# DeepSeek vs Perplexity

> DeepSeek: Free AI chat app and low-cost API running DeepSeek's open-weights V4 models
> Perplexity: AI answer engine that searches the live web and cites its sources

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

## Verdict

DeepSeek and Perplexity are both AI Assistants tools. 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 Perplexity if

- You want a tool built for answering factual and current-events questions with checkable sources, and running multi-step web research.
- Every answer links to numbered sources, so claims are easy to check.
- Free plan includes search with citations.

## Pricing

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

## Features

| Feature | DeepSeek | Perplexity |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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 |
| Cited answers | Not listed | Yes |
| Pro Search | Not listed | Yes |
| Research | Not listed | Yes |
| Model selection | Not listed | Yes |
| File uploads | Not listed | Yes |
| Perplexity Computer | Not listed | Yes |
| Comet browser | Not listed | Yes |
| Perplexity API | Not listed | Yes |

## Platforms

| Platform | DeepSeek | Perplexity |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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

## Perplexity strengths

- Every answer links to numbered sources, so claims are easy to check
- Free plan includes search with citations
- Paid plans offer a choice of advanced models from several providers
- Available on web, iOS, Android and through a developer API
- Separate Comet browser integrates the assistant into browsing

## Perplexity limitations

- Free plan is limited to 3 Pro Searches per day and 1 Research query per month
- Pro and Max limits are described as weekly or monthly allowances rather than fixed numbers
- Max costs $200 per month, and Enterprise Max costs $325
- Answers can still contain errors, so the cited sources need checking

## FAQ

**Is DeepSeek better than Perplexity?**

It depends on your workflow. DeepSeek is built for Low-cost API integration. Perplexity is built for answering factual and current-events questions with checkable sources, and running multi-step web research.

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

DeepSeek: Free AI chat app and low-cost API running DeepSeek's open-weights V4 models. Perplexity: AI answer engine that searches the live web and cites its sources.

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

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

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

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