How to Set Up Qwen Code and Use It for Free?

Have you ever wished for a powerful coding assistant right inside your terminal, without paying for expensive subscriptions? That’s where Qwen Code comes in. In this article, we’ll explore how to set up Qwen Code in just a few minutes and show you how to use it for free. 

You’ll see how it helps you analyze large codebases, generate and refactor code, automate git workflows, and even debug security issues. The best part? Qwen Code offers free models on OpenRouter with generous daily quotas, making it a zero-cost alternative to expensive AI coding tools. 

By the end, you’ll know exactly how to turn your terminal into an AI-powered coding partner. Ready to supercharge your workflow without spending a dime? Go ahead and read more to discover how Qwen Code can transform your development process.

What Is Qwen Code?

Qwen Code is a powerful, terminal-based AI coding assistant developed by Alibaba. It’s designed to integrate directly into your workflow, giving you intelligent coding support without leaving the command line. Unlike most paid coding tools, Qwen Code is available for free through multiple providers, including OpenRouter, making it accessible to developers at every level.

With Qwen Code, you can:

• Analyze large codebases (up to 256K tokens)
• Generate and refactor code with natural language commands
• Automate git workflows and documentation
• Debug and audit code for security issues

Key Advantage: Unlike paid alternatives, Qwen Code offers enterprise-level capabilities completely free through multiple providers.

How to Install Qwen Code in 2 Minutes?

Before setting up Qwen Code, you’ll need Node.js installed on your machine. Node.js powers the Qwen CLI, making it run directly in your terminal.

Prerequisites

Install Node.js 20+:

Qwen Code works smoothly on macOS, Linux, and Windows (via WSL). Make sure you’re running Node.js 20 or higher.

curl -qL https://www.npmjs.com/install.sh | sh 

Then, verify your installation by running the following commands:

node -v
npm -v 

Install Qwen Code

npm install -g @qwen-code/qwen-code@latest  
qwen --version 

(This ensures npm itself is updated, which avoids common installation issues.)

If you face permission issues, try 

sudo npm install -g @qwen-code/qwen-code@latest

And provide your password.

That’s it! Qwen Code is now installed on your system.

Setup Method 1: Qwen OAuth (Easiest)

If you just want to get started quickly without managing API keys or extra setup, the Qwen OAuth method is the best option. It takes less than a minute and requires almost no configuration.

# Just run this command  
qwen

Use the arrows and Enter to choose your desired options. 

What happens:

1. Your browser will open automatically.
2. Log in with your qwen.ai account.
3. Click Confirm to authorize access.

Free Benefits You Get:

• 2,000 requests/day
• 60 requests/minute
• No API key management

Click on Confirm to login.

After Authorization you can come back to the CLI and start asking questions to the qwen3-coder-plus model.

Setup Method 2: OpenRouter 

If you want more stable performance and global access, the OpenRouter setup is the ideal choice. It requires creating an API key, but once done, you get smooth usage across regions.

Step 1: Get an OpenRouter API Key

1. Go to openrouter.ai
2. Sign up (takes less than 30 seconds)
3. Generate your personal API key

Step 2: Configure Environment

Set the following environment variables in your terminal:

export OPENAI_API_KEY="your_openrouter_api_key"  
export OPENAI_BASE_URL="https://openrouter.ai/api/v1"  
export OPENAI_MODEL="qwen/qwen3-max" 

Run these commands to confirm your environment variables are set correctly:

echo $OPENAI_MODEL 
echo $OPENAI_BASE_URL 
echo $OPENAI_API_KEY

Step 3: Launch

Once your environment is configured, you can launch Qwen Code:

qwen

In the Auth Settings, choose OpenAI.

Type / in the terminal to see all available options and commands.

If you ever need to remove Qwen Code:

npm uninstall -g @qwen-code/qwen-code

Qwen Code is now fully set up and ready to use. Whether you went with the quick Qwen OAuth method or the flexible OpenRouter setup, you can now start writing code, refactoring, debugging, and automating your workflows directly from the terminal. Dive in, explore the features, and let Qwen Code simplify your development process.

And if you’re curious about what else the Qwen ecosystem can do, don’t miss our upcoming Complete Guide to Fine-tuning Qwen2.5 VL Model, where we’ll dive into customizing Qwen for powerful vision-language applications.

Need Expert Help?

While Qwen Code is perfect for getting started with AI-assisted coding, scaling these solutions for enterprise use often requires professional expertise. If your business is looking to build custom AI solutions, integrate models like Qwen, or fine-tune advanced systems for production, you may want to hire AI developers who can bring your vision to life faster and more effectively.