DeepSeek API official pricing (platform.deepseek.com)
DeepSeek publishes its API prices on platform.deepseek.com. You pay per token, and input tokens are billed differently depending on whether they hit the cache. Output tokens always cost more than input tokens.
| Model | Input (cache miss) | Input (cache hit) | Output |
|---|---|---|---|
| deepseek-chat | $0.27 / 1M tokens | $0.07 / 1M tokens | $1.10 / 1M tokens |
| deepseek-reasoner | $0.55 / 1M tokens | $0.14 / 1M tokens | $2.19 / 1M tokens |
1M tokens is roughly the size of a long novel, so a typical chatbot session uses a small fraction of that. The DeepSeek web and app chat remain free — the API is a separate, paid service for developers.
What 1M tokens costs in PKR (worked example)
At the ~PKR 280/USD rate (approximate, and it moves daily), here is the arithmetic on the official prices:
- deepseek-chat input, cache miss: USD 0.27 × 280 ≈ PKR 76 per 1M tokens
- deepseek-chat input, cache hit: USD 0.07 × 280 ≈ PKR 20 per 1M tokens
- deepseek-chat output: USD 1.10 × 280 ≈ PKR 308 per 1M tokens
- deepseek-reasoner input, cache miss: USD 0.55 × 280 ≈ PKR 154 per 1M tokens
- deepseek-reasoner output: USD 2.19 × 280 ≈ PKR 613 per 1M tokens
A typical session mixing 1M input tokens (cache miss) and 1M output tokens on deepseek-chat comes to about PKR 76 + PKR 308 = PKR 384. The same mix on deepseek-reasoner runs to about PKR 154 + PKR 613 = PKR 767. These are approximate conversions of the official USD prices, not official DeepSeek PKR prices.
DeepSeek vs Claude and ChatGPT for API work
DeepSeek positions itself as a low-cost API provider, and its list rates undercut the major Western providers: Claude's API models are priced at a premium per token, and ChatGPT's API is priced above DeepSeek's rates for comparable work. See our Claude API credits in Pakistan guide for the PKR breakdown of Claude.
The real comparison is workload, not just price. DeepSeek's models, context handling and rate limits differ from Claude and ChatGPT, so run your own test prompts against each before committing a project.
How to pay for DeepSeek API credits in Pakistan
The DeepSeek platform bills in USD, and international card payments from Pakistan frequently fail at checkout — the same wall that blocks Midjourney and Copilot subscriptions. That is why many local developers compare official API prices or buy API credits in Pakistan from a local supplier: you pay once in PKR, top up as needed, and skip the card problem.
Our step-by-step guide to buying AI API credits in Pakistan covers the safe process, including what to confirm before you pay. For help picking a credit package for your project, message AI Tools Pak on WhatsApp: https://wa.me/923714549245?text=Hi%20AI%20Tools%20Pak%2C%20I%20need%20help%20choosing%20an%20AI%20tool.
And if you want DeepSeek wired into business workflows without building it yourself, local AI automation services handle the integration and hosting for you.
Related pages
- Claude API credits in Pakistan
- How to buy AI API credits in Pakistan
- API credits in Pakistan
- AI automation services
Frequently asked questions
How much does 1M DeepSeek tokens cost in PKR?
At the ~PKR 280/USD rate (approximate): deepseek-chat input costs about PKR 76 per 1M tokens on a cache miss and PKR 20 on a cache hit, with output at about PKR 308 per 1M tokens. deepseek-reasoner input is about PKR 154 per 1M tokens on a cache miss and output about PKR 613 per 1M tokens.
Is DeepSeek free?
The DeepSeek web and app chat is free. The API is a separate paid service with per-token pricing on platform.deepseek.com.
Why is my card declined on platform.deepseek.com?
The platform bills in USD and many Pakistani cards are blocked for foreign online payments. Buying API credits in Pakistan from a local supplier avoids the problem.
Can I use the DeepSeek API with n8n or other automation tools?
Yes. DeepSeek's API is OpenAI-compatible, so it works in n8n and most tools that accept OpenAI-style API keys.
Which is cheaper, DeepSeek or Claude API?
DeepSeek's official list rates are lower per token than Claude's. See our Claude API credits in Pakistan guide for the PKR comparison.