Free chat with open reasoning models
4.5 Bottom line: DeepSeek is a top-tier chatbots tool, best known for reasoning mode that shows its thinking steps. It has a free plan.
DeepSeek is a chat assistant from the Chinese AI lab of the same name, known for strong reasoning and coding at a fraction of the cost of rivals. The web chat and mobile apps are free for individuals, and the underlying models are open weight. Developers can also call the models through a low-cost API.
| Tool | Rating | Free | From | Best known for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 DeepSeek (this tool) | 4.5 | Yes | Free | Reasoning mode that shows its thinking steps |
 ChatGPT | 4.8 | Yes | $20/mo | Natural-language chat and drafting |
 Claude | 4.7 | Yes | $20/mo | Large context window |
 Perplexity AI | 4.6 | Yes | $20/mo | Cited, sourced answers |
DeepSeek is an excellent chatbots tool, best known for reasoning mode that shows its thinking steps. It offers a free plan.
What makes it different: DeepSeek stands out for reasoning mode that shows its thinking steps.
