# DeepSeek vs Lumo

> DeepSeek: Free AI chat app and low-cost API running DeepSeek's open-weights V4 models
> Lumo: Privacy-first AI assistant from Proton with zero-access encrypted chats and no logging

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

## Verdict

DeepSeek and Lumo are both AI Assistants tools. DeepSeek scores higher in FinderAtlas's editorial review (8.8 vs 7.6 out of 10). Both have a free plan or trial. Only DeepSeek is available on Windows and macOS 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 Lumo if

- You want a tool built for everyday AI chat, web-assisted questions, document and image work without conversation logging or training on user data.
- Zero-access encryption on saved chats, with a stated no-logging policy.
- Open-source code and open-source models that can be inspected.

## Pricing

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

## Features

| Feature | DeepSeek | Lumo |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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 |
| Zero-Access Encrypted Chats | Not listed | Yes |
| Open-Source Models | Not listed | Yes |
| Web Search | Not listed | Yes |
| Image Generation and Editing | Not listed | Yes |
| Projects | Not listed | Yes |
| Custom Lumos | Not listed | Yes |
| Proton Drive Integration | Not listed | Yes |
| Guest Mode | Not listed | Yes |
| Memory and Personalization | Not listed | Yes |

## Platforms

| Platform | DeepSeek | Lumo |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | No |
| macOS | Yes | No |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| 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

## Lumo strengths

- Zero-access encryption on saved chats, with a stated no-logging policy.
- Open-source code and open-source models that can be inspected.
- Permanent free tier with guest access and no credit card.
- Web, iOS and Android apps.
- Run by Proton AG, a Swiss company, and stated to comply with GDPR.

## Lumo limitations

- Free chat history is kept for only 7 days.
- Uses open-source models rather than the proprietary frontier models of larger rivals.
- No desktop app or public API found.
- Lumo Plus limits are described only as "more" than Free, not as numbers, and the plan costs $12.99/month ($9.99/month billed annually).

## FAQ

**Is DeepSeek better than Lumo?**

It depends on your workflow. DeepSeek is built for Low-cost API integration. Lumo is built for everyday AI chat, web-assisted questions, document and image work without conversation logging or training on user data.

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

DeepSeek: Free AI chat app and low-cost API running DeepSeek's open-weights V4 models. Lumo: Privacy-first AI assistant from Proton with zero-access encrypted chats and no logging.

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

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

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

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