Qwen-Image
Alibaba · Image generation · 20B · Released 4 August 2025
Alibaba's 20-billion-parameter image model, notable for strong text rendering and a permissive Apache 2.0 licence. It is designed to fit under 16GB with quantisation, and generates a 1024px image in a handful of steps.
Strengths
- Strong at rendering readable text within images
- Apache 2.0, so fully usable commercially
- Fast, few-step generation, and designed to fit consumer cards
Weaknesses
- A 20B model is heavy at full precision
- A smaller fine-tune and LoRA ecosystem than SDXL
- Newer, so local tooling and community resources are still maturing
Hardware requirements
| Quantisation | Approx. VRAM | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| GGUF Q4 | ~14GB | Quantised, designed to fit under 16GB with offloading |
| FP8 | ~20GB | A good balance on a 24GB card |
Optimised builds available for Apple Silicon.
What you'd need to run this
Roughly what a machine to run this would need, at up to three levels of quality. Memory is the deciding factor.
Minimum to run it
GGUF Q4 · ~14GB needed
One 24GB GPU
NVIDIA Tesla P40or a Mac or mini-PC with unified memory, if you prefer no discrete GPU, Mac mini M5 Pro .
32–64GB of system RAM alongside the card.
around £700–£1,100
What else 24GB runs →Best quality
FP8 · ~20GB needed
One 24GB GPU
NVIDIA Tesla P40or a Mac or mini-PC with unified memory, if you prefer no discrete GPU, Mac mini M5 Pro .
32–64GB of system RAM alongside the card.
around £700–£1,100
What else 24GB runs →Licence
Apache 2.0 — read the licence
Qwen-Image: common questions
- What hardware do I need to run Qwen-Image?
- At its most compressed (GGUF Q4) it needs roughly 14GB of VRAM, and about 20GB for good quality. VRAM figures are approximate and depend on context length and settings.
- Is Qwen-Image free for commercial use?
- Yes. Qwen-Image is licensed under Apache 2.0, which permits commercial use with no meaningful conditions.
- Can I run Qwen-Image on Apple Silicon?
- Yes. Qwen-Image has builds optimised for Apple Silicon, through MLX or GGUF on a Mac.
Availability
Recommended for
- Commercial image work needing a permissive licence
- Images that depend on accurate text
- Users with a 16GB or 24GB card who want an alternative to FLUX
Related models
Related guides
Glossary
Catalogue entry last verified 30 July 2026. Specifications change; verify anything you are about to spend money on.