# DeepSeek vs Kagi

> DeepSeek: Free AI chat app and low-cost API running DeepSeek's open-weights V4 models
> Kagi: Ad-free, subscription-funded search engine with built-in AI assistant and summarization tools

- DeepSeek profile: https://finderatlas.com/tools/deepseek
- Kagi profile: https://finderatlas.com/tools/kagi
- Comparison page: https://finderatlas.com/compare/deepseek-vs-kagi
- Last reviewed: October 2026

## Verdict

DeepSeek and Kagi are both AI Assistants tools. DeepSeek scores higher in FinderAtlas's editorial review (8.8 vs 8.1 out of 10). Both have a free plan or trial. Only DeepSeek is available on Windows and macOS.

### 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 Kagi if

- You want a tool built for people who want ad-free, personalizable search results and are willing to pay a subscription to get them.
- No advertising; revenue comes from subscriptions.
- Site-level raise, lower and block controls let users tune results.

## Pricing

| | DeepSeek | Kagi |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Free trial |
| Free plan or trial | Yes | Yes |
| Starting price | $0 | $0 |

## Features

| Feature | DeepSeek | Kagi |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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 |
| Ad-free search | Not listed | Yes |
| Site personalization | Not listed | Yes |
| Lenses | Not listed | Yes |
| Kagi Assistant | Not listed | Yes |
| Quick Answer and Summarize Page | Not listed | Yes |
| Developer APIs | Not listed | Yes |
| Orion browser | Not listed | Yes |
| Kagi Translate and Kagi News | Not listed | Yes |

## Platforms

| Platform | DeepSeek | Kagi |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | No |
| macOS | Yes | No |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| 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

## Kagi strengths

- No advertising; revenue comes from subscriptions.
- Site-level raise, lower and block controls let users tune results.
- Lenses give quick topic-specific filtering such as Academic or Forums.
- Ultimate bundles access to Claude, GPT and Gemini models in Assistant.
- Public APIs and an MCP server support developer use.
- Transparent funding history published by the company.

## Kagi limitations

- No permanent free tier: the trial is limited to 100 searches.
- The $5 Starter plan caps searches at 300 per month, which users report running out of quickly.
- Reviewers report that lens use and loading more results can count as extra searches.
- Full AI model access requires the $25 Ultimate plan.

## FAQ

**Is DeepSeek better than Kagi?**

It depends on your workflow. DeepSeek is built for Low-cost API integration. Kagi is built for people who want ad-free, personalizable search results and are willing to pay a subscription to get them.

**What are the key feature differences between DeepSeek and Kagi?**

DeepSeek: Free AI chat app and low-cost API running DeepSeek's open-weights V4 models. Kagi: Ad-free, subscription-funded search engine with built-in AI assistant and summarization tools.

**Does DeepSeek or Kagi have a free plan?**

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

**Which is cheaper, DeepSeek or Kagi?**

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