Source-backed analysis9
Review basis
Research-based review: the AppDuo Editorial Team compiled it from official pages, documentation, app stores, press and user feedback, without hands-on testing. Every claim links to a source with the date it was checked.
9 reference sourcesInformation updated Nov 10, 2026
How we review
DeepSeek Review
Free Chinese AI chatbot and low-cost API, with data-handling trade-offs
By AppDuo Editorial Team · Updated
- Web
- iOS
- Android
- API
On this page
Decide at a glance
Our verdict
DeepSeek suits people who want a free chatbot and developers who need a low-cost API with a 1M-token context. The trade-offs are data stored in China, a 2025 database exposure, and many support complaints on Trustpilot.
Best for: Developers who need a low-cost API compatible with OpenAI and Anthropic formats
Skip it if: Agencies and companies with strict data-residency rules
Pros
- Free app, with no consumer subscription listed on the App Store
- Low API prices, halved off-peak
- 1M-token context and up to 384K output tokens on the API
Cons
- Data is stored in China and used for model training
- Many Trustpilot reviews complain of account suspensions and unanswered support
All pros and cons · Who is it for?
Pros
- Several publicly released models, with R1 under the MIT license per Wikipedia
Cons
- Modest store scores for the category: 3.9/5 on the App Store, 3.7/5 on Google Play
Best for
- Individuals who want a free chatbot for non-sensitive questions
Skip it if
- Users who want image generation or voice chat like rival chatbots' paid plans offer
Problems it solves
Experience & key features
What DeepSeek is
Per Wikipedia, DeepSeek is a Chinese AI company founded on 17 July 2023 in Hangzhou, funded by the hedge fund High-Flyer, with Liang Wenfeng as CEO. Its products are a mobile app, web chat, a desktop client called Harness, and an API. The chatbot launched alongside the R1 model in January 2025 (R1 on 20 January), and by 27 January 2025 the app had passed ChatGPT as the most downloaded free app on the US App Store.
Models and features
The homepage lists the V3, R1, V3.1, V3.2, V4 and latest V4.1 Flash generations. The API pricing page now lists just two models, deepseek-flash and deepseek-v4-pro, both with a 1M-token context and up to 384K output tokens; only deepseek-flash supports image input. The API accepts OpenAI and Anthropic request formats, so it works with coding tools such as Claude Code, Codex and OpenCode. The homepage also says the API now supports web search and page fetching.
Pricing and value
The App Store lists the app as free. The API is billed per token: off-peak, deepseek-flash costs $0.15 per 1M input tokens (cache miss) and $0.60 for output, while deepseek-v4-pro is $0.66 and $1.98. Peak pricing is double. These are low figures, though AppDuo has not compared each model line by line against other providers' list prices.
More analysis
Privacy and reliability
This is the biggest weak spot. Data is stored in China and used for model training, and opting out takes an email request. In late January 2025 Wiz disclosed an exposed DeepSeek database, Italy restricted processing of Italian users' data, and Australia, Taiwan, NASA and some South Korean bodies blocked DeepSeek on official devices. Trustpilot also carries many complaints about account suspensions and support.
When to choose it
DeepSeek fits free experimentation or low-cost API integration with non-sensitive data. If you need clear support, regional data terms or a broader feature set, look at ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini. For anything important, read the privacy policy in full before signing up.
Screenshots
Plans & pricing
Prices last verified Nov 10, 2026
App và web chat
PersonalFree
The App Store lists the app as Free. The homepage highlights two main modes, deep thinking and smart search. Neither the homepage nor the App Store states message limits.
API (trả theo lượng dùng)
APIContact sales
Billed per 1M tokens, with off-peak at half the peak rate. deepseek-flash off-peak: $0.15 input (cache miss), $0.60 output; peak: $0.30 and $1.20. deepseek-v4-pro off-peak: $0.66 input, $1.98 output; peak: $1.32 and $3.96. 1M-token context, up to 384K output tokens. Peak hours are 01:00–04:00 and 06:00–10:00 UTC, Monday to Friday, excluding Chinese public holidays. The Search and Fetch APIs cost $0.75 per 1,000 successful requests each.
- Free plan limits
- The App Store lists the app as free; the pages AppDuo reviewed publish no specific usage limits.
- Free trial
- No free trial
Cancellation & refunds
The pages AppDuo reviewed state no refund policy. API fees are deducted from topped-up or granted balance, granted balance first when both exist.
