Skip to index

DeepSeek R1 vs Kagi

DeepSeek R1 and Kagi are both Conversational AI tools in our directory. This side-by-side comparison covers pricing, editorial scores, supported platforms, key features and open-source status so you can decide which one fits your needs.

Side-by-side comparison

AttributeDeepSeek R1Kagi
Product statusStatus not recordedStatus not recorded
VendorDeepSeekKagi
Rating★ 4.6★ 4.6
PricingFreePaid
PlatformsSelf-hosted, Model weightsWeb, Mobile, API
Key featuresDownloadable R1 weights, Reasoning-text generation, Separate Qwen/Llama-derived distilled variantsSearch with lenses and source preferences, Assistant with optional web access, Model switching and thread exports
Headquarters——
Launched——
Open sourceYesNo

Key differences

  • DeepSeek R1 and Kagi carry the same editorial score (4.6★).
  • DeepSeek R1 is Free, while Kagi is Paid.
  • DeepSeek R1 is open source (its code is public), while Kagi is proprietary.
  • DeepSeek R1 runs on Self-hosted, Model weights; Kagi runs on Web, Mobile, API.

DeepSeek R1 and Kagi at a glance

DeepSeek R1

DeepSeek

DeepSeek's original downloadable R1 reasoning model and related distilled checkpoints, with model-specific licenses and self-managed computing costs.

Rating
4.6★
Pricing
Free

Editorial verdict

Consider the original R1 weights when you can evaluate outputs and operate the required stack; confirm any hosted R1 offer separately.

Strengths

  • Original model code/weights are published
  • Checkpoint and prompting guidance

Key features

  • Downloadable R1 weights
  • Reasoning-text generation
  • Separate Qwen/Llama-derived distilled variants

Best for

  • Reviewed reasoning or code experiments
  • Evaluating a specifically licensed checkpoint
Read the full DeepSeek R1 review →

Kagi

Kagi

Subscription search with filtering and an optional multi-model Assistant; search quotas, AI usage budgets, provider retention and commercial rights require separate checks.

Rating
4.6★
Pricing
Paid

Editorial verdict

Consider Kagi if paid search fits your workflow; verify the AI budget, data path and commercial permissions before adopting it.

Strengths

  • Search and Assistant under one membership
  • Documented usage and provider privacy tables

Key features

  • Search with lenses and source preferences
  • Assistant with optional web access
  • Model switching and thread exports
  • Plan-dependent AI usage budget

Best for

  • Source-checked web research
  • Plan-budgeted assistant questions
Read the full Kagi review →

Feature overlap

  • The two tools have no listed features in common — see both feature lists above.
  • DeepSeek R1 also lists: Downloadable R1 weights, Reasoning-text generation, Separate Qwen/Llama-derived distilled variants
  • Kagi also lists: Search with lenses and source preferences, Assistant with optional web access, Model switching and thread exports, Plan-dependent AI usage budget

Frequently asked questions

Is DeepSeek R1 or Kagi better?

DeepSeek R1 and Kagi carry the same editorial score (4.6★), so the better choice depends on your needs — see the feature and platform comparison above.

Which is cheaper, DeepSeek R1 or Kagi?

DeepSeek R1 is Free and Kagi is Paid. Check each product page for current plan details.

Are DeepSeek R1 and Kagi open source?

DeepSeek R1 is open source, while Kagi is proprietary.

What platforms do DeepSeek R1 and Kagi support?

DeepSeek R1 supports Self-hosted, Model weights; Kagi supports Web, Mobile, API.

What are the main features of DeepSeek R1 and Kagi?

DeepSeek R1: Downloadable R1 weights, Reasoning-text generation, Separate Qwen/Llama-derived distilled variants. Kagi: Search with lenses and source preferences, Assistant with optional web access, Model switching and thread exports, Plan-dependent AI usage budget.

More Conversational AI comparisons