Head-to-head · verified September 25, 2026
ChatGPT vs DeepSeek: price comparison
DeepSeek has no paid consumer plan; ChatGPT starts at $8/mo (ChatGPT Go).
Plans tier by tier
| ChatGPT | DeepSeek | |
|---|---|---|
| Free | ChatGPT Free Free | DeepSeek (free app) Free |
| Entry (under $15) | ChatGPT Go $8/mo | — |
| Standard (~$20) | ChatGPT Plus $20/mo | — |
| Premium ($90+) | ChatGPT Pro ($100) $100/mo ChatGPT Pro ($200) $200/mo Closed to new sign-ups | — |
Key numbers
| ChatGPT | DeepSeek | |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest paid plan | ChatGPT Go $8/mo | None |
| Most expensive plan | ChatGPT Pro ($100) $100/mo | — |
| Plans on sale | 5 | 1 |
| Annual discount | Not listed | Not listed |
| Cheapest API model | GPT-6 Luna $0.10 / $0.50 | DeepSeek V4.1-Flash $0.15 / $0.60 |
| Priciest API model | GPT-5.5 pro $30 / $180 | DeepSeek V4-Pro $0.66 / $1.98 |
Pick ChatGPT if…
First-time AI buyers, everyday questions and voice-first users. Start free, move to Go when upload or image limits bite, and pay $20 when you want GPT-6 or Deep Research.
- Best-known voice mode and mobile apps
- Strong image generation built in
- GPT-6 models now available from the $20 Plus tier
The safe default. Go at $8 is the value pick, Plus at $20 is the full product, and Pro only makes sense if you hit Plus limits every day.
ChatGPT plans in detail →Pick DeepSeek if…
Budget-first users, students, and developers who want cheap reasoning via API.
- Consumer app is free
- API among the cheapest capable options
- V4.1-Flash replaced V4-Flash on Sept 10, 2026
The best price in AI is still $0. Know the data-policy trade-offs first.
DeepSeek plans in detail →Recent changes
- ChatGPT GPT-6 family launched
GPT-6 Astra ($10 / $50), Sol ($2 / $10) and Luna ($0.10 / $0.50) on the API; GPT-6 models added to ChatGPT Plus and Pro. GPT-6 Pro: 50 messages/week on Pro $100, 200 on Pro $200.
- ChatGPT ChatGPT Pro $200 closed to new sign-ups
Existing subscribers keep renewing; the $100 Pro tier remains open.
- DeepSeek V4.1-Flash replaces V4-Flash; peak pricing
V4.1-Flash $0.15 / $0.60 off-peak. API prices double during weekday peak windows (01–04 and 06–10 UTC). V4-Pro now $0.66 / $1.98 off-peak.
- ChatGPT GPT-5.6 Sol API promotion
$5 / $30 → $4 / $20 until Nov 21, 2026.
- ChatGPT GPT-5.6 Terra and Luna price cuts
Terra $2.50 / $15 → $2 / $12. Luna $1 / $6 → $0.20 / $1.20.
ChatGPT vs DeepSeek: questions
Do ChatGPT and DeepSeek both have a free plan?
Yes. ChatGPT Free: unlimited everyday text chat (abuse safeguards apply), capped uploads, image generation and voice. DeepSeek (free app): no paid tier, reasoning mode.
Should I choose ChatGPT or DeepSeek?
Choose ChatGPT if you are: first-time AI buyers, everyday questions and voice-first users. Start free, move to Go when upload or image limits bite, and pay $20 when you want GPT-6 or Deep Research. Choose DeepSeek if you are: budget-first users, students, and developers who want cheap reasoning via API.
Sources
Checked against the official pages below on September 25, 2026. Prices are USD before local tax. See how we verify prices and the change log.