DeepSeek
DeepSeek: free AI chat, thinking and search
Use DeepSeek on the web or mobile for AI conversation with thinking and search options. Developers can access its models through a separate token-priced API.
FreeAccount required
- Access
- Free
- Usage pricing
- USD 0.003 / 1,000,000 input tokensCached input — off-peak
- Available on
- Web, Mobile, API
Free conversation with a separate developer platform
DeepSeek’s consumer assistant is available free on the web, iOS and Android. Its interface includes thinking and search options, and the official app presentation shows conversations alongside a searchable history. An account is required for the hosted chat service.
The current DeepSeek-V4.1-Flash release adds native visual understanding and is available through the developer API as deepseek-flash. Open model releases also give developers another deployment route. Running model weights independently is a different arrangement from using DeepSeek’s hosted chat or API.
DeepSeek Harness is a separate desktop companion for longer tasks and local file work, with Windows and Apple Silicon Mac downloads. Its capabilities should not be confused with the mobile chat app. The hosted services have their own data policy, including storage in China and controls for training use.
Best for
- People who want a free web and mobile AI assistant
- Developers seeking a token-priced model API
- Technical teams evaluating open model deployment
Limitations
Open model availability does not make the hosted chat service local or private. Consumer chat, the API and independent model deployments have different limits and data arrangements.
DeepSeek features
Free web and mobile chat
DeepSeek’s official download page describes the assistant as free. The mobile app provides chat and conversation history; the web service requires sign-in.
Thinking and search
The consumer interface offers thinking and search options. Web search can send query terms to third-party search providers.
Native visual understanding
V4.1-Flash supports visual inputs as part of the model, rather than being a text-only release. Exact attachment formats and limits depend on the product surface.
A developer API
The paid API supports tool calls, JSON output and compatible developer interfaces. Its context and output specifications apply to API requests, not consumer chats.
Open model releases
DeepSeek publishes model releases and technical material for developers exploring deployment options. Independent hosting requires its own infrastructure.
DeepSeek Harness
The separate desktop companion works on longer tasks and local files. Windows and supported Apple Silicon Macs have dedicated downloads.
DeepSeek pricing
Free to use. Usage-based pricing. Visit DeepSeek for full plan details and current offers.
Example plans and usage rates; additional charges may apply.
Cached input — off-peak
USD 0.003 / 1,000,000 input tokens
DeepSeek-V4.1-Flash API
Plan details
Cache-hit input only. Per one million tokens, outside peak windows. Peak: 01:00–04:00 and 06:00–10:00 UTC on weekdays, excluding Chinese public holidays. API balance billing; separate from free chat.
Cached input — peak
USD 0.006 / 1,000,000 input tokens
DeepSeek-V4.1-Flash API
Plan details
Cache-hit input only. Per one million tokens, 01:00–04:00 and 06:00–10:00 UTC on weekdays, excluding Chinese public holidays. API balance billing; separate from free chat.
Uncached input — off-peak
USD 0.15 / 1,000,000 input tokens
DeepSeek-V4.1-Flash API
Plan details
Per one million tokens, outside peak windows. Peak: 01:00–04:00 and 06:00–10:00 UTC on weekdays, excluding Chinese public holidays. API balance billing; separate from free chat.
Technical specifications
AI assistants
| Feature | DeepSeek |
|---|---|
| File inputs | V4.1-Flash supports native visual inputs in the model API.Model capability, not a chat upload quota |
| Web search and citations | The consumer interface offers Search. Search queries can be shared with third-party search providers.Hosted consumer search |
| Usage limits | The paid API supports a 1M-token context. Consumer chat allowances are separate.API specifications; consumer limits separate |
| API access | SupportedPaid hosted developer API |
DeepSeek alternatives
These assistants offer broader consumer features or a different document and app experience.
ChatGPT
AI conversation with files, images, coding tools and paid research features.
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Writing and document analysis with editable outputs and connected tools.
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Multimodal assistance with research and supported Google app connections.
Compare with DeepSeekDeepSeek FAQs
Is DeepSeek free?
Yes, the official web and mobile assistant is free. Developer API calls are billed separately by token usage.
Which model name should developers use?
The current API model name is deepseek-flash for V4.1-Flash. The September announcement says the older V4-Pro alias now routes to Flash and is charged at Flash rates.
Are DeepSeek’s API limits also its chat limits?
No. API context, output and upload specifications do not establish the allowance or attachment limits of the consumer chat app.
Where is hosted DeepSeek data stored?
DeepSeek’s privacy policy states that personal data is stored in China. It also describes controls for opting out of model training use.
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