General AI chatbots
DeepSeek: review, pricing, data and alternatives
DeepSeek is for people asking questions in conversation, writing text, or rephrasing existing content. It also offers help with writing code and analyzing documents provided by users. A free tier exists; the first paid plan costs $0 pay as you go. Access and transparency score: 53/100, #14 of 20 in its category.
What is DeepSeek?
DeepSeek is for people asking questions in conversation, writing text, or rephrasing existing content. It also offers help with writing code and analyzing documents provided by users.
According to its documentation, DeepSeek lets you:
- answer questions in conversation
- write and rephrase text
- help write code
- analyze submitted documents
We file it under General AI chatbots, the category of tools to chat with a general-purpose AI, and it also overlaps with model APIs and platforms and aI coding assistants. The category lists 20 verified tools on this site.
The publisher is Hangzhou DeepSeek Artificial Intelligence Co., Ltd., based in China.
Who is it for?
It is mostly useful to these profiles: developers, students, and content writers. The need it covers is simple to state: chat with a general-purpose AI.
DeepSeek is a good candidate if:
- you want to try before paying
- you plan to connect it to your tools or automations through its API
- you also work from your phone
The best test is a concrete case from your daily work: if the tool does not beat your current method within a week, move on to an alternative.
How much does DeepSeek cost?
Pricing model: freemium (limited free use, then paid). A free plan is offered, usually limited in volume or features.
The first paid plan costs $0 pay as you go (deepseek-flash API: per million cached input tokens during off-peak hours. Uncached inputs and outputs billed separately; free chat application), according to the pricing page, checked on October 24, 2026.
To estimate what the same work would cost done directly with an AI model, use our API price calculator. Prices change often: always check the official site before subscribing.
Data and privacy
The publisher does not clearly state where data is hosted. Assume your content may leave your region.
For professional use, check that a data processing agreement (DPA) is offered, and do not send customers' personal data or confidential documents without one.
No export feature is documented: keep a copy of your content elsewhere.
Three habits apply to every AI tool:
- turn off the use of your content for training if the option exists
- use a work account separate from your personal account
- review everything the tool produces before publishing or sending it
Platforms, languages and API
DeepSeek runs on: web browser, iPhone and iPad, and API.
The interface is available in 9 languages.
A public API lets you call it from your own programs or an automation tool, and plug it into an AI agent.
How we scored it
Our 53/100 score does not judge output quality: it measures what can be publicly verified about access to the tool, its openness and how far the publisher can be trusted.
| Criterion | Points | What counts |
|---|---|---|
| Access | 30/30 | free tier, published price, French interface |
| Openness | 10/30 | API, data export, open code |
| Trust | 13/40 | identified publisher, declared hosting, age, presence in reference lists |
The full calculation is explained on our method page.
Comparison with alternatives
DeepSeek against other tools in the general AI chatbots category:
Verdict
DeepSeek publishes little verifiable information: look at the better-scored alternatives first.
Strengths
- Free tier to try it
- Public API
Limitations
- Data hosting not disclosed
- Data export not documented
Avoid if…
- You handle sensitive personal data without a processing agreement
- You need to easily retrieve your full history
Alternatives
Categories and jobs
Learn more
Frequently asked questions
Is DeepSeek free?
Yes, a free plan exists, with usage limits. The first paid plan costs $0 pay as you go.
Where is DeepSeek data stored?
The publisher does not clearly say so in its public documentation.
Does DeepSeek have an API?
Yes, a public API is documented.
What are the alternatives to DeepSeek?
In the same category: Gemini, ChatGPT, LibreChat, and Claude.
DeepSeek or Gemini: which one to choose?
DeepSeek starts at $0 pay as you go, Gemini at $4.99 per month and our score is 53/100 for DeepSeek and 85/100 for Gemini. Try both on the same task before paying.
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Neutrality. No affiliate links. No vendor pays to be reviewed, rated or ranked. Reviews are directed by François Chollet, neutral and factual, and every data point is dated and sourced. How we score