Head-to-head · verified September 25, 2026
Perplexity vs DeepSeek: price comparison
DeepSeek has no paid consumer plan; Perplexity starts at $10/mo (Perplexity Education Pro).
Plans tier by tier
| Perplexity | DeepSeek | |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Perplexity Free Free | DeepSeek (free app) Free |
| Entry (under $15) | Perplexity Education Pro $10/mo | — |
| Standard (~$20) | Perplexity Pro $20/mo | — |
| Premium ($90+) | Perplexity Max $200/mo | — |
Key numbers
| Perplexity | DeepSeek | |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest paid plan | Perplexity Education Pro $10/mo | None |
| Most expensive plan | Perplexity Max $200/mo | — |
| Plans on sale | 4 | 1 |
| Annual discount | Yes | Not listed |
| Cheapest API model | No public API | DeepSeek V4.1-Flash $0.15 / $0.60 |
| Priciest API model | No public API | DeepSeek V4-Pro $0.66 / $1.98 |
Pick Perplexity if…
Researchers, students, journalists and careful shoppers, and as a second tool next to any chatbot.
- Citations on every answer
- Strong for current events, shopping research and fact-checking
- Free tier covers casual research
Start free; you may never need to upgrade. Pro is worth it if you research daily.
Perplexity 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
- 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.
Perplexity vs DeepSeek: questions
Do Perplexity and DeepSeek both have a free plan?
Yes. Perplexity Free: unlimited quick searches with citations, a few pro searches per day. DeepSeek (free app): no paid tier, reasoning mode.
Should I choose Perplexity or DeepSeek?
Choose Perplexity if you are: researchers, students, journalists and careful shoppers, and as a second tool next to any chatbot. 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.