DeepSeek
DeepSeek
★ #3 in Conversational AIProduct status: Status not recorded
No lifecycle review is recorded for this listing. Its inclusion in the directory does not confirm current availability; check the vendor before relying on it.
No status check date recorded
DeepSeek's hosted chat and separately metered developer API; service terms, model versions and public model licenses must be checked separately. No lifecycle review is recorded for this listing. Its inclusion in the directory does not confirm current availability; check the vendor before relying on it.
Product preview
Decision notes
Official-document research
Based on the cited documentation. We did not use the product, purchase a plan, or run quality, speed or reliability tests in this review.
Consider it for
- People comparing a hosted chat experience with a separately billed API
- Developers prepared to log exact model versions and estimate token/cache costs
Choose another approach if
- Buyers assuming a free chat promotion includes free API use
- Deployments that require one unchanged model or unresolved data terms
Pricing and conditions
Documented terms
API usage is metered separately from the chat experience. For deepseek-flash (V4.1-Flash), the English table displays peak cache-miss input/output at $0.30/$1.20 per million tokens; the Chinese table displays CNY 2/8 for the same units. These are separate published currency tables, not an exchange conversion. Cache hits and off-peak rates differ; peak is weekdays 01:00–04:00 and 06:00–10:00 UTC excluding Chinese public holidays. Confirm settlement currency, region, taxes and chat allowances; none is an original V3 quote.
Pricing source read:
Pricing or terms sourceCode, model and service licensing
This record describes hosted services governed by DeepSeek's service terms. It does not mark the chat application as open-source software or attach the R1 repository's license to it. Public model releases are separate artifacts: check the exact repository, code license and model-weight terms before downloading or deploying one.
Basis and limits of the recorded score
The previous 4.7/5 editorial score is retained without reassessment. No original worksheet, cost benchmark or hands-on comparison was established; this pass does not validate the number or any best-value ranking.
Overview
DeepSeek offers hosted chat through its website and mobile clients, alongside a separately metered developer API. Its public homepage links those services separately. This brand listing does not identify every current request as R1 or V3, and a public model repository does not establish that the hosted application has the same software license as those weights.
For an individual, first decide whether you need the hosted conversation interface. For an integration, use the API documentation's exact model identifier, tools and usage rules. The current model table and change log describe newer models, while the history shows that old aliases have changed their targets. Record the model and configuration used for any evaluation; a familiar API name is not enough to reproduce an old result.
The download page advertises a free experience, but that does not make developer API calls free or establish unlimited chat allowances. API billing separates cache-hit input, cache-miss input and output, with peak and off-peak conditions. A buyer should estimate the actual input/output mix and verify the account's settlement terms. This review did not sign in, call the API, measure coding or math quality, inspect service-side data handling, or test a self-hosted release. Claims of frontier parity, unmatched value and better economics than other vendors were therefore removed.
Sources
The factual claims in this review were read from the pages below. Each date is when an editor last opened the source, not when the product changed.
- Vendor site Checked 2026-10-15
- Vendor site Checked 2026-10-15
- Vendor changelog Checked 2026-10-15
- Vendor pricing page Checked 2026-10-15
- Vendor pricing page Checked 2026-10-15
- Vendor documentation Checked 2026-10-15
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Separate hosted-chat and developer-API entry points
- Public model/version change log
- Published cache and time-dependent API billing conditions
Cons
- Hosted service and downloaded models have different terms
- Alias targets can change across releases
- Actual cost depends on cache, output volume and timing
Who it's for
Comparing chat and API adoption paths
Planning token-cost estimates for a named API model
Tracking model changes before a controlled evaluation
Bottom line
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.
Key Features
Tags
Compare DeepSeek with alternatives
Frequently asked questions
Is DeepSeek currently available?
No lifecycle review is recorded for this listing. Its inclusion in the directory does not confirm current availability; check the vendor before relying on it.
What is DeepSeek?
DeepSeek is a Conversational AI tool developed by DeepSeek. DeepSeek's hosted chat and separately metered developer API; service terms, model versions and public model licenses must be checked separately.
What costs and terms should I check for DeepSeek?
API usage is metered separately from the chat experience. For deepseek-flash (V4.1-Flash), the English table displays peak cache-miss input/output at $0.30/$1.20 per million tokens; the Chinese table displays CNY 2/8 for the same units. These are separate published currency tables, not an exchange conversion. Cache hits and off-peak rates differ; peak is weekdays 01:00–04:00 and 06:00–10:00 UTC excluding Chinese public holidays. Confirm settlement currency, region, taxes and chat allowances; none is an original V3 quote.
Is DeepSeek open source?
This record describes hosted services governed by DeepSeek's service terms. It does not mark the chat application as open-source software or attach the R1 repository's license to it. Public model releases are separate artifacts: check the exact repository, code license and model-weight terms before downloading or deploying one.
What are the best alternatives to DeepSeek?
Notable Conversational AI alternatives include ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini. Browse all 67 tools in our Conversational AI category for a full overview.
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Basic Info
- Pricing
- Pay-as-you-go
API usage is metered separately from the chat experience. For deepseek-flash (V4.1-Flash), the English table displays peak cache-miss input/output at $0.30/$1.20 per million tokens; the Chinese table displays CNY 2/8 for the same units. These are separate published currency tables, not an exchange conversion. Cache hits and off-peak rates differ; peak is weekdays 01:00–04:00 and 06:00–10:00 UTC excluding Chinese public holidays. Confirm settlement currency, region, taxes and chat allowances; none is an original V3 quote.
- Editorial score
- ★ 4.7 / 5 How we score
- Platforms
- WebiOSAndroidAPI
- Last verified
- Not recorded
