DeepSeek
DeepSeek is a free AI chatbot from the Chinese lab of the same name, on the web, iPhone and Android, with a DeepThink reasoning mode, web search and file uploads. The company also sells API access to its models.
#10 in AI AssistantsAI ChatbotsFree plan
Who it's for
Best for
People who want a capable chatbot without paying or hitting caps
Creators who want responsive, human-like dialogue for roleplay and fiction
Not for
Anyone who needs replies to stay in English every time
Researchers who need reliable document uploads and exportable files
Features
DeepThink reasoning
A Think button switches on step-by-step reasoning that shows how long it thought before giving a worked answer.
Web search
A Search toggle lets answers read and cite current web pages, showing how many pages were found and read.
Image and file uploads
Upload photos, camera shots or documents and ask questions about them, such as a summary of a long book file.
What users say
Pros
- It is free with no subscription or message-cap upgrade walls, and the API is cheap.
- Writes and troubleshoots code with strong logic, often beating free rival models.
- Delivers fast, human-sounding replies well suited for roleplay and storytelling.
Cons
- Replies randomly switch to Chinese even when every prompt and setting is in English.
- 'Server is busy' errors block chats for days at a time.
- Filters got stricter: harmless chats get blocked or whole sections silently removed.
- It can't make images or downloadable files, and document uploads often fail.
A selection of the review sources we used:
Summarized from public user reviews and community discussions. View details
Global Traffic Rank
Top 10k
Alternatives
Rank#10 in category#1 in category#3 in category#4 in category
Free planYesYesYesYes
ProFree chats without message caps or paywallsClear, patient help for study, writing and planningCited sources, free high limits, one-shot images, synced historySmarter, more grounded answers than ChatGPT
Better forGenerating images in chat and having real-time spoken voice conversations.Generating images in a dedicated Images sectionCreating downloadable documents and slide decks, plus remembering context across chats.
Weaker atProviding reliable technical guidance