Qwen3 Coder 30B A3B (non-reasoning)

High-Performance Coder Model with Large Context

Qwen3 Coder 30B A3B (non-reasoning)

A leading 30B parameter model optimized for coding tasks, offering exceptional intelligence and speed, albeit at a premium price point.

Coding SpecialistHigh IntelligenceFast Output262k ContextExpensiveOpen License

The Qwen3 Coder 30B A3B Instruct model stands out as a formidable contender in the realm of AI-powered code generation and analysis. Developed by Alibaba, this 30-billion parameter model is specifically fine-tuned for coding tasks, demonstrating a remarkable blend of intelligence, speed, and an expansive context window. Its performance metrics place it firmly among the elite, particularly for applications demanding deep understanding of codebases and rapid output generation.

Achieving a score of 33 on the Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index, Qwen3 Coder 30B A3B Instruct significantly surpasses the average for comparable models, ranking #5 out of 55. This high intelligence score indicates its proficiency in complex coding challenges, code completion, debugging, and refactoring. Coupled with an impressive output speed of 99.1 tokens per second, it ensures that developers can receive timely and accurate assistance, accelerating development cycles and improving productivity.

One of the model's most compelling features is its massive 262k token context window. This allows it to process and understand extremely large code files, entire projects, or extensive documentation, providing a holistic view that is crucial for sophisticated coding tasks. This capability positions it as an invaluable tool for enterprise-level software development, where context is king.

However, this premium performance comes with a notable cost. With input tokens priced at $0.45 per 1M and output tokens at $2.25 per 1M, Qwen3 Coder 30B A3B Instruct is positioned at the higher end of the pricing spectrum, especially when compared to other open-weight, non-reasoning models of similar scale. Its tendency towards verbosity, generating 14M tokens during intelligence evaluations (slightly above the 13M average), can further contribute to increased operational expenses. Therefore, strategic provider selection and careful prompt engineering are essential to harness its power efficiently.

Despite the cost considerations, its open license and robust performance make it an attractive option for organizations prioritizing top-tier coding AI capabilities. The model supports text-in, text-out functionality, making it versatile for integration into various development workflows and tools.

Scoreboard

Intelligence

33 (#5 / 55 / 30B)

Amongst the leading models, well above average for its class, excelling in complex coding tasks.
Output speed

99.1 tokens/s

Faster than average, ensuring rapid code generation and analysis.
Input price

$0.45 $/M tokens

Expensive, significantly above the average for input tokens.
Output price

$2.25 $/M tokens

Very expensive, one of the highest output token costs in its category.
Verbosity signal

14M tokens

Somewhat verbose, generating slightly more output than the average during evaluations.
Provider latency

0.24 s

Deepinfra (FP8) offers exceptional low latency. Other providers like Nebius and Amazon also provide competitive speeds around 0.57s.

Technical specifications

Spec Details
Owner Alibaba
License Open
Model Type Coder, Instruct
Parameters 30 Billion
Context Window 262k tokens
Input Modality Text
Output Modality Text
Intelligence Index Score 33 (#5 / 55)
Output Speed (Avg) 99.1 tokens/s
Input Token Price (Avg) $0.45 / 1M tokens
Output Token Price (Avg) $2.25 / 1M tokens
Latency (TTFT, best) 0.24s
Verbosity (on Index) 14M tokens

What stands out beyond the scoreboard

Where this model wins
  • Exceptional Coding Intelligence: Ranks highly on the Intelligence Index, demonstrating superior understanding and generation for complex coding tasks.
  • Blazing Fast Output: Delivers code and analysis at a rapid 99.1 tokens/s, significantly boosting developer productivity.
  • Massive Context Window: A 262k token context allows for comprehensive analysis of large codebases, entire files, or extensive documentation.
  • Open License: Offers flexibility and integration possibilities for a wide range of applications and environments.
  • Low Latency Options: Specific providers like Deepinfra (FP8) offer ultra-low time-to-first-token, crucial for interactive coding experiences.
Where costs sneak up
  • High Input Token Price: At $0.45/M, input costs are substantially higher than many alternatives, requiring careful prompt optimization.
  • Very Expensive Output Tokens: The $2.25/M output token price is a significant factor, especially for verbose responses or extensive code generation.
  • Verbosity Impact: The model's tendency to be somewhat verbose can compound costs, as more output tokens directly translate to higher expenses.
  • Provider Price Discrepancies: While some providers offer competitive pricing, others like Alibaba Cloud are significantly more expensive, impacting overall cost-effectiveness.
  • Blended Price Premium: The overall blended price is higher, making it less suitable for budget-constrained projects without aggressive optimization.

