DeepSeek

4.9Setuproll editorial score

Near-frontier open-weight reasoning at the best price for heavy coding. Built by DeepSeek, it is strongest as an AI coding tool. You reach it through an API with a real free tier before the paid plans. Reach for it when you need coding, reasoning, low-cost API.

Specs

ProviderDeepSeek

AccessAPI

PricingFreemiumLow-cost usage billing

Open sourceNo

Context128k context

Best forCheap, capable reasoning

Score4.9Setuproll editorial score

DomainsAI Coding AI Models

ReleaseActive, updated 2026

Capabilities

codingreasoninglow-cost API

Tips from the floor

If you only use it for one thing, make it coding.

Its reasoning is worth setting up early, not as an afterthought.

Wring out the free tier on small jobs before deciding the paid plan is worth it.

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Guides for DeepSeek·1

Local AI

Intermediate16 min

Run DeepSeek V4 Locally: Which Size Actually Fits Your Hardware (Flash vs Pro)

DeepSeek V4 is a frontier open-weight release, but the headline size and the memory you actually need are not the same number. Here is what fits a single consumer GPU, what needs a workstation, and the realistic fallback for normal hardware.