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DeepSeek vs DeepSeek R1

DeepSeek and DeepSeek R1 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

AttributeDeepSeekDeepSeek R1
Product statusStatus not recordedStatus not recorded
VendorDeepSeekDeepSeek
Rating★ 4.7★ 4.6
PricingPay-as-you-goFree
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, APISelf-hosted, Model weights
Key featuresHosted web and mobile chat, Separately metered developer API, Published model change logDownloadable R1 weights, Reasoning-text generation, Separate Qwen/Llama-derived distilled variants
Headquarters——
Launched——
Open sourceNoYes

Key differences

  • DeepSeek carries the higher editorial score (4.7★ vs 4.6★).
  • DeepSeek is Pay-as-you-go, while DeepSeek R1 is Free.
  • DeepSeek R1 is open source (its code is public), while DeepSeek is proprietary.
  • DeepSeek runs on Web, iOS, Android, API; DeepSeek R1 runs on Self-hosted, Model weights.

DeepSeek and DeepSeek R1 at a glance

DeepSeek

DeepSeek

DeepSeek's hosted chat and separately metered developer API; service terms, model versions and public model licenses must be checked separately.

Rating
4.7★
Pricing
Pay-as-you-go

Editorial verdict

Evaluate the hosted service or API you will actually use; verify model IDs, billing and data terms instead of treating the brand as a free, open-source R1 deployment.

Strengths

  • Separate hosted-chat and developer-API entry points
  • Public model/version change log
  • Published cache and time-dependent API billing conditions

Key features

  • Hosted web and mobile chat
  • Separately metered developer API
  • Published model change log
  • Cache and time-dependent API pricing

Best for

  • Comparing chat and API adoption paths
  • Planning token-cost estimates for a named API model
  • Tracking model changes before a controlled evaluation
Read the full DeepSeek review →

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 →

Feature overlap

  • The two tools have no listed features in common — see both feature lists above.
  • DeepSeek also lists: Hosted web and mobile chat, Separately metered developer API, Published model change log, Cache and time-dependent API pricing
  • DeepSeek R1 also lists: Downloadable R1 weights, Reasoning-text generation, Separate Qwen/Llama-derived distilled variants

Frequently asked questions

Is DeepSeek or DeepSeek R1 better?

By editorial score, DeepSeek scores higher (4.7★ vs 4.6★). Both are capable Conversational AI tools, so review the feature comparison for your use case.

Which is cheaper, DeepSeek or DeepSeek R1?

DeepSeek is Pay-as-you-go and DeepSeek R1 is Free. Check each product page for current plan details.

Are DeepSeek and DeepSeek R1 open source?

DeepSeek R1 is open source, while DeepSeek is proprietary.

What platforms do DeepSeek and DeepSeek R1 support?

DeepSeek supports Web, iOS, Android, API; DeepSeek R1 supports Self-hosted, Model weights.

What are the main features of DeepSeek and DeepSeek R1?

DeepSeek: Hosted web and mobile chat, Separately metered developer API, Published model change log, Cache and time-dependent API pricing. DeepSeek R1: Downloadable R1 weights, Reasoning-text generation, Separate Qwen/Llama-derived distilled variants.

Visit DeepSeek →Visit DeepSeek R1 →

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