DeepSeek app
Free, on a new model that Arena's open data doesn't rank yet. Your data is stored in China.
Should you use it?
Pick it if
People who want a free chat app for everyday coding help and are comfortable with their data being stored in China.
Best for: Free everyday chat and coding help for work that isn't sensitive (AI apps Top 20)
Skip it if
You want free coding help with a score: Claude's free plan and LM Studio, which runs open models on your own computer, both score 80 for coding.
You give up: Not scored yet; training opt-out is an email request, not a setting
The short version
- What this is
- DeepSeek's free AI chat assistant on the web and as a phone app, from Hangzhou DeepSeek Artificial Intelligence Co., Ltd. It now runs the V4.1-Flash-1017 model.
- Why it matters
- Free alternative to ChatGPT and Claude; this shows what it costs, where your chats are kept, and when we can score it.
- Free, with no in-app purchases listed; since 17 Oct the app runs DeepSeek's V4.1-Flash-1017 model s4 s6.
- No score yet: Arena's open leaderboard data doesn't include the new model s1.
- Your data is stored in China and may be used for training; opting out is a request, not a setting s5.
Good at
Weak at
- Data is collected, processed and stored in the People's Republic of China, and the training opt-out is a request rather than a setting s5.
- No score yet: Arena's open leaderboard dataset doesn't list V4.1-Flash-1017, and we score only the version the app runs now s1.
- DeepSeek does not say which effort setting the app uses s4.
Our take
DeepSeek's app has one plan, and it is free s6. On 17 October DeepSeek put its V4.1-Flash-1017 model into the app, its website and its API s4.
We can't score it yet. We take ranks from Arena's open leaderboard data, and its latest WebDev file, published on 11 September, lists only earlier DeepSeek versions s1. Our rule counts tests of an older version as no evidence, so the app stays a First look until the data lists the version it runs now.
DeepSeek's privacy policy says it collects, processes and stores your data in the People's Republic of China, and it places what you type under training its technology unless you ask it not to s5. That is worth weighing before you paste in work or personal material.
For coding at $0, Claude's free plan scores 80, and so does the best non-Anthropic pick we review, LM Studio, which runs open models on your own computer.
Not scored yet
This is a First look: the call above comes from the maker's own pages, so there is no score yet. When Arena's open leaderboard dataset lists DeepSeek-V4.1-Flash-1017 on its WebDev or Text boards; its latest WebDev file (published 11 Sep) predates the 17 Oct release.
CodingResearchWriting
New to this? What the scores and labels mean
- 0 to 100
- Our score for one job, like writing or coding, compared with everything else out today. 100 is the best available today. For AI models we build it from public data, such as Arena's blind votes and Epoch AI's independent tests; apps and tools are scored on our own checklist. The same tool can score differently for different jobs, and where two likely ranges overlap, we call it a tie.
- Our verdict
- Use it: a top choice for most people. Worth trying: good, and worth a go. Depends: good for some people or one kind of job. Wait: too early to tell, or not out for everyone yet. Skip: something else does the job better.
- First look
- Just released. We say what it is and whether to bother, and give it a score once public results exist.
- No score yet
- None of the public sources we use covers it yet, or the only evidence is from a source whose numbers we can't use, so we describe it in words instead.
- Best buy
- Nothing cheaper scores as well for that job.
- Best free
- The best score for that job that costs nothing, through a free plan or by running on your own computer.
- Pay as you go
- No monthly plan: you pay for each use, usually through a developer account.
- Checked
- The day we last confirmed the score and the price against the sources. Prices change often, so check the date.
- AI model
- The engine underneath, like GPT or Claude. You use it through an app or, if you code, directly.
- Open source
- Free to download and run on your own computer, so nothing leaves your machine.
Alternatives
Better or cheaper for coding, from our scores, then the ones we'd also look at. The same kind of product comes first.
- ClaudeTop scoredApp80FreeScores 80 in coding, first in our ranking; free. Free plan scores 80 for coding, also at $0. Side by side
- LM Studio (with Bionic agent)App80FreeBest non-Anthropic pick at $0: scores 80 for coding, running open models on your own computer. Side by side
- ChatGPT (GPT-6)App70$20 a monthScores 70 for coding on Plus at $20 a month. Side by side
Evidence
Everything behind the call and the scores, folded so the page stays short. Spotted a wrong price, score or link? Report a mistake.
How we scored this
Reviews are drafted with help from AI models, including Anthropic's Claude. Model scores come only from outside leaderboards and independent evaluations, by a written rule.
No one paid for this review or gave us free access, and we earn nothing if you sign up. How we score
Sources 4
- s1Arena open leaderboard dataset: webdev, latest split (published 2026-09-11), CC BY 4.0
- s4DeepSeek: DeepSeek-V4.1-Flash-1017 release (17 Oct 2026)
- s5DeepSeek Privacy Policy (last updated 10 Feb 2026)
- s6Apple App Store: DeepSeek AI Assistant
Something here out of date or wrong? Report a mistake and we will check it against the source.
History 2 changes
Every change to a rating, the price or our call, with the reason. Scores are against what exists on the day, so they drift down as better things ship. Older entries come from before we moved to scores.
- First look. Not rated: Arena's open leaderboard dataset does not list V4.1-Flash-1017 yet (its latest WebDev file was published 11 Sep). An earlier draft rated the app for coding from arena.ai's web page, which we no longer read by script.
- released is 2026-10-17, the day the current model reached the app. The catalog has 2026-08-13.
Use it well 3 guides on this site
Pages on this site that help with the jobs above.