Side by side
| Feature | Claude | DeepSeek |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | AI assistant by Anthropic for chat, writing, coding and research, used by individuals and teams. | Chinese AI lab offering open-source large language models (DeepSeek-V4, R1) via a chat app, web interface and developer API. |
| Price from | 17 USD/mo | 0.02 USD |
| Free plan | yes | ? |
| Platforms | web, ios, android, windows, mac, chrome | web, ios, android, api |
| API | yes | yes |
Claude: key features
- Chat on web, iOS, Android and desktop
- Web search
- Memory across conversations
- Create files and execute code
- Projects to organize chats and documents
- Connectors and remote MCP for external tools
DeepSeek: key features
- Chat app and web chat interface
- Open-source models such as DeepSeek-R1 and DeepSeek-V4
- OpenAI- and Anthropic-compatible API
- JSON output and tool calls
- Thinking (reasoning) mode
- 1M-token context window on the flash model
FAQ
Is Claude or DeepSeek better?
It depends on the job - compare prices, free plans and features in the table above.
Are Claude and DeepSeek free?
Claude: Yes, there is a free plan. Free plan: chat on web and apps, code generation and data visualization, writing, web search, memory, file creation and code execution, desktop extensions, connectors, extended thinking. Limited use, no payment required. DeepSeek: The vendor does not state this clearly on the homepage or pricing page.