DeepSeek

What is DeepSeek?

DeepSeek is an AI company that builds large language models and offers them through a chat app, a web interface and a developer API. The V4 series comes in two sizes: a fast Flash model and a larger V4-Pro, which chat users can pick through Expert Mode. Both have a 1M-token context window, up to 384K tokens of output, thinking and non-thinking modes, and adjustable reasoning effort from low to max. The API follows OpenAI and Anthropic formats, so existing SDKs and tools such as Claude Code, GitHub Copilot or OpenCode can use DeepSeek as the backend model. Developers can also use a Search API and a Fetch API, billed per request. API billing is per million tokens, with cheaper cache-hit input and off-peak rates that are half the peak rates; for example deepseek-flash costs $0.15 per 1M cache-miss input tokens off-peak and $0.6 per 1M output tokens.

Use cases

• Chat with a reasoning assistant
• Call a language model through an API
• Power coding agents with DeepSeek models
• Generate structured JSON output
• Run tool-calling agent workflows
• Process long documents in a 1M context

Who it's for

• Developers
• AI engineers
• Everyday users
• Agent builders

Why use DeepSeek

• Pay only for tokens used, with cache hits billed at a fraction of the normal input rate.
• Scheduling batch work off-peak halves the per-token rate.
• Because the API accepts OpenAI and Anthropic formats, you can try it by changing a base URL and key.
• Choosing between Flash and V4-Pro lets you trade cost for capability per workload.

DeepSeek features

• Flash and V4-Pro models with a 1M-token context
• Thinking and non-thinking modes
• Reasoning effort set to low, high or max
• OpenAI-format and Anthropic-format API endpoints
• JSON output, tool calls and Responses API support
• Vision input on the Flash model
• Search and Fetch APIs billed per 1,000 requests
• Expert Mode for V4-Pro in the app and web chat
• Lower off-peak token rates

DeepSeek integrations

• Claude Code
• GitHub Copilot
• OpenCode
• Codex
• OpenAI SDK
• Anthropic SDK

How to get started with DeepSeek

1. Apply for an API key on the DeepSeek platform and top up your balance.
2. Set your OpenAI or Anthropic client base URL to the DeepSeek endpoint and use your key.
3. Pick deepseek-flash or deepseek-v4-pro as the model name.
4. Choose thinking or non-thinking mode and a reasoning effort for the task.
5. Send requests; usage is deducted from your balance, using any granted balance first.

DeepSeek limitations

• The pricing research covers the API only; chat app terms are not stated there
• Peak rates apply on weekdays, 01:00 to 04:00 and 06:00 to 10:00 UTC
• The V4-Pro model does not support vision
• Prices can change at any time, per the pricing page

DeepSeek pricing

Yes, DeepSeek has a free plan.

DeepSeek plans

• deepseek-flash

  $0.15-$0.3 per 1M input tokens

  cache miss, off-peak to peak; usage-based

  • Cache-hit input $0.003 off-peak, $0.006 peak
  • Output $0.6 off-peak, $1.2 peak
  • Vision supported
  • Concurrency limit 2500

• deepseek-v4-pro

  $0.66-$1.32 per 1M input tokens

  cache miss, off-peak to peak; usage-based

  • Cache-hit input $0.022 off-peak, $0.044 peak
  • Output $1.98 off-peak, $3.96 peak
  • Vision not supported
  • Concurrency limit 500

• Search and Fetch APIs

  $0.75 per 1,000 requests

  per successful request

  • Search API
  • Fetch API
  • Server-side tool calls are free until Nov 1, 2026

Plans as listed on the official pricing page on 24 Oct 2026. Prices can change and may vary by country or exclude tax. Check the official pricing page.

DeepSeek alternatives

The main DeepSeek alternatives listed on Debuly are ChatGPT, Claude, Kimi, DeepSeek API, AnythingLLM and Msty. The table compares pricing and platforms; order is A–Z.

1. 

   AnythingLLM

   Open-source AI app for chatting with your documents and running agents, on desktop, in Docker or as a hosted team workspace.

   Chat assistantsAutomation and agentsDeveloper platforms
   Open sourceVisit AnythingLLM (official site)
2. 

   ChatGPT

   OpenAI's AI assistant for chat, writing, analysis, images, voice, deep research and coding across web, iOS and Android.

   Chat assistantsResearch and searchCodingWriting
   FreemiumVisit ChatGPT (official site)
3. 

   Claude

   Anthropic's AI assistant for chat, writing, analysis, coding and research on web, desktop and mobile, with a free plan.

   Chat assistantsCodingWritingResearch and search
   FreemiumVisit Claude (official site)
4. 

   DeepSeek API

   Pay-per-token API for DeepSeek V4 models with a 1M-token context, thinking modes, tool calls and OpenAI or Anthropic formats.

   Developer platformsCoding
   PaidVisit DeepSeek API (official site)
5. 

   Kimi

   AI assistant for chat, deep research, slides, agent tasks and coding with Kimi Code, sold as monthly membership plans with shared credits.

   Chat assistantsCodingResearch and search
   PaidVisit Kimi (official site)
6. 

   Msty

   Privacy-first AI workspace for chatting with local and online models, with a model gateway, agents and knowledge stacks.

   Chat assistantsAutomation and agentsDeveloper platforms
   FreemiumVisit Msty (official site)

DeepSeek FAQ

Sources & verification

Facts on this page come from the official sources below, each with the date we read it. Written by Debuly; the vendor did not review this page.

Image credits

• Logo: from deepseek.com · fetched 23 Oct 2026 · Vendor trademark, used only to identify the product; removed on request
• Cover: none collected yet, so a generated tile is shown.

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