Most comparisons of D-Wave to IBM Q and other quantum computing companies are technical, but I’m going to contrast them from a different point of view: a noob.

The only semi-technical point I’m going to make is that D-Wave is very different from other providers. I’ve read articles that don’t classify their quantum annealing architecture as quantum computing at all. Notwithstanding definitions and technical terms, it is worth exploring what their systems can do.

1. My very first impression is that D-Wave’s site is far less smartphone-friendly than IBM Q. Why is this worth mentioning? Because my laptop died in a developing country, and I’m not going to buy a new one until I return home. I’ve been able to run hundreds of circuits on IBM Q from a smartphone, so if you want to do your quantum computing (vs annealing) on the go, IBM Q makes it much easier, even if only by allowing zooming in and out; some of D-Wave’s site is forcing me to scroll left and right, even in landscape orientation.

2. IBM Q gets you going quickly. I created an account, found the first tutorial, and wrote my first OpenQASM code (the drag-and-drop circuit builder doesn’t work on my smartphone) in a very short amount of time. In contrast, all I’ve done so far with D-Wave is download PDF files to read. I see no quick-and-easy tutorials for beginners, no drag-and-drop anything, and no code editor.

3. IBM has never asked me for money. In contrast, D-Wave’s free account expires after only 1 month unless you provide your GitHub account link. At some point during the process of adding my link, I found the page of account upgrade options. While IBM has partner accounts and other big accounts, you can play with their free devices without worrying about usage limits, providing links, or anything else beyond the initial registration — I’ve seen no options to pay for anything. D-Wave’s limits are generous for anything I will potentially use it for, but it is worth noting that IBM’s only limit is how many jobs you can have simultaneously in the queue.

In conclusion, IBM Q is much better for noobs. It is quicker and easier to get started and, therefore, get even more excited about quantum computing. D-Wave, on the other hand, is definitely not for noobs. You have to be dedicated to learning about quantum annealing.

I’m glad I found IBM Q first. I’m still going to see what D-Wave is all about, but had I found them first I might not have taken the time to run any code at all. Thank you, IBM, for getting me excited about playing not only with IBM Q, but also with every other architecture: photonics, ion traps, annealers, and whatever else is out there to explore.