For Cost-Efficiency & Low Latency: Prioritize Deepinfra (FP8) due to its significantly lower input/output token prices and excellent Time to First Token.
  • For Maximum Throughput: If raw speed is paramount, Alibaba Cloud offers higher tokens/s, but be prepared for higher costs.
  • Dynamic Routing: For advanced setups, consider implementing a system that routes requests to different providers based on real-time performance, cost, or specific task requirements.
Manage Context Window Usage

While Qwen3 30B A3B offers a generous 33k context window, utilizing it efficiently is key to cost control, as input tokens are billed.

  • Summarize Prior Interactions: For long-running conversations or document processing, summarize previous turns or sections to keep the active context window concise.
  • Retrieve & Rerank: Instead of passing entire documents, use retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) to fetch only the most relevant snippets for the model.
  • Truncate Inputs: Implement intelligent truncation strategies for user inputs or retrieved data to ensure only necessary information is sent to the model.
Batching and Caching Strategies

Leveraging batching and caching can significantly improve efficiency and reduce costs, especially for repetitive or high-volume tasks.

  • Batch Requests: Group multiple independent requests into a single API call where supported, reducing overhead and potentially improving throughput.
  • Cache Common Responses: For frequently asked questions or common content generation tasks, cache model outputs to avoid redundant API calls.
  • Pre-generate Content: For static content or common variations, pre-generate responses during off-peak hours and serve them from a cache.
Output Token Efficiency

Output tokens are often more expensive than input tokens. Optimizing the length and verbosity of model responses can lead to substantial savings.

  • Clear Instructions: Provide explicit instructions to the model to be concise and avoid unnecessary verbosity.
  • Structured Output: Request structured outputs (e.g., JSON) to ensure the model only generates essential data, reducing extraneous text.
  • Post-processing: Implement post-processing steps to trim or filter model outputs if they frequently contain boilerplate or irrelevant information.

FAQ

What is Qwen3 30B A3B (Non-reasoning)?

Qwen3 30B A3B (Non-reasoning) is a large language model developed by Alibaba, designed for generative AI tasks that do not require complex logical inference or multi-step reasoning. It excels at tasks like content generation, summarization, and data extraction.

How does its intelligence compare to other models?

The model scores 26 on the Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index, placing it above average among comparable non-reasoning models (which average 20). This indicates a strong capability for understanding and generating high-quality text within its designated scope.

What are its speed characteristics?

Qwen3 30B A3B offers varied speed depending on the provider. Alibaba Cloud provides the highest output speed at 72 tokens/s, while Deepinfra (FP8) offers significantly lower latency (0.25s Time to First Token) but a slower output speed of 34 tokens/s.

Which provider offers the best price for Qwen3 30B A3B?

Deepinfra (FP8) is the most cost-effective provider, offering a blended price of $0.13 per million tokens, with input tokens at $0.08 and output tokens at $0.29 per million. This is significantly lower than Alibaba Cloud's pricing.

What is the context window size for this model?

Qwen3 30B A3B (Non-reasoning) features a substantial 33,000 token context window, allowing it to process and generate longer and more complex inputs and outputs.

Is Qwen3 30B A3B suitable for complex reasoning tasks?

No, as indicated by its 'Non-reasoning' variant tag, this model is not optimized for complex logical inference, problem-solving, or multi-step reasoning tasks. It is best suited for generative and understanding tasks that do not require deep analytical capabilities.

What are the main tradeoffs when choosing between providers?

The primary tradeoffs are between cost, latency, and raw output speed. Deepinfra (FP8) offers the lowest cost and best latency but has a slower output speed. Alibaba Cloud provides the highest output speed but comes with higher latency and significantly higher pricing.


Subscribe