According to information from Engadget DeepSeek has built its reputation as a provider of affordable AI services. Its models have always been affordable compared to American companies. But this cheapness seems to be coming to an end. The company has clearly signaled to its customers that prices will increase significantly with the upcoming new models.
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Fourfold increase with DeepSeek V4 Pro
DeepSeek has released its new modelV4 ProWith the launch of has announced an increase in its API pricing by up to four times.The company says it is now Peak and off-peak Based on this, the government is adopting a new pricing system so that resources can be used more efficiently.
Under the new pricing, effective August 16th, the DeepSeek V4 Pro model will charge approximately $3.96 for every 1 million output tokens during peak hours, compared to just $0.87 currently. This means the price will more than quadruple. However, during off-peak hours, this rate will drop to almost half, at $1.98.
On the other hand, the company’s lighter model V4 Flash It will also become more expensive. It currently costs $0.28 per million tokens, but during peak hours, the price will rise to $1.32, while during off-peak hours, it will be $0.66.
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Cheaper prices were previously reported
The current low prices were originally part of a promotional offer that was set to expire on May 31. However, in May, DeepSeek announced that it would be extending these discounted rates. Permanent but on the contrary, the company has now decided to increase the prices, which has definitely come as a bit of a shock to users and developers.
Still cheaper than rivals
Despite this significant price increase, DeepSeek’s models will still remain cheaper than many major competitors in the market. Model of MoonshotKimi K3 Currently, it charges $15 for every 1 million output tokens. OpenAI’s most advanced model, meanwhile,GPT-5.6 Sun So that comes to a rate of $30 per million tokens, which is significantly higher than DeepSeek’s new rate.
Notably a cheaper alternative to OpenAI GPT-5.6 Luna Available for just $1.20, which is less than the DeepSeek V4 Flash’s peak price, meaning the competition is still there.
What it means for users and developers
Companies and developers who were using DeepSeek’s API extensively will now have to reconsider their budgets. Especially those who use a large amount of tokens during peak hours will see increased costs. Planning work during off-peak hours can be a smart strategy, as costs will be approximately half during those times.
Overall, the competition for affordable services within the AI industry is now showing some change. Companies like DeepSeek are now trying to balance the cost of their resources with the demand, which will directly impact the pockets of ordinary users.
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