Comparing DeepSeek and ChatGPT: Which One Is Right for You?
DeepSeek and ChatGPT have become two noteworthy competitors in the AI chatbot field, each platform having its own distinct features and pricing structures. You may already have an OpenAI account but are curious about DeepSeek. Let’s take a detailed look to understand the differences between these two platforms and help you make the most suitable choice.
First Impressions
When logging into DeepSeek, the interface looks very similar to ChatGPT. This isn’t surprising, as there are limited ways to design a prompt box with an adjacent toolbar.
ChatGPT Interface
ChatGPT – the "pioneer" of AI chatbots.
DeepSeek Interface
DeepSeek offers a familiar interface for ChatGPT users.
Initial Notable Differences
DeepSeek is still quite new, but some features it lacks compared to ChatGPT (from a user perspective) include custom chatbots and a video generator. On the other hand, ChatGPT allows for creating custom chatbots to meet the user’s specific needs.
Prompt Experience
I asked ChatGPT: "Can I create a custom chatbot on ChatGPT?"
The response was a definite "Yes!" (with an exclamation mark). ChatGPT then provided a quick guide on how to set up a chatbot and followed up with:
"Do you need detailed instructions on any aspect, such as setting it up on WordPress, connecting to a database, or building the chatbot interface?"
When I asked DeepSeek the same question:
"Can I create a custom chatbot on DeepSeek?"
The response was slower and only referred me to the official documentation:
"Hello! I am DeepSeek-V3, an AI assistant created by DeepSeek. For more details about our models and products, please refer to our official documentation."
This is understandable as DeepSeek is still new, but from a user perspective, it’s not the underlying technology that matters—it’s the ease of use. Currently, DeepSeek lacks many important features.
API Pricing – An Initial Challenge
|
Input Token Price (million tokens) | Output Token Price (million tokens) | Base URL | Supported model | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeepSeek | $0.14 | $2.20 | https://api.deepseek.com | deepseek-chat, deepseek-reasoner | |
| ChatGPT | $0.03 | $0.06 | https://api.openai.com | gpt-4, gpt-3.5-turbo |
Currently, the API pricing of DeepSeek is relatively high compared to ChatGPT, especially for businesses with large usage needs.
Perspective from Developers and Businesses
DeepSeek seems to focus more on the enterprise and developer segment. They offer detailed documentation and a more attractive API pricing for businesses.
Here are some important differences from the perspective of businesses and developers:
Origins and Development Process
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DeepSeek: Developed by a Chinese startup, DeepSeek quickly gained prominence and surpassed ChatGPT to become a top app on the US App Store. The DeepSeek R1 model was trained with less powerful AI chips, but still delivers impressive performance.
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ChatGPT: Developed by OpenAI, ChatGPT is one of the leading AI chatbots. OpenAI has made significant investments in research, using powerful AI chips and massive computational resources.
Accessibility and Supported Platforms
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DeepSeek: Available on Android, iOS, and web platforms. Requires account creation to access full features.
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ChatGPT: Accessible through web browsers and mobile apps, with both free and premium versions available.
Core Features
| Features | DeepSeek | ChatGPT | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Performance and Efficiency
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DeepSeek: Despite having lower development costs, DeepSeek R1 still performs well in mathematical tasks, programming, and natural language reasoning. This model has the potential to challenge the dominance of AI models from the US.
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ChatGPT: Known for its reliability and high performance, ChatGPT is heavily invested in training and resources.
Content Censorship
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DeepSeek: Strictly censored, especially on sensitive issues, particularly those related to Chinese politics. For example, when asked about the status of Taiwan, DeepSeek may refuse to answer or provide a government-aligned response.
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ChatGPT: Follows OpenAI’s censorship policies, attempting to provide balanced information but may still be influenced by training data.
Data Security and Storage
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DeepSeek: Stores data on servers located in China, which could raise privacy concerns.
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ChatGPT: Complies with international data protection regulations, but users are still advised not to share sensitive information.
Open Source
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DeepSeek: Supports open-source, allowing developers to customize the model.
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ChatGPT: A proprietary model, only accessible via API with limited customization options.
Conclusion
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DeepSeek stands out for its low cost, good logical reasoning capabilities, making it a suitable choice for developers looking for a cost-effective AI solution.
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ChatGPT excels with its rich features, voice support, and conversation memory, making it ideal for individuals and businesses needing a powerful, flexible AI.
You should choose DeepSeek if you want a more affordable solution for programming and logical reasoning. If you need a robust chatbot with advanced features, ChatGPT is the better option.
Source: DeepSeek vs. ChatGPT
Translation and editing by KisStartup.
