DeepSeek Ai provides advanced AI models designed for various tasks, including conversation, reasoning, and creative writing. Their pricing is based on token usage, where tokens represent the smallest units of text, such as words, numbers, or punctuation. In this article, we will explain the details of DeepSeek’s models, their pricing, and how token usage works, including tables to make it easier to understand.
DeepSeek Models Overview
DeepSeek offers two primary models for users:
- DeepSeek-Chat
- DeepSeek-Reasoner (DeepSeek-R1)
Each model serves a different purpose, and their pricing is structured based on the number of tokens used for both input and output.
1. DeepSeek-Chat Model
The DeepSeek-Chat model is optimized for general conversational tasks. It can handle large context windows and generate detailed responses.
Key Features of DeepSeek-Chat:
- Context Length: 64,000 tokens
- Maximum Output Tokens: 8,000 tokens
- Cache Hit Price: Lower cost if the context is already cached.
- Cache Miss Price: Higher cost when the model needs to fetch fresh data.
2. DeepSeek-Reasoner Model (DeepSeek-R1)
The DeepSeek-Reasoner model, known as DeepSeek-R1, is used for tasks that require reasoning. It includes Chain of Thought (CoT) tokens that help the model generate complex answers.
Key Features of DeepSeek-Reasoner:
- Context Length: 64,000 tokens
- Maximum CoT Tokens: 32,000 tokens
- Maximum Output Tokens: 8,000 tokens
- Cache Hit Price: Cheaper when context is cached.
- Cache Miss Price: More expensive when fresh data is required.
Pricing Structure
The pricing for both models is calculated based on the number of tokens used, including both input and output tokens. Below is a breakdown of pricing for both models.
Pricing Table for DeepSeek Models
| Model | Context Length | Max CoT Tokens | Max Output Tokens | Cache Hit Price (1M Tokens) | Cache Miss Price (1M Tokens) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeepSeek-Chat | 64K | – | 8K | $0.07 | $0.14 (Discounted to $0.28 until 2025-02-08) |
| DeepSeek-Reasoner | 64K | 32K | 8K | $0.14 | $0.55 |
Token Usage and Cost Calculation
Tokens represent the smallest units of text processed by DeepSeek models. A token can be a word, a punctuation mark, or even a number. The total cost depends on the tokens used for both input and output.
Token Conversion Guidelines:
| Character Type | Approximate Token Conversion |
|---|---|
| 1 English Character | ≈ 0.3 tokens |
| 1 Chinese Character | ≈ 0.6 tokens |
To calculate the token usage for a particular task, you can estimate the number of characters in your input text and multiply by the respective conversion factor. Keep in mind that the actual token usage may vary slightly due to differences in tokenization across models.
Temperature Settings and Use Cases
DeepSeek allows users to adjust the temperature parameter to control the randomness and creativity of the model’s responses. Different use cases benefit from different temperature settings, as outlined below.
Temperature Settings for Various Use Cases
| Use Case | Recommended Temperature |
|---|---|
| Coding / Math | 0.0 |
| Data Cleaning / Data Analysis | 1.0 |
| General Conversation | 1.3 |
| Translation | 1.3 |
| Creative Writing / Poetry | 1.5 |
- 0.0 Temperature: Ideal for tasks requiring precision, such as coding or math.
- 1.0 Temperature: Suitable for general tasks like data analysis and data cleaning.
- 1.3 Temperature: Recommended for general conversations or translation tasks, where some degree of creativity is allowed.
- 1.5 Temperature: Best for tasks like creative writing or poetry, where higher creativity is needed.
Rate Limits and Errors
While DeepSeek app does not impose strict rate limits on user requests, high traffic periods can cause delays. During these times, you may encounter temporary responses, such as empty lines or keep-alive comments in the stream.
Common Error Codes and Solutions
| Error Code | Description | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| 400 | Invalid Format | Modify the request body as suggested in the error message. |
| 401 | Authentication Fails | Check your API key or create a new one if you don’t have one. |
| 402 | Insufficient Balance | Add more funds to your account. |
| 422 | Invalid Parameters | Adjust your request parameters as per the error message. |
| 429 | Rate Limit Reached | Slow down your request rate or try using an alternative provider. |
| 500 | Server Error | Retry the request after a short wait. |
| 503 | Server Overloaded | Retry the request after some time. |
Conclusion
DeepSeek offers two powerful AI models, DeepSeek-Chat and DeepSeek-Reasoner, each tailored to different tasks, with flexible pricing based on token usage. By understanding how tokens work and adjusting settings like temperature according to your needs, you can optimize your usage of these models. Make sure to track your token consumption carefully and take advantage of the caching feature to reduce costs.
Whether you’re integrating conversational AI, tackling complex reasoning tasks, or generating creative content, DeepSeek provides an affordable, customizable solution that adapts to your specific requirements.