Provider pick

Selecting the right API provider for Qwen3 Coder 30B A3B Instruct is crucial for balancing performance and cost. Our analysis highlights significant differences across providers in terms of speed, latency, and pricing, allowing you to tailor your choice to specific project requirements.

The following table summarizes the strengths and tradeoffs of key providers, helping you make an informed decision based on your primary optimization goals.

Priority Pick Why Tradeoff to accept
Overall Value Nebius Offers a strong balance of high output speed (127 t/s), competitive latency (0.57s), and very cost-effective blended pricing ($0.15/M tokens). Not the absolute lowest latency, but excellent all-around performance.
Lowest Latency & Cost Deepinfra (FP8) Provides unparalleled low latency (0.24s) and the most cost-effective blended price ($0.12/M tokens), with very low input/output token costs. Output speed (42 t/s) is significantly lower than other top providers, making it less ideal for high-throughput generation.
Balanced Performance Amazon Bedrock Delivers solid output speed (79 t/s) and competitive latency (0.57s) at a reasonable blended price ($0.26/M tokens). Not the fastest or cheapest, but a reliable and widely accessible option with good performance consistency.
High Speed Alternative Scaleway Offers good output speed (80 t/s) and acceptable latency (0.66s), though at a higher blended price ($0.41/M tokens). Higher cost compared to Nebius and Deepinfra, and not as fast as Nebius.
Direct Integration Alibaba Cloud Directly from the model's owner, offering 99 t/s output speed. Significantly higher latency (1.63s) and the most expensive blended price ($0.90/M tokens) among the benchmarked providers.

Note: Performance and pricing data are subject to change and may vary based on region, specific API configurations, and real-time network conditions. Always verify current rates and performance metrics with providers.

Real workloads cost table

Understanding the real-world cost implications of Qwen3 Coder 30B A3B Instruct requires examining typical coding scenarios. Given its premium pricing, especially for output tokens, even seemingly small interactions can accumulate costs rapidly. The following examples illustrate estimated costs for common development tasks, using the average input price of $0.45/M tokens and output price of $2.25/M tokens.

Scenario Input Output What it represents Estimated cost
Code Generation (Small) 500 tokens 1,500 tokens Generating a small function or code snippet based on a prompt. $0.0036
Code Generation (Large) 2,000 tokens 8,000 tokens Creating a more complex component or script with detailed requirements. $0.0189
Debugging/Refactoring 10,000 tokens 3,000 tokens Analyzing a large code block for bugs or suggesting refactoring improvements. $0.0113
Documentation Generation 5,000 tokens 5,000 tokens Generating API documentation or comments for a medium-sized code module. $0.0135
Full File Analysis (Large Context) 100,000 tokens 2,000 tokens Providing a high-level summary or feedback on an entire large source file. $0.0495
Complex Project Overview 200,000 tokens 5,000 tokens Analyzing multiple related files within its large context window to provide architectural insights. $0.0900 (Input) + $0.0113 (Output) = $0.1013

These examples highlight that while individual requests might seem inexpensive, frequent use, especially with verbose outputs or large context inputs, can lead to significant cumulative costs. Optimizing prompt length and managing output verbosity are critical for cost control.

How to control cost (a practical playbook)

Leveraging Qwen3 Coder 30B A3B Instruct's power without incurring excessive costs requires a strategic approach. Here are key strategies to optimize your usage and manage expenses effectively:

Optimize Prompt Engineering

Crafting concise and effective prompts is paramount. Every input token costs, so clarity and brevity directly impact your bill.

