DeepSeek

Free AI chat from the Chinese lab DeepSeek, known for strong open-weight reasoning models.

Verified facts: 1 of 1
Alternatives ranked: 6
Approved reviews: 0
Visits sent from here: 0

About DeepSeek

DeepSeek is the chat app from the Hangzhou-based AI lab of the same name, which drew global attention for releasing capable open-weight reasoning models at very low cost. The app offers chat with its latest flagship model, a DeepThink mode for step-by-step reasoning and web search, and it is free to use. A newer desktop agent, DeepSeek Harness, works with local files on longer tasks. Developers can use the same models through a low-cost API or download open weights to run elsewhere. The main caveats are privacy and policy: the privacy policy says personal data is stored in the People's Republic of China, some governments and companies restrict its use, and answers on politically sensitive topics are filtered. Service can also slow down at busy times. It runs on the web, iOS and Android, with Harness for macOS and Windows.

Best for: Cost-conscious users and developers who want strong reasoning models for free or cheaply.

What works

Free chat with a capable reasoning model
Very low API prices for developers
Open-weight models you can run elsewhere

Why people leave

Personal data is stored in China
Censors politically sensitive topics
Can slow down or refuse new requests at peak times

Top DeepSeek alternatives

See all 6

1
Qwen Chat
Another free assistant from a Chinese lab with strong open-weight models.
66.5
2
ChatGPT
Data handled outside China, with far more features and integrations.
62.6
3
Mistral Vibe (formerly Le Chat)
European provider with a free tier, for users wary of data stored in China.
59.6
4
LM Studio
Run DeepSeek's open-weight models locally so data never leaves your machine.
57.2
5
Ollama
Pull and run open DeepSeek models on your own hardware from the terminal.
55.3

Why people left DeepSeek

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DeepSeek: common questions

Is DeepSeek free?

Yes, DeepSeek is free to use.

Is DeepSeek open source?

No, DeepSeek is not open source. Open-source alternatives include Ollama.

What platforms does DeepSeek run on?

DeepSeek is available for Web, iOS, Android, macOS and Windows.

What are the best alternatives to DeepSeek?

The highest-ranked DeepSeek alternatives right now are Qwen Chat, ChatGPT and Mistral Vibe (formerly Le Chat). See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

See all 6 DeepSeek alternatives