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DeepSeek

Hosted API and commercially usable open-weight language models.

What it is

DeepSeek provides hosted chat and API services and publishes model weights for selected releases. API prices are model- and version-specific, while self-hosting requirements depend heavily on model size and inference format. Published weights make self-hosting a genuine option, which changes the cost question entirely.

DeepSeek pricing

DeepSeek does not publish a plan ladder we could verify. Usage-based pricing.

Prices read from the vendor's own pricing page on 2026-08-24. Vendors change plans without notice — check the source before you budget.

Key features

  • Hosted model API

    Provides documented chat-model endpoints with model-specific token pricing.

  • Open-weight releases

    Publishes downloadable weights and inference instructions for selected models.

  • Prompt caching rates

    Separates cache-hit and cache-miss input pricing in the current API table.

  • Commercial-use model terms

    DeepSeek-V3 permits commercial use subject to its model license.

Strengths and trade-offs

What works well

  • Published API rates: Current input, cached-input and output prices are listed per model.
  • Downloadable weights: Selected model releases provide weights and local-inference guidance.
  • Commercial use: The DeepSeek-V3 repository states that its Base and Chat models support commercial use.

Where it falls short

  • Policy review required: Hosted use is governed by separate platform terms and privacy policy.
  • Large self-hosting footprint: The V3 release documents 671B total parameters and FP8 weights.
  • Version-sensitive costs: Model identifiers, capabilities and API rates can change.
  • Implementation limits: Official V3 demo requirements do not support macOS or Windows.

Who it is for

Developers comparing a hosted DeepSeek API integration with the operational cost and policy control of self-hosting its released weights.

Pick it or skip it

Pick DeepSeek if

  • Teams that have validated the current API model, rate and feature table
  • Organizations able to review DeepSeek's platform terms and privacy policy
  • Advanced infrastructure teams prepared for the hardware demands of large open-weight models

Skip it if

  • Your data policy cannot accept the hosted service terms or processing path
  • You need lightweight local inference from the full DeepSeek-V3 release
  • Your application cannot tolerate model, feature or price changes without revalidation

Our verdict

Evaluate DeepSeek using the exact hosted model or self-hosted release you plan to run; price, infrastructure needs, licensing and data policy are separate decisions.

Frequently asked questions

Does DeepSeek have a free plan?
No free plan is listed on the vendor's pricing page. DeepSeek is sold on usage-based pricing.
Who is DeepSeek best for?
Developers comparing a hosted DeepSeek API integration with the operational cost and policy control of self-hosting its released weights.
What are the main drawbacks of DeepSeek?
The trade-offs we noted: Policy review required: Hosted use is governed by separate platform terms and privacy policy.; Large self-hosting footprint: The V3 release documents 671B total parameters and FP8 weights.; Version-sensitive costs: Model identifiers, capabilities and API rates can change..
When should you not use DeepSeek?
Skip DeepSeek if: Your data policy cannot accept the hosted service terms or processing path; You need lightweight local inference from the full DeepSeek-V3 release; Your application cannot tolerate model, feature or price changes without revalidation.

What we checked

  • Public APIOffers a documented API you can build against.Yes
  • Mobile appHas a native app for iOS or Android, not just a mobile website.Yes
  • Open source / self-hostableSource is open and the tool can be run on your own infrastructure.Yes
  • SSO (SAML)Supports SAML single sign-on on at least one plan.No

“Not checked” means exactly that — we have not verified it, and we do not guess.

Evidence and freshness

Status: Official sources reviewedReviewed: 2026-08-24

Limit: Vendor documentation and terms were reviewed; ToolCompare did not independently benchmark model quality, API availability, latency or total self-hosting cost.

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