Model comparison · Updated 1 Sep 2026

GPT-3.5 Turbo vs Qwen2.5 72B Instruct

Q: Is GPT-3.5 Turbo better than Qwen2.5 72B Instruct?

We do not benchmark quality, so we cannot say. On the recorded numbers: Qwen2.5 72B Instruct is about 1.4× cheaper on input ($0.36 against $0.50 per 1M tokens) and on output. Qwen2.5 72B Instruct has the larger context window (33K against 16K tokens). For a support chatbot at 10,000 chats a day, the standard-tier bill is about $360 a month for GPT-3.5 Turbo and $198 for Qwen2.5 72B Instruct. Which is better for you depends on your task; test both on your own prompts.

Q: Which is cheaper, GPT-3.5 Turbo or Qwen2.5 72B Instruct?

Qwen2.5 72B Instruct: $0.36 against $0.50 per 1M input tokens, and $0.40 against $1.50 per 1M output, on standard pricing.

Q: How much does each cost per 1M tokens?

GPT-3.5 Turbo: $0.50 input and $1.50 output. Qwen2.5 72B Instruct: $0.36 input and $0.40 output. Standard tier, USD.

Q: Which has the larger context window?

Qwen2.5 72B Instruct, with 32,768 tokens. GPT-3.5 Turbo has 16,385 tokens.

Q: Do both offer batch pricing?

GPT-3.5 Turbo lists a batch tier, at 50% of its standard price. Qwen2.5 72B Instruct lists no batch tier.

Q: Can both read images or audio?

Input types recorded for GPT-3.5 Turbo: none recorded. For Qwen2.5 72B Instruct: none recorded. Where a record lists none we say so rather than guess; check each vendor's documentation before relying on a capability.

Q: Is either model open-weight?

GPT-3.5 Turbo: not marked open-weight in our records. Qwen2.5 72B Instruct: not marked open-weight in our records.

Q: What would each cost for a support chatbot?

At 10,000 chats a day, 1,500 input and 300 output tokens each, 30 days, standard tier: about $360 a month for GPT-3.5 Turbo and $198 for Qwen2.5 72B Instruct. This is our calculation from the listed prices, not a quote.

Qwen2.5 72B Instruct is about 1.4× cheaper on input ($0.36 against $0.50 per 1M tokens) and on output. Qwen2.5 72B Instruct has the larger context window (33K against 16K tokens). For a support chatbot at 10,000 chats a day, the standard-tier bill is about $360 a month for GPT-3.5 Turbo and $198 for Qwen2.5 72B Instruct.

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Cite this page

ModelsAtlas. “GPT-3.5 Turbo vs Qwen2.5 72B Instruct”. Retrieved 1 Sep 2026. https://modelsatlas.com/compare/openai/gpt-3-5-turbo/vs/qwen/2-5-72b-instruct

Model A

GPT-3.5 Turbo

by OpenAI · weights not marked open · GRIDD1

Input / 1M
$0.50
observed We measured
Source
Our catalogue
Retrieved
17 Aug 2026

Output / 1M$1.50

Context16K

Model B

Qwen2.5 72B Instruct

by Qwen (Alibaba) · weights not marked open · GRIDD2

Input / 1M
$0.36
observed We measured
Source
Our catalogue
Retrieved
17 Aug 2026

Output / 1M$0.40

Context33K

Key numbers

Standard tier · highlighted = better

GPT-3.5 Turbo

Qwen2.5 72B Instruct

Input / 1M tokens

$0.50

$0.36

Output / 1M tokens

$1.50

$0.40

Batch input / output

$0.25 / $0.75

Not listed

Context window

16,385

32,768

Input types

Not disclosed

Weights

Not marked open

Tiers listed

batch, standard

standard

Prices checked

2026-08-17

2026-09-01

What it costs for real workloads

Monthly, standard tier, 30 days

Support chatbot10k chats/day · 1.5k in, 300 out

$360/mo

$198/mo

RAG over documents2k queries/day · 12k in, 500 out

$405/mo

$271/mo

Coding agent300 tasks/day · 60k in, 8k out

$378/mo

$223/mo

GPT-3.5 Turbo Qwen2.5 72B Instruct · Derived from the standard-tier prices above, input and output tokens per request as stated, 30 days. Excludes caching discounts and batch. Try your own numbers.

On the atlas

Price band (A–H) × context band (1–6)

1 square apart. Qwen2.5 72B Instruct (D2) sits 1 context band larger than GPT-3.5 Turbo (D1).

