DeepSeek API Pricing (May 2026)

DeepSeek is still the budget disruptor in 2026, but the lineup changed. The current official pricing page centers on the V4 family, with Flash as the aggressive low-cost option and Pro as the heavier premium tier.

Current DeepSeek API Pricing

DeepSeek uses cache-hit pricing on repeated prefixes and now splits the family into a cheaper Flash tier and a more expensive Pro tier:

• DeepSeek V4 Flash — $0.14/M input, $0.28/M output. Cache hits drop to $0.003/M input.
• DeepSeek V4 Pro — $1.74/M input, $3.48/M output, with cached input at $0.015/M.

The Price Comparison That Matters

Here's how DeepSeek stacks up against the competition:

Automatic Caching: The Hidden Advantage

Unlike other providers where you must manually enable caching, DeepSeek's disk-based system caches automatically. Repeated prompts hit the cache without any code changes. Cache hit input costs drop to $0.028/M tokens — making DeepSeek not just the cheapest flagship, but absurdly cheap for repetitive workloads.

Trade-offs to Consider

DeepSeek isn't perfect for every use case:

• Rate limits can be tighter than OpenAI/Google during peak hours
• Content filtering differs from Western providers
• No free tier like Google Gemini offers
• Fewer model options — just two models vs OpenAI's 13+

For most developers building cost-sensitive applications, these trade-offs are worth the 90% savings.

DeepSeek on Third-Party Hosts

You can also access DeepSeek models through inference providers like Groq, Together AI, and Fireworks — often with faster inference speeds but at higher prices. Check our full pricing comparison to compare.