Qwen2-VL-72B for cheapest vision llms
Qwen2-VL-72B is ranked #5 on LLMDex's cheapest vision llms ranking out of 5 models we track for this use case. Below, the specific reasons it slots where it does, and when you should reach for an alternative.
Updated
At a glance
- Rank
- #5 of 5
- Context
- 128K tokens
- Output / 1M
- Pricing not published
- Released
- Aug 2024
Why Qwen2-VL-72B fits this task
Three things about Qwen2-VL-72B that map directly onto what this task rewards: Top open vision-language model; Apache-2.0; Strong on documents. Beyond the task-specific fit, Qwen2-VL-72B also brings top open vision-language model and apache-2.0, both of which compound when the workload broadens.
The criteria this task rewards
LLMDex ranks cheapest vision llms on 5 criteria , these are the axes the ranking uses, in priority order:
- Cost per million input tokens with image attached
- Image-token billing structure
- Quality floor on chart and screenshot tasks
- Throughput
- API ease
How Qwen2-VL-72B scores on each axis
Where Qwen2-VL-72B costs you: heavy at 72b. For most teams this is acceptable on this workload, the value of the strengths above outweighs the cost. For cost-bound workloads or teams with strict latency budgets, run an eval against the next two ranked models on real data before committing.
Strengths that pay off here
- Top open vision-language model
- Apache-2.0
- Strong on documents
Tracked weaknesses
- Heavy at 72B
When to pick something else
If you can pay slightly more or accept slightly different tradeoffs, GPT-5 mini from OpenAI ranks one position higher and tends to win on the hardest cases. GPT-5's mid-tier sibling, most of the quality at a fraction of the price, ideal for high-volume production workloads.
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Other models for cheapest vision llms
- GPT-5 nano for cheapest vision llms
OpenAI's smallest GPT-5 variant, built for ultra-low-cost classification, routing, and high-volume inference.
Read guide - Gemini 3 Flash for cheapest vision llms
Google's high-speed, low-cost mid-tier with the same massive context window, popular for high-volume RAG.
Read guide - Claude Haiku 4 for cheapest vision llms
Anthropic's smallest 4-tier model, fast and cheap with the family's signature tone.
Read guide - GPT-5 mini for cheapest vision llms
GPT-5's mid-tier sibling, most of the quality at a fraction of the price, ideal for high-volume production workloads.
Read guide
Qwen2-VL-72B for other use cases
Direct comparisons
Frequently asked
Is Qwen2-VL-72B good for cheapest vision llms?
Qwen2-VL-72B is ranked #5 on LLMDex's cheapest vision llms list. Top open-weight vision-language model, strong on document understanding and chart analysis.How much does Qwen2-VL-72B cost for cheapest vision llms?
Alibaba has not published per-token pricing for Qwen2-VL-72B at the time of writing.What's a cheaper alternative to Qwen2-VL-72B for cheapest vision llms?
Look at the full Cheapest Vision LLMs ranking for cheaper picks at lower ranks.When should I NOT use Qwen2-VL-72B for cheapest vision llms?
Tracked weakness: Heavy at 72B. If that constraint is binding for your workload, the next-ranked model on this task is the safer pick.
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