Same square as GPT-3.5 Turbo: Gemma 2 27B ($0.65). Same square as Qwen2.5 72B Instruct: MiniMax M2-her ($0.30), Nano Banana (Gemini 2.5 Flash Image) ($0.30), Mistral Small 3.1 24B ($0.35). Open D1 · Open D2

GPT-3.5 TurboQwen2.5 72B InstructNearest neighboursOpen weights

View the map as a table (2 squares)

Square	Price band	Context band	Models
GRIDD1	$0.30–1	<32K	GPT-3.5 Turbo, Gemma 2 27B
GRIDD2	$0.30–1	32–128K	Qwen2.5 72B Instruct, WizardLM-2 8x22B, Qwen2.5 Coder 32B Instruct, Mistral Small 3.1 24B, Qwen2.5 VL 72B Instruct, Nano Banana (Gemini 2.5 Flash Image), MiniMax M2-her

Capabilities side by side

Only what our records list

GPT-3.5 Turbo

Qwen2.5 72B Instruct

Vision input

Not disclosed

Audio input

Not disclosed

Open weights

Not marked open

Batch tier

Supported

Not listed

Free tier

Not listed

Thinking tier

Not listed

Neither record lists input types, so we do not claim any.

Which should you choose?

Editorial

Choose GPT-3.5 Turbo if…

work can wait: it lists a batch tier and the other does not

Choose Qwen2.5 72B Instruct if…

you pay by the token: it costs $0.36 per 1M input against $0.50
output dominates your bill: $0.40 per 1M output against $1.50
your prompts are long: it takes 32,768 tokens against 16,385

Each reason is a fact from the tables above. Picking between them is our judgement, and we do not benchmark quality: price and context are what we can measure, so test both on your own prompts before you commit.

Questions

Is GPT-3.5 Turbo better than Qwen2.5 72B Instruct?

We do not benchmark quality, so we cannot say. On the recorded numbers: Qwen2.5 72B Instruct is about 1.4× cheaper on input ($0.36 against $0.50 per 1M tokens) and on output. Qwen2.5 72B Instruct has the larger context window (33K against 16K tokens). For a support chatbot at 10,000 chats a day, the standard-tier bill is about $360 a month for GPT-3.5 Turbo and $198 for Qwen2.5 72B Instruct. Which is better for you depends on your task; test both on your own prompts.

Which is cheaper, GPT-3.5 Turbo or Qwen2.5 72B Instruct?

Qwen2.5 72B Instruct: $0.36 against $0.50 per 1M input tokens, and $0.40 against $1.50 per 1M output, on standard pricing.

How much does each cost per 1M tokens?

GPT-3.5 Turbo: $0.50 input and $1.50 output. Qwen2.5 72B Instruct: $0.36 input and $0.40 output. Standard tier, USD.

Which has the larger context window?

Qwen2.5 72B Instruct, with 32,768 tokens. GPT-3.5 Turbo has 16,385 tokens.

Do both offer batch pricing?

GPT-3.5 Turbo lists a batch tier, at 50% of its standard price. Qwen2.5 72B Instruct lists no batch tier.

Can both read images or audio?

Input types recorded for GPT-3.5 Turbo: none recorded. For Qwen2.5 72B Instruct: none recorded. Where a record lists none we say so rather than guess; check each vendor's documentation before relying on a capability.

Is either model open-weight?

GPT-3.5 Turbo: not marked open-weight in our records. Qwen2.5 72B Instruct: not marked open-weight in our records.

What would each cost for a support chatbot?

At 10,000 chats a day, 1,500 input and 300 output tokens each, 30 days, standard tier: about $360 a month for GPT-3.5 Turbo and $198 for Qwen2.5 72B Instruct. This is our calculation from the listed prices, not a quote.

About the two models

GPT-3.5 Turbo

By OpenAI. $0.50 input and $1.50 output per 1M tokens, 16K context, atlas square D1. Tiers listed: batch, standard.

Full specs & pricing →

Qwen2.5 72B Instruct

By Qwen (Alibaba). $0.36 input and $0.40 output per 1M tokens, 33K context, atlas square D2. Tiers listed: standard.

Full specs & pricing →

Compare GPT-3.5 Turbo with…

Compare Qwen2.5 72B Instruct with…

Gemma 2 27B$0.65
MiniMax M2-her$0.30
Mistral Small 3.1 24B$0.35
Nano Banana (Gemini 2.5 Flash Image)$0.30
All alternatives →

Keep going in your AI

Opens with this page as the source. We add nothing else to the prompt.

Is GPT-3.5 Turbo better than Qwen2.5 72B Instruct?
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Which is cheaper, GPT-3.5 Turbo or Qwen2.5 72B Instruct?
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How much does each cost per 1M tokens?
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