DeepSeek
by DeepSeek🧠 General AIChina's leading open-weight model — near-frontier quality at 10x cheaper API pricing
A Chinese AI lab releasing frontier-quality models at a fraction of the cost. V3.2 scores competitively with GPT-5.2 on coding benchmarks, and the API costs just $0.28/M input tokens. Open weights under MIT license mean you can self-host.
V3.2, open weights, 128K context, reasoning mode, code generation, MIT license for weights
Free tierAPI: $0.28/$0.42 per 1M tokens
Last updated: March 20, 2026 · Pricing verified from official sources. Prices are subject to change by the provider.
Pricing
Free TierYes — free web chat + generous API free tier
Entry PlanAPI only: $0.28/1M input
Team Plan—
EnterpriseNot available
API Pricing$0.28/$0.42 per 1M tokens
Prices exclude applicable taxes (VAT/GST/sales tax varies by region).
Specifications
Context / Input128K tokens
Max OutputHigh quality, competitive with GPT-5.2
ModalitiesText
Agent / AgenticVia API integrations
SecurityChina-hosted servers — consider data sovereignty
Self-hostedNo
Best For
Budget API usage, self-hosting, open-source projects, cost-sensitive teams
Recommended roles:developerdatafounderfreelancer
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much does DeepSeek cost?
DeepSeek offers a free tier. Paid plans start at $null/month.
Is DeepSeek free?
Yes, DeepSeek offers a free tier with limited features. For full access, paid plans start at $null/month.
What is DeepSeek best for?
DeepSeek is best for Budget API usage, self-hosting, open-source projects, cost-sensitive teams. Key features include: V3.2, open weights, 128K context, reasoning mode, code generation, MIT license for weights.
Is DeepSeek right for you?
Get a personalised AI Fit Score based on your role, budget, team size, and priorities.
Start the recommendation wizardStart wizard aitoolsmentor.com · Pricing verified March 20, 2026 · AI Tools Mentor Fit Score