  • Be Specific: Provide clear instructions to reduce the model's need to infer, potentially leading to shorter, more relevant outputs.
  • Minimize Redundancy: Avoid repeating information already present in the context or previous turns.
  • Control Output Length: Explicitly ask for shorter responses or specify maximum token limits in your prompts when possible.
  • Iterate and Refine: Test different prompt variations to find the most cost-efficient way to achieve desired results.
Strategic Provider Selection

The choice of API provider dramatically influences both performance and cost. Evaluate providers based on your primary needs.

  • Cost-First: For projects where cost is the absolute priority, Deepinfra (FP8) offers the lowest blended price and input/output token costs.
  • Balanced Performance: Nebius provides an excellent blend of speed, competitive latency, and good pricing, making it a strong all-rounder.
  • Latency-Critical: If time-to-first-token is crucial for user experience, Deepinfra (FP8) is the clear winner.
  • Regional Availability: Consider providers with data centers geographically closer to your users or services to minimize network latency.
Efficient Context Management

While the 262k context window is powerful, using it judiciously is key to cost control, as input tokens are expensive.

  • Summarize or Extract: Instead of sending entire documents, pre-process and send only the most relevant sections or a summary.
  • Sliding Window: For long conversations or code reviews, implement a sliding window approach, keeping only the most recent and critical context.
  • Embeddings for Retrieval: Use embeddings to retrieve only the most relevant code snippets or documentation sections, feeding them into the prompt rather than the entire codebase.
  • Cache Static Context: If certain context elements are frequently used and static, consider caching them client-side or in your application layer to avoid repeated API calls.
Batching and Caching Strategies

Reduce the number of API calls and leverage previously generated content to save on costs and improve efficiency.

  • Batch Requests: Group multiple independent requests into a single API call if the provider supports it, reducing overhead.
  • Cache Responses: For common or repetitive queries, cache the model's responses and serve them directly without making a new API call.
  • Pre-computation: For frequently needed code snippets or documentation, pre-generate them and store them, rather than generating on demand.

FAQ

What is Qwen3 Coder 30B A3B Instruct?

Qwen3 Coder 30B A3B Instruct is a 30-billion parameter large language model developed by Alibaba, specifically fine-tuned for coding-related tasks. It excels in code generation, analysis, debugging, and refactoring, offering high intelligence and speed with a very large context window.

How does its intelligence compare to other models?

It scores 33 on the Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index, placing it at #5 out of 55 models benchmarked. This indicates a significantly above-average intelligence level, particularly for complex coding challenges, making it a top performer in its category.

Is Qwen3 Coder 30B A3B Instruct cost-effective?

While highly intelligent and fast, it is considered expensive. With input tokens at $0.45/M and output tokens at $2.25/M, its pricing is on the higher side compared to many other open-weight models. Cost-effectiveness depends heavily on careful prompt engineering and strategic provider selection.

What are its main use cases?

Its primary use cases include advanced code generation, automated debugging, intelligent code refactoring, comprehensive code review, and generating detailed technical documentation. Its large context window makes it ideal for handling extensive codebases.

Which providers offer the best performance for this model?

For overall value (speed, latency, cost), Nebius is a strong contender. Deepinfra (FP8) offers the lowest latency and most cost-effective pricing, though with lower output speed. Amazon Bedrock provides a balanced and reliable option. Alibaba Cloud, while the owner, is generally more expensive and has higher latency.

What is the context window size of this model?

Qwen3 Coder 30B A3B Instruct boasts an impressive 262k token context window. This allows it to process and understand very large amounts of information simultaneously, which is highly beneficial for complex coding tasks involving extensive code or documentation.

Is Qwen3 Coder 30B A3B Instruct an open-source model?

Yes, the model is released under an open license, providing flexibility for developers and organizations to integrate and utilize it within their applications and workflows without restrictive proprietary licensing terms.


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