Here's a simple idea: instead of picking one AI coding assistant and hoping it's the right one, why not subscribe to a plan that lets you use several? That's what Alibaba (BABA) is now offering developers through its cloud unit.
On February 25, Alibaba Cloud's Model Studio launched what it calls its most advanced Coding Plan yet. The big sell? It bundles API access to four major open-source models—Qwen3.5, GLM-5, MiniMax M2.5, and Kimi K2.5—under a single subscription. Think of it as a streaming bundle, but for AI code generators.
The company says this lets users switch freely among multiple models instead of being locked into one. The pitch is better stability and higher token limits. According to reports, Alibaba Cloud claims it's currently the only global cloud provider offering a multi-model coding subscription like this.
After subscribing, developers can access the models through tools like Qwen Code, Claude Code, Cline, and OpenClaw. Alibaba describes the four newly added models as leading open-source options. So, what exactly are you getting?
Model Capabilities And Technical Highlights
Qwen3.5 is a multimodal model that was open-sourced on Lunar New Year's Eve. It uses 397 billion total parameters (with 17 billion activated) and, according to Alibaba, performs strongly across reasoning, programming, and agent benchmarks.
GLM-5 is the newest flagship open-source model from Zhipu AI, and its API services have reportedly seen surging demand since debut.
MiniMax M2.5 focuses on agent-based use cases, including advanced Excel processing, research, and Office tasks. Kimi K2.5, meanwhile, improves coding and agent capabilities.
With this update, Alibaba Cloud's Coding Plan now includes eight programming-focused models in total.
The Bigger Picture
This isn't just about giving developers more toys. It's a strategic move in the cloud wars. By offering a bundled, flexible plan, Alibaba is trying to make its platform stickier for developers who might otherwise shop around. It's also a way to showcase and monetize a range of open-source AI models, strengthening Alibaba's position as a hub for AI development.
On the markets front, Alibaba shares were down 0.47% at $152.38 during premarket trading on Wednesday, according to market data. The slight dip is pretty standard for a product announcement—investors are likely watching to see if this move translates into real cloud growth against rivals like Alphabet (GOOGL) and Meta (META).
