DeepSeek vs ChatGPT: Uses, Differences, and Similarities

Key takeaways

DeepSeek made waves when it announced its V3 model because it delivered ChatGPT-like performance at a fraction of the cost [2]. There’s more to consider than just cost, though, when selecting an AI tool for the workplace. At a glance, here’s what you need to know about DeepSeek vs ChatGPT: 

• ChatGPT is one of the most widely used generative AI tools. In October 2025, for example, OpenAI reported that ChatGPT had reached 800 million active weekly users [1]. 

• If you want a well-regarded GenAI tool for personal and professional work that complies with US and EU data laws, use ChatGPT. 

• If you want an open-source AI model that can be run locally on your own hardware, consider trying DeepSeek. 

There are plenty of similarities and differences between DeepSeek and ChatGPT. Below we compare their features, costs, and use cases to give you a better idea of which might be best for you. Afterward, if you want to refine your own AI skills, consider enrolling in Vanderbilt University’s Prompt Engineering Specialization. 

DeepSeek vs ChatGPT: Comparison 

DeepSeek and ChatGPT share many similarities when it comes to general feature set but they differ when it comes to pricing, advanced features, and how they’re legally required to handle data. Here’s what you need to know:

DeepSeek: Features, cost, and uses 

DeepSeek is a cost-efficient, open-weight AI model offered by the China-based company of the same name. It stands apart from competitors like ChatGPT or Anthropic's Claude in that users can access it completely for free, facing only soft usage limits based on user load at any given time. Similarly, DeepSeek offers its open-weight models available for download, allowing users to both run them locally and also deploy them as they see fit.

DeepSeek gained wide recognition when it released its DeepSeek-V3 model, which matched many of ChatGPT's abilities but at a fraction of the operating costs [2]. At the time, DeepSeek's engineers claimed that it cost them only $6 million in computer power to train their open-weight model, or roughly 10 times less than it cost Meta to do the same thing. Although the veracity of this claim has been questioned, DeepSeek still garnered significant media attention and caused a momentary but significant drop in value of the company's US-based competitors.

There are three primary DeepSeek AI models with which users can interface: DeepSeek-V3 (a general purpose model), DeepSeek-R1 (a more advanced reasoning model), and Janus (an image generator with multimodal abilities). Between these models, DeepSeek's AI capabilities include code generation, data analysis, image generation, and text generation, among many other things.

Features and cost

In the world of AI chatbots and large language models (LLMs), DeepSeek is unique. While other companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google require users to subscribe to certain paid tiers in order to unlock specific features and context windows, DeepSeek is completely free.

Although the company does charge developers and organizations based on token usage via their API platform, it also offers free, downloadable versions of its AI models that can be run locally by organizations on their own hardware. This means that the cost for individuals, professionals, and businesses to use DeepSeek's AI models for commercial purposes is simply equivalent to the cost of purchasing and running the hardware needed to power them.

Here's how these costs break down, generally [3]:

The features found in DeepSeek AI models reflect many of the same you'll find in other AI chatbots, such as:

• Text and code generation: DeepSeek models can create text or code based on user prompts.

• Data analytics: Like other conversational AI, DeepSeek can clean and analyze data to identify insights.

• Language recognition: Users can interact with the conversational AI using a range of languages. In particular, DeepSeek has a strong Chinese language understanding.

• Document uploads: You can upload documents to DeepSeek for analysis, summary, or reference.

• Extended thinking: DeepSeek-R1 is capable of extensive chain-of-thought reasoning, which can be helpful for research purposes.

Strengths 

DeepSeek's primary strengths lie in its free, open-weight model and relatively cheap API usage cost. For those who can run it locally (including in "distilled" versions), DeepSeek AI models can offer a powerful way to interact with generative AI and use it for a wide range of commercial and personal applications.

Weaknesses 

DeepSeek's key weakness is its data privacy concerns, particularly because its servers are based in China, where the Chinese government possesses extensive legal access to data held within the country. While locally run models are confined to the hardware on which they're housed, users who rely on DeepSeek's web, app, and API platform may have their data collected by the company, which may be required to permit access to the Chinese government. This means that DeepSeek is not recommended for professionals or organizations who can't run the company's open-weight model locally on their own hardware.

ChatGPT: Features, cost, and uses 

ChatGPT is a generative AI chatbot developed by OpenAI. As one of the most popular genAI tools available on the market, it reportedly amassed more than 800 million active users in October 2025 [1]. Like other AI chatbots, it's capable of performing a wide variety of tasks, including text generation, image generation, code generation, deep research, and data analysis, among many other things.

Unlike DeepSeek, ChatGPT is available at a variety of price points and its servers are hosted primarily within the United States. Enterprise customers around the world, however, can find options to store data in other countries. This makes ChatGPT a practical model for many organizations seeking a well-regarded, generative AI tool with regional data protection laws but it comes at increased financial cost compared to DeepSeek.

Features and cost

ChatGPT is available in a wide range of price points depending on your needs. While casual users can interface with the AI chatbot for free online with certain limitations, power users can unlock capabilities and increase their context sizes via paid subscriptions or API pricing. Here's what you need to know [4]:

ChatGPT is a feature-rich generative AI tool, offering a deep set of capabilities based on your subscription tier. Here are some of the top features across all price points according to OpenAI itself [5]:

• Content and code generation: Like other LLMs, ChatGPT's key feature is that it can quickly generate unique content based on user instructions.

• Web browsing: Although ChatGPT's models are trained on data with specific cut-off dates, you can search online to find up-to-date information.

• Deep research: You can use ChatGPT to read and synthesize information across multiple online sources and produce a report.

• File uploads: You can upload files to be analyzed, referenced, or summarized.

• Image generation: ChatGPT has multimodal abilities, meaning it can turn your text inputs into images when prompted.

• Memory: ChatGPT can reference other chats you've had with it through memory.

• Projects: You can group files and chats under a shared objective in projects.

• Scheduled tasks: Some users can set one-time or recurring tasks in ChatGPT.

• Custom GPTs: You can create personalized assistants to perform specific tasks based on unique instructions, files, and contexts.

Strengths 

ChatGPT is one of the most widely used generative AI tools on the market. It's well regarded for its content generation capabilities, particularly text, code, and data analysis abilities. For businesses, its API platform makes it a strong choice for those looking to use it for commercial purposes.

Weaknesses 

ChatGPT's key weakness relative to DeepSeek is its cost. While DeepSeek offers free and low-cost solutions, ChatGPT provides its most advanced capabilities only to paying subscribers. For many, that's likely worth the cost of added data security, particularly if you're looking to use it for business purposes.

When to use DeepSeek vs ChatGPT

DeepSeek is a capable, free-to-low-cost AI chatbot that can do much of what larger, more expensive ones are capable of accomplishing. That said, its potential data concerns mean that it's likely best suited for individuals who are able to either run a full or distilled version of it on their own hardware. This makes DeepSeek a good choice for AI enthusiasts and researchers with their own rigs.

Professionals who want a widely used, well-regarded generative AI tool should try ChatGPT. While it's more expensive than DeepSeek, it provides a wide range of features for a variety of price points alongside data storage in the United States and other nations, depending on your enterprise plan. This means that ChatGPT is a strong choice for most professional and casual users.

Deepen your GenAI skills on Coursera

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• Watch on YouTube: ChatGPT for Job Seekers: What To Do (and Avoid)

• Subscribe on LinkedIn: Coursera’s Career Chat Newsletter

• Explore: Popular GenAI Courses

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