DashScope Coding Plan (Alibaba Cloud)
The Alibaba Cloud DashScope Coding Plan is a monthly subscription that gives you access to multiple AI models from different providers through a single API key. It includes models from Qwen, Zhipu (GLM), Kimi, and MiniMax — all accessible through an OpenAI-compatible API.
Why DashScope?
- Multi-model access — One subscription covers Qwen, GLM, Kimi, and MiniMax models
- OpenAI-compatible — Works with any tool that supports the OpenAI Chat Completions API
- International endpoint — Singapore-based endpoint for global access
- Affordable — Subscription pricing instead of per-token billing
Available Models
| Model | Provider | Capabilities |
|---|---|---|
qwen3.5-plus | Qwen | Text generation, deep thinking, visual understanding |
qwen3-max-2026-01-23 | Qwen | Text generation, deep thinking |
qwen3-coder-next | Qwen | Text generation (code-focused) |
qwen3-coder-plus | Qwen | Text generation (code-focused) |
glm-5 | Zhipu | Text generation, deep thinking |
glm-4.7 | Zhipu | Text generation, deep thinking |
kimi-k2.5 | Kimi | Text generation, deep thinking, visual understanding |
MiniMax-M2.5 | MiniMax | Text generation, deep thinking |
Model Selection
For general use, start with qwen3.5-plus — it's the most capable all-around model. For coding tasks, try qwen3-coder-next. For deep reasoning, glm-5 and kimi-k2.5 are strong options.
Quick Setup
Step 1: Get Your API Key
- Go to the DashScope API Key page
- Click Create API Key
- Select your account and the default workspace
- Copy the key (it starts with
sk-sp-)
Coding Plan Keys
Coding Plan keys start with sk-sp- and use a different endpoint than standard DashScope keys (sk-). Don't mix them up — they are not interchangeable.
Step 2: Configure in Crow's Nest
- Open your Crow's Nest → Settings
- Find the AI Provider section
- Set:
- Provider: OpenAI (DashScope uses an OpenAI-compatible API)
- API Key: Your
sk-sp-...key - Model:
qwen3.5-plus(or any model from the table above) - Base URL:
https://coding-intl.dashscope.aliyuncs.com/v1
- Click Save, then Test Connection
- Go to Messages → the AI Chat tab is now active
Alternative: .env Configuration
AI_PROVIDER=openai
AI_API_KEY=sk-sp-your-key-here
AI_MODEL=qwen3.5-plus
AI_BASE_URL=https://coding-intl.dashscope.aliyuncs.com/v1No gateway restart needed — the config is hot-reloaded.
Switching Models
To switch models, update AI_MODEL in Settings or .env to any model from the table above. All models use the same API key and base URL — only the model name changes.
Endpoint Reference
| Purpose | URL |
|---|---|
| OpenAI-compatible (Coding Plan) | https://coding-intl.dashscope.aliyuncs.com/v1 |
| Anthropic-compatible (Coding Plan) | https://coding-intl.dashscope.aliyuncs.com/apps/anthropic |
| Standard DashScope (pay-as-you-go) | https://dashscope-intl.aliyuncs.com/compatible-mode/v1 |
WARNING
The Coding Plan endpoint (coding-intl.dashscope.aliyuncs.com) is different from the standard pay-as-you-go endpoint (dashscope-intl.aliyuncs.com). Use the correct one for your subscription type.
Troubleshooting
"API key is invalid (401)"
Make sure you're using a Coding Plan key (sk-sp-...) with the Coding Plan endpoint. Standard DashScope keys don't work with the Coding Plan endpoint and vice versa.
"Model not found (404)"
Check the model name matches exactly (case-sensitive). The available models depend on your subscription tier.
"Rate limited (429)"
The Coding Plan has usage quotas. Check your DashScope console for current usage and limits.
Tool calls not working
Most DashScope models support function/tool calling. If tools aren't working, try qwen3.5-plus or qwen3-coder-next which have the strongest tool calling support.