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Does DeepSeek have a paid version?
Short answer
No. DeepSeek doesn't sell a monthly subscription for its chat app: the web chat and phone app are free, and the UK App Store listing has no in-app purchases. The only paid product is the developer API, which charges per use from a prepaid balance. For UK businesses, the bigger question is privacy, not price.
Free app, paid API
| Product | Cost (17 October 2026) | Who it's for |
|---|---|---|
| DeepSeek chat (web and app) | Free | Anyone |
| DeepSeek API, Flash model | $0.15 per million input tokens and $0.60 per million output tokens off-peak; double at peak times | Developers building it into software |
| DeepSeek API, V4 Pro model | $0.66 input and $1.98 output per million tokens off-peak; double at peak | Developers needing the stronger model |
DeepSeek's peak hours are 01:00 to 04:00 and 06:00 to 10:00 UTC on weekdays. The API is prepaid: you top up a balance and it's drawn down as you use it.
How is DeepSeek free?
DeepSeek doesn't explain its business model on its pricing pages. What it does say, in its privacy policy, is that it stores data in China. That's the trade-off to weigh. Read is DeepSeek safe to use? before you paste in anything about customers, staff or your finances.
Related questions
Is there a DeepSeek Pro or Plus plan?
No. There's no paid consumer tier in the app or on DeepSeek's site.
Can DeepSeek generate images for free?
DeepSeek's pricing pages list text models only. The Flash model can read images you give it, but no image-generation product is listed.
Do I need the API?
Only if you're building DeepSeek into your own software. For everyday writing and questions, the free chat is the same product most people mean.
Sources
- DeepSeek API docs: models and pricing
- DeepSeek: API platform
- Apple App Store (UK): DeepSeek's app listing
Checked 17 October 2026. Rules and prices change, so check the source before you rely on it. This is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.
More on ai costs and free plans
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- Can ChatGPT Plus make videos?
- Can I claim ChatGPT as a business expense in the UK?
- Can more than one person use ChatGPT Plus?
- Do AI subscriptions like Claude, Canva and Grammarly charge UK VAT?
- Does ChatGPT Plus have usage limits?
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