DeepSeek

Free chat with DeepSeek reasoning models that are strong in math and code

DeepSeek is a Chinese company whose free chat gives access to models with step-by-step reasoning. The models calculate well and write formulas and code. User data is stored on servers in China, and a number of governments and agencies have banned the service on work devices. It is unsuitable for company data and is used for learning tasks without real data.

Free plan

A free chat; at peak hours the service is slow or temporarily unavailable

DeepSeek pricing

Tasks it handles well

• Get a spreadsheet formula from a plain-language request

Most useful for

• Accountant
• HR manager
• Finance manager
• Manager
• Marketer
• Sales manager
• Data analyst
• Teacher
• Executive assistant
• Logistics manager
• Procurement manager
• Secretary

Pitfalls to watch at work

• Data is stored on servers in China and accessible under Chinese law: keep out personal data, company documents, contracts and financial reports
• Answers on the war, China and politics are censored, so the service is unsuitable for such questions
• Many governments and companies have banned DeepSeek on work devices: check your company's rules before installing the app

Billing

The chat is free. The API is paid by topping up a balance, and some card issuers decline such payments.

Common problems and fixes

• DeepSeek and data security: why work documents must stay out
• DeepSeek not working: server busy, sign-up problems or answers that break off

Compare DeepSeek with

• DeepSeek vs Qwen Chat
• DeepSeek vs ChatGPT
• DeepSeek vs Claude
• DeepSeek vs Microsoft 365 Copilot
• DeepSeek vs Gemini
• DeepSeek vs Kagi Assistant
• DeepSeek vs Grok
• DeepSeek vs Mistral Le Chat

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