DeepSeek is a free AI chat app from a Chinese company, with no paid consumer plan, so price does not decide whether it suits you. What does is how you feel about training: DeepSeek uses your inputs and outputs to train its models unless you opt out.
What is DeepSeek?
DeepSeek is made by Hangzhou DeepSeek Artificial Intelligence Co., Ltd., which has its registered address in China and controls the service. It runs on the web at chat.deepseek.com and as apps for iOS and Android, and you sign in with an account to use it.
What you can do with DeepSeek
DeepSeek offers only its own models, not those of other companies. Its model families include DeepSeek V4.1, V4, V3.2, V3.1, R1 and V3, and it publishes the weights of V4, V3 and R1 on Hugging Face, so anyone can download and run them.
DeepSeek does not generate images. The same company sells a developer API as a separate product, priced per token.
DeepSeek pricing: what each plan gives
The DeepSeek chat app is free on the web, iOS and Android, with no paid consumer plan. The only thing DeepSeek charges for is its developer API, which is priced per token rather than by subscription.
Privacy and security
DeepSeek uses your inputs and outputs to train and improve its models, and its privacy policy gives you "the right to opt-out of using your Personal Data for training our models". DeepSeek makes no GDPR commitment in its privacy policy or terms. Support is by email.
Who DeepSeek suits
DeepSeek suits people who want a free AI chat app on the web or phone and never want to pay for a plan. It also suits developers who want open model weights they can run themselves, or an API priced per token.
It suits less well anyone who wants their chats kept out of training without having to opt out, or who needs a service controlled by a company in the EU or US. It also suits less well anyone who wants to create images in the chat.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does DeepSeek cost?
The chat app is free, with no paid consumer plan. Only the separate developer API is paid, priced per token.
Which models does DeepSeek use?
DeepSeek uses only its own models, from the V4.1, V4, V3.2, V3.1, R1 and V3 families. It offers no models from other companies.
Does DeepSeek publish its model weights?
Yes. The weights of DeepSeek V4, V3 and R1 are on Hugging Face.
Does DeepSeek train on my data?
Yes, unless you opt out. DeepSeek uses your inputs and outputs to train and improve its models, and its privacy policy gives you the right to opt out.
