How much does the paid version of Doubao cost?

The most expensive professional version costs 5,088 RMB (approx. NT$23,670) per year.

Who is Doubao's main competitor?

Its main competitor is Alibaba's 'Qwen', which gained over 13 million users in May.

Why did Doubao introduce a paid version?

Due to the soaring computing costs of its AI model (inference and chip costs), which amount to tens of billions of RMB annually.

AI News NQ Analysis

China's AI App 'Doubao' Loses 6 Million Users After Announcing Paid Version

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AI Summary (NQ-processed)

ByteDance's AI app 'Doubao' lost approximately 6.07 million monthly active users in May 2025 after announcing a paid version, dropping to 330 million. This highlights the challenge Chinese AI companies face: soaring computing costs versus consumer reluctance to pay for AI services, while competitor Alibaba's 'Qwen' saw user numbers surge.

AI Analysis

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How much does the paid version of Doubao cost?: A: The most expensive professional version costs 5,088 RMB (approx. NT$23,670) per year.
Q: Who is Doubao's main competitor?: A: Its main competitor is Alibaba's 'Qwen', which gained over 13 million users in May.
Q: Why did Doubao introduce a paid version?: A: Due to the soaring computing costs of its AI model (inference and chip costs), which amount to tens of billions of RMB annually.