DeepSeek pricing, plans and how to pay
Hangzhou-based lab with open-weight models, a free chat app and a low-cost pay-as-you-go API.
In short
As of Oct 29, 2026, DeepSeek is free to chat with, and its API is billed by usage: $0.30 input / $1.20 output per 1M tokens at peak (cache miss); half price off-peak; 1M context. Payment: Chat is free. API balance is topped up in advance with PayPal, bank card, Alipay or WeChat Pay.
Plans and limits
| Plan | Price / month | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Chat | $0 | Free web and app chat |
| API · deepseek-flash | Usage-based | $0.30 input / $1.20 output per 1M tokens at peak (cache miss); half price off-peak; 1M context |
| API · deepseek-v4-pro | Usage-based | $1.32 input / $3.96 output per 1M tokens at peak (cache miss); half price off-peak |
USD before tax, billed monthly unless noted. Regional and in-app prices may differ. Verified Oct 29, 2026.
Good fit for
- Reasoning and coding on a tight budget
- Developers who want an OpenAI-compatible API
- Teams that may self-host open weights later
Watch out for
- Peak hours (01:00–04:00 and 06:00–10:00 UTC on weekdays) cost twice the off-peak rate
- Review data-handling terms before sending customer data
Signing up and paying
- Sign-up
- Phone number or email with a password, or a Google or Apple account.
- Payment
- Chat is free. API balance is topped up in advance with PayPal, bank card, Alipay or WeChat Pay.
- Can I use DeepSeek outside China?
- Yes. DeepSeek chat accepts sign-up with email, Google or Apple, and the API can be topped up with PayPal or a bank card.
Frequently asked questions
Is DeepSeek free?
Yes, there is a free plan (Chat): Free web and app chat.
How much does DeepSeek cost per month?
Usage-based: API · deepseek-flash: $0.30 input / $1.20 output per 1M tokens at peak (cache miss); half price off-peak; 1M context; API · deepseek-v4-pro: $1.32 input / $3.96 output per 1M tokens at peak (cache miss); half price off-peak. Prices are in US dollars before tax.
How do I sign up for DeepSeek?
Phone number or email with a password, or a Google or Apple account.
How can I pay for DeepSeek?
Chat is free. API balance is topped up in advance with PayPal, bank card, Alipay or WeChat Pay.
Can I use DeepSeek outside China?
Yes. DeepSeek chat accepts sign-up with email, Google or Apple, and the API can be topped up with PayPal or a bank card.
What are the alternatives to DeepSeek?
Similar tools we track: ChatGPT (from $8/month), Qwen (free plan available), Kimi (from $19/month).
Compare
Change history
| Date | Change |
|---|---|
| Oct 29, 2026 | Verified Prices, plan limits, sign-up and payment options confirmed on the official site. |