AI models are evolving fast, but most top options like GPT-4o are closed-source and costly. Qwen 2.5, developed by Alibaba Cloud, changes that by offering a powerful, open-source alternative.
With seven versions (from 0.5B to 72B parameters), it adapts to different needs—from chatbots to enterprise AI. It supports long-context tasks (up to 128K tokens), multiple languages, and advanced code generation.
Download and Install Qwen 2.5
You could download the AI models locally on your own, but you would have to have some technical knowledge to do so and it would take a lot of time. Here is the best option to download almost any AI model in minutes.
1. Install Qwen on Windows
Ollama is a software that allows you to download almost any open source AI model with a simple command.
If you are on macOS or linux, at the end of the download guide for windows I give you the option to download it for your operating system.
- Windows Download Ollama for Windows
- Double-click the
.exefile and follow the prompts. - Confirm your installation by opening Command Prompt or PowerShell and typing
ollama --version.
- Double-click the
2. Pull an AI Model from Ollama’s Library
Choose a model according to the characteristics of your PC. For an economic PC you could use the 0.5B, 1.5B or even the 3B. If you have a PC between $1000–$1700 then try to use the 7B or the 14B. And if you have a high-end system, install the 32B or 72B.
-
- Open your terminal or command prompt.
- Type (Choose one):
ollama run qwen2.5:0.5bollama run qwen2.5:1.5bollama run qwen2.5:3bollama run qwen2.5:7bollama run qwen2.5:14bollama run qwen2.5:32bollama run qwen2.5:72b
3. Run a Model Locally
Once you’ve downloaded a model, starting it is as simple as running the same command:
ollama run qwen2.5:7bThis example runs the Qwen 7B model. For another model, just replace ollama run qwen2.5:7b with its respective command.
And just like that you will have one of the best current AI models running locally on your computer.
Other options to Install Qwen
- macOS Download Ollama for MAC
- Unzip it and run the installer in your Terminal (it usually comes with a
.shscript). - That’s it! You can now open a Terminal and type
ollama --versionto confirm the installation.
- Unzip it and run the installer in your Terminal (it usually comes with a
- Linux
- Open a terminal window.
- Run the command:
curl -fsSL https://ollama.com/install.sh | sh - Once installed, verify by typing:
ollama --versionYou should see the current version of Ollama.
Overview of the Qwen 2.5 Model Series
The Qwen 2.5 family consists of seven distinct models, each designed for different applications.
Model Variants and Their Use Cases
| Model | Parameters | Best Use Cases | VRAM Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qwen 2.5-0.5B | 0.5B | Lightweight AI assistants, mobile applications | ~398MB |
| Qwen 2.5-1.5B | 1.5B | Basic chatbots, customer service automation | ~1.9GB |
| Qwen 2.5-3B | 3B | NLP applications, research, document processing | ~6GB |
| Qwen 2.5-7B | 7B | Coding, multilingual AI, knowledge retrieval | ~12GB |
| Qwen 2.5-14B | 14B | Large-scale AI applications, enterprise use | ~24GB |
| Qwen 2.5-32B | 32B | High-end AI for research, automation | ~80GB |
| Qwen 2.5-72B | 72B | Cutting-edge AI, enterprise-grade solutions | ~134GB |
These models are designed for different computational environments, from low-power devices (0.5B – 3B) to high-performance GPUs (14B – 72B).
Key Innovations in Qwen 2.5
Qwen 2.5 introduces several significant improvements over its predecessor, Qwen 2, and competes directly with leading AI models like GPT-4o, Claude 3.5, and Llama 3.
Expanded Training Dataset (18 Trillion Tokens)
Qwen 2.5 has been trained on a massive dataset containing 18 trillion tokens, a significant increase from previous iterations. This allows for:
- Greater knowledge retention across different topics.
- Improved factual accuracy, reducing hallucinations.
- Enhanced problem-solving skills, particularly in mathematical and logical tasks.
Long-Context Processing (Up to 128K Tokens)
One of Qwen 2.5’s most impressive features is its extended context window, allowing it to process 128,000 tokens in a single query.
Why is long-context AI important?
- Enables summarization of lengthy documents without losing coherence.
- Supports complex conversations and multi-turn reasoning.
- Allows for deep research applications, such as legal, medical, and academic analysis.
Most models, including Llama 3-70B, DeepSeek V3, and Mistral, have significantly smaller context windows (8K – 32K tokens), making Qwen 2.5 one of the best options for handling long-form content.
Coding and Developer Support (Qwen 2.5-Coder)
The Qwen 2.5-Coder model is designed specifically for developers and programmers.
- Supports 92+ programming languages, including Python, Java, C++, and Rust.
- Can write, debug, and optimize code efficiently.
- Outperforms models like Llama 3-70B and CodeLlama in programming-related benchmarks.
For developers looking for a self-hosted, open-source alternative to GPT-4o for code generation, Qwen 2.5-Coder is one of the best available choices.
Performance Benchmarks: How Does Qwen 2.5 Compare?
Qwen 2.5 is benchmarked against some of the most powerful AI models available, including GPT-4o, Llama 3, and DeepSeek V3.
| Benchmark | Qwen 2.5-72B | GPT-4o | Llama 3-70B |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Knowledge (MMLU-Pro) | 76.1 | 79.5 | 73.3 |
| Mathematical Reasoning (GSM8K) | 95.8 | 96.2 | 85.4 |
| Coding Performance (HumanEval) | 86.6 | 91.2 | 85.9 |
| Multilingual NLP | ✅ Strong | ✅ Strong | ❌ Moderate |
| Open-Source Availability | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
These results indicate that Qwen 2.5-72B performs at near GPT-4o levels, making it an ideal choice for those seeking an open-source alternative with strong reasoning, coding, and multilingual capabilities.
Conclusion: Should You Use Qwen 2.5?
Qwen 2.5 is one of the most advanced open-source AI models available today. It provides:
- Near-GPT-4o level performance in reasoning, coding, and multilingual tasks.
- A flexible range of models, from 0.5B (mobile AI) to 72B (enterprise AI applications).
- Long-context processing (128K tokens), surpassing most alternatives.
- Full open-source access, making it a viable alternative to proprietary models.
For developers, businesses, and AI researchers seeking a high-performance, open-source AI model, Qwen 2.5 is one of the best choices available today.