Quick answer (updated November 2026): DeepSeek is completely free in its app and website and is strong at reasoning and coding, but its privacy policy says user data is stored on servers in China. ChatGPT has a free plan too, plus more features (images, voice, file tools, Study Mode) and paid upgrades from ₹399/month. Use DeepSeek for free, non-sensitive tasks; choose ChatGPT for everyday use, work and anything involving personal information.
DeepSeek vs ChatGPT: comparison table
| Feature | DeepSeek | ChatGPT |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | DeepSeek (Hangzhou, China) | OpenAI (USA) |
| Latest major model | DeepSeek V4 (released April 2026); app updated since | Regularly updated GPT models |
| Price for consumers | Free app and website; no paid consumer plan | Free; Go ₹399/month; Plus ₹1,999/month; Pro higher |
| Developer API | Paid per token (known for low prices) | Paid per token |
| Image generation, voice, file tools | More limited | Yes — broad feature set |
| Where data is stored | Servers in China (per its privacy policy) | OpenAI’s servers; controls to turn off training on your chats |
| Open model weights | Yes — V4 released under the MIT license | Main ChatGPT models are not open |
| Best for | Free reasoning, maths, coding help | All-round daily use, study, work |
What is DeepSeek?
DeepSeek is a Chinese AI company whose free chatbot became one of the most talked-about apps in early 2025. In April 2026 it released DeepSeek V4 (V4-Pro and V4-Flash) with a one-million-token context window under the open MIT license (as reported). Later updates to the app’s default model have been reported since. The consumer app and website are free; only the developer API is billed.
Beware of fake “DeepSeek” sites and apps that ask for card details — the official service does not charge consumers. Download only from the official website or the official Play Store / App Store listing.
Features: where each one wins
Where DeepSeek wins
- Cost: fully free for chat — no “Go” or “Plus” upsell.
- Open model: developers can download and run its open models on their own hardware, which keeps data in-house.
- Reasoning and coding: its models are widely used for maths and programming tasks.
Where ChatGPT wins
- Features: image generation, voice conversations, file and data analysis, Study Mode and a mature mobile app.
- Privacy controls: settings to stop your chats being used for training, and data not stored in China.
- Ecosystem: works with many apps and is the most-used chatbot worldwide.
Is DeepSeek safe to use in India?
DeepSeek is available in India, but there are real concerns to understand:
- Its privacy policy states that data is stored in China.
- Indian authorities have monitored DeepSeek’s data practices, and in early 2025 the Finance Ministry told staff not to use AI tools including DeepSeek and ChatGPT for official work.
- A petition seeking a ban was filed in the Delhi High Court; the court observed that similar privacy concerns apply to all AI models. We found no confirmed nationwide ban as of November 2026.
Our advice: do not enter Aadhaar, PAN, bank details, passwords, client or office documents into DeepSeek. The same caution is wise for any chatbot, including ChatGPT.
DeepSeek vs ChatGPT: which should you use?
| Use case | Better choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Free maths/coding practice | DeepSeek | Free, strong reasoning |
| Homework and concept learning | ChatGPT | Study Mode, explanations, voice |
| Office or client work | ChatGPT (or a company-approved tool) | Better privacy controls; check your employer’s policy |
| Images, voice, file analysis | ChatGPT | Much wider feature set |
| Running AI on your own computer | DeepSeek (open model) | Open weights under MIT license |
Looking for other options? See the best AI chatbots of 2026, ChatGPT price in India, or our ChatGPT guide. Browse more head-to-heads in AI model comparisons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is DeepSeek better than ChatGPT?
Not overall. DeepSeek is a strong free option for reasoning and coding, but ChatGPT offers more features, better privacy controls and a more complete app.
