# DeepSeek vs Duck.ai

> DeepSeek: Free AI chat app and low-cost API running DeepSeek's open-weights V4 models
> Duck.ai: Chat with ChatGPT, Claude and other AI models without handing over your data

- DeepSeek profile: https://finderatlas.com/tools/deepseek
- Duck.ai profile: https://finderatlas.com/tools/duck-ai
- Comparison page: https://finderatlas.com/compare/deepseek-vs-duck-ai
- Last reviewed: October 2026

## Verdict

DeepSeek and Duck.ai are both AI Assistants tools. DeepSeek scores higher in FinderAtlas's editorial review (8.8 vs 7.8 out of 10). Both have a free plan or trial. Only DeepSeek is available on Windows, macOS and iOS and offers an API.

### Choose DeepSeek if

- You want a tool built for Low-cost API integration.
- Web chat and mobile apps are free.
- API output costs from $0.60 per 1M tokens (Flash, off-peak), well below most frontier providers.

### Choose Duck.ai if

- You want a tool built for everyday questions and drafting where you do not want chats tied to an account or used for training, and trying several models in one place.
- Free tier works without an account.
- Personal metadata such as IP address is removed before prompts reach providers.

## Pricing

| | DeepSeek | Duck.ai |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Free plan or trial | Yes | Yes |
| Starting price | $0 | $0 |

## Features

| Feature | DeepSeek | Duck.ai |
| --- | --- | --- |
| V4 model family | Yes | Not listed |
| Thinking mode | Yes | Not listed |
| Open weights | Yes | Not listed |
| OpenAI and Anthropic compatible API | Yes | Not listed |
| Tool calls and JSON output | Yes | Not listed |
| Search and Fetch APIs | Yes | Not listed |
| Agent tool integrations | Yes | Not listed |
| DeepSeek Harness | Yes | Not listed |
| Vision on Flash | Yes | Not listed |
| Multi-model chat | Not listed | Yes |
| No account required | Not listed | Yes |
| Metadata removal | Not listed | Yes |
| No training on chats | Not listed | Yes |
| Local recent chats | Not listed | Yes |
| Voice chat | Not listed | Yes |
| Image generation | Limited | Yes |
| File and image upload | Not listed | Yes |
| Subscription bundle | Not listed | Yes |

## Platforms

| Platform | DeepSeek | Duck.ai |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | No |
| macOS | Yes | No |
| iOS | Yes | No |
| Android | Yes | No |
| API | Yes | No |
| Browser Extension | No | No |

## DeepSeek strengths

- Web chat and mobile apps are free
- API output costs from $0.60 per 1M tokens (Flash, off-peak), well below most frontier providers
- Open weights for V4 and earlier models on Hugging Face
- 1M-token context and 384K max output on both API models
- API works with both OpenAI and Anthropic SDKs and several coding agents

## DeepSeek limitations

- Peak-hour API rates are double the off-peak rates on weekday mornings UTC
- deepseek-v4-pro does not support vision input
- No image generation
- Data is processed by a company based in China, which some organizations cannot accept

## Duck.ai strengths

- Free tier works without an account.
- Personal metadata such as IP address is removed before prompts reach providers.
- Chats are not used for training by DuckDuckGo, and providers agree not to train on them.
- Several providers' models are available from one interface.
- Plus ($9.99/month) bundles a VPN and identity protection services.

## Duck.ai limitations

- Free tier is limited by daily usage caps, and the paid limits are not published as numbers.
- Strongest models are subscriber-only, and the top tier costs $19.99/month.
- No public API and no standalone mobile app found.
- Chat history is local by default, so it does not sync across devices without opting into Sync & Backup.

## FAQ

**Is DeepSeek better than Duck.ai?**

It depends on your workflow. DeepSeek is built for Low-cost API integration. Duck.ai is built for everyday questions and drafting where you do not want chats tied to an account or used for training, and trying several models in one place.

**What are the key feature differences between DeepSeek and Duck.ai?**

DeepSeek: Free AI chat app and low-cost API running DeepSeek's open-weights V4 models. Duck.ai: Chat with ChatGPT, Claude and other AI models without handing over your data.

**Does DeepSeek or Duck.ai have a free plan?**

Yes, both do. DeepSeek is freemium and Duck.ai is freemium, and each has a free plan or trial.

**Which is cheaper, DeepSeek or Duck.ai?**

Both can be used for free. Paid plans differ in limits and features, so compare the tiers in the pricing table above.