Privacy
The privacy policy (updated 10 Feb 2026) says DeepSeek collects email or phone number, what you enter (text, voice, uploaded files, photos), chat history, device details, IP address and usage logs. It states data is collected, processed and stored in the People's Republic of China and used to train and improve models. Users have a right to opt out of training, but must email [email protected]; the policy describes no settings toggle. No fixed retention period is given: data is kept for as long as the account exists. In January 2025 Wiz reported a publicly accessible DeepSeek ClickHouse database holding over a million log lines, including chat history and API secrets; per Wiz, DeepSeek secured it promptly after disclosure. Around the same time Italy's data protection authority restricted processing of Italian users' data, and several governments barred DeepSeek on official devices (see history). Anyone entering sensitive data may want to run DeepSeek's open models locally instead.
DeepSeek alternatives
7.5/10Gemini
Google's AI assistant, tied into Gmail, Drive, Android and Google storage plans
7.5/10ChatGPT
OpenAI's flagship AI assistant for writing, research, coding, images and voice
Frequently asked questions
Is DeepSeek free?
The App Store lists the app as free. The API is paid per token, per the official pricing page.
Where is my data stored?
The privacy policy (updated 10 Feb 2026) says data is collected, processed and stored in the People's Republic of China, and may sit on servers outside your country.
Can I stop my data being used for training?
The policy lists a right to opt out but describes no in-app switch; requests go to [email protected].
When are the API peak hours?
01:00–04:00 and 06:00–10:00 UTC, Monday to Friday, excluding Chinese public holidays. At all other times, weekends included, the price is half.
Review evidence & sources9
Scores
- Ease of use
- 7.5
- Features
- 7.5
- Value for money
- 8.5
- Performance
- 7.0
- Support
- 4.5
- Privacy & security
- 3.5
Why this score
A simple chat interface, and the App Store lists 72 languages. Trustpilot has praise for ease of use but also reports of image upload problems and unprompted switches to Chinese.
Why this score
Deep thinking, web search, Search and Fetch APIs and a 1M-token context; deepseek-flash accepts image input on the API. The official pages do not mention image generation or voice chat, which other major chatbots offer.
Why this score
A free app and low API prices: deepseek-flash output is $0.60 per 1M tokens off-peak, half the peak rate.
Why this score
Trustpilot reviewers praise coding and reasoning but also report fabricated sources and weak search, and both store averages sit below 4 (App Store 3.9, Google Play 3.7). No independent benchmark data was read for this review.
Why this score
Email and API docs only. On Trustpilot (2.4/5), one reviewer says a suspension appeal went unanswered for more than 10 days.
Why this score
Data is stored in China and used for training, with opt-out by email only; a January 2025 database exposure and restrictions by Italy and several governments.
What users say
- App Store (US)3.9/5 · 13,000
- Google Play (US)3.7/5 · 354,000
- Trustpilot2.4/5 · 163
Sources
- Vendor-providedDeepSeek homepageNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedOfficial API pricing pageNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedOfficial privacy policyNov 10, 2026
- storeApp Store listingNov 10, 2026
- storeGoogle Play listingNov 10, 2026
- Community-reportedWikipedia: DeepSeekNov 10, 2026
- pressAl Jazeera: Which countries have banned DeepSeekNov 10, 2026
- pressWiz Research: exposed DeepSeek databaseNov 10, 2026
- review-siteTrustpilot: deepseek.comNov 10, 2026
Specs & compatibility
- Developer
- DeepSeek (Hangzhou DeepSeek Artificial Intelligence)
- Headquarters
- China
- Launched
- 2025
- Category
- AI
Capabilities
- AI features
- Public API
- Mobile app
- Open source
Platforms
- Web
- iOS
- Android
- API
Interface languages
- English
- Chinese
- Vietnamese
- Japanese
- Korean
- Spanish
- French
- German
- Portuguese
- Russian
- Thai
- Indonesian
Integrations
- API tương thích OpenAI/Anthropic
- Claude Code
- Codex
- OpenCode
Support
- Help center
Change history
- Feature.V4 preview released; official V4-Flash followed on 31 July 2026 and V4-Pro on 13 August 2026.
- Feature.V3.2 released.
- Update.Italy's data protection authority (Garante) ordered a limitation on processing Italian users' data.
Full change history (7)
- Update.Wiz published its finding of an exposed DeepSeek ClickHouse database with over a million log lines; DeepSeek secured it after disclosure.
- Update.The app passed ChatGPT as the most downloaded free app on the US App Store.
- Launch.R1 model released; the DeepSeek chatbot launched alongside it in January 2025.
- Company.DeepSeek founded in Hangzhou, spun off from High-Flyer's AGI lab.
About the author
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