Alternatives · AI Assistants
DeepSeek alternatives
DeepSeek compared with 6 alternatives: ChatGPT, Qwen Studio, Kimi, Z.ai, Gemini and 1 more.
DeepSeek is free to use. All 6 alternatives are free or have a free plan.
6 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 5, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| DeepSeekThis tool | Free | Free | Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
| ChatGPT | Free plan · from $8/mo | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
| Qwen Studio | Free plan | Yes | Web, iOS, Android |
| Kimi | Free plan · from $15/mo | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| Z.ai | Free plan · from $12.60/mo | Yes | Web |
| Gemini | Free plan · from $4.99/mo | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
| Dola | Free plan · from £7.49/mo | Yes | Web, iOS, Android |
How each one differs from DeepSeek
- Free plan · from $8/mo
ChatGPT
OpenAI's general-purpose AI assistant for chat, images and voice
- ChatGPT starts at $8 per month (Go). DeepSeek is free.
- DeepSeek is open source, according to its own site.
- DeepSeek also covers AI agents.
Suits: General-purpose help with writing, questions and brainstorming
- Free plan
Qwen Studio
Alibaba Cloud's chat app for the Qwen family of AI models
- Only DeepSeek lists macOS and Windows apps.
- DeepSeek is open source, according to its own site.
- DeepSeek also covers AI agents.
Suits: People who want to use Alibaba's Qwen models in a chat app
- Free plan · from $15/mo
Kimi
AI assistant and agent for research, slides, documents and code
- Kimi starts at $15 per month, billed annually ($180), or $19 billed monthly. DeepSeek is free.
- Only Kimi lists a browser extension.
- DeepSeek is open source, according to its own site.
- Kimi also covers app builder, research and presentations.
- DeepSeek also covers AI search.
Suits: Turning research into slide decks, reports and spreadsheets
- Free plan · from $12.60/mo
Z.ai
Chat assistant and agent built on Z.ai's GLM models
- Z.ai starts at $12.60 per month, billed yearly ($151.20), or $18 billed monthly. DeepSeek is free.
- Only DeepSeek lists iOS, Android, macOS and Windows apps.
- DeepSeek is open source, according to its own site.
- Z.ai also covers app builder and presentations.
Suits: People who want a free assistant built on the GLM models
- Free plan · from $4.99/mo
Gemini
Google's AI assistant, tied into Gmail, Docs and other Google apps
- Gemini starts at $4.99 per month (Google AI Plus). DeepSeek is free.
- DeepSeek is open source, according to its own site.
- DeepSeek also covers AI agents.
Suits: People who already use Gmail, Docs, Drive and Google Calendar
- Free plan · from £7.49/mo
Dola
ByteDance's international AI assistant, formerly called Cici
- Dola starts at £7.49 per month, or £74.99 per year (Dola Plus, UK App Store). DeepSeek is free.
- Only DeepSeek lists macOS and Windows apps.
- DeepSeek is open source, according to its own site.
- DeepSeek also covers AI agents.
Suits: Everyday writing, summaries and questions on a phone
Limits worth knowing in DeepSeek
- There is no paid consumer plan. API access is billed separately, from $0.15 per 1M input tokens off-peak for the deepseek-flash model.
- The desktop download is DeepSeek Harness, a preview agent app for Apple-silicon Macs on macOS 13 or later and 64-bit Windows, not the chat app.
- According to Wikipedia, DeepSeek's compliance with Chinese government censorship policies and its data collection have drawn regulatory scrutiny in several countries.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to DeepSeek?
The alternatives to DeepSeek in this directory are ChatGPT, Qwen Studio, Kimi, Z.ai, Gemini and Dola. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with DeepSeek.
Is there a free alternative to DeepSeek?
Yes. ChatGPT, Qwen Studio, Kimi, Z.ai, Gemini and Dola have a free plan alongside paid ones.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 4, 2026 to Oct 5, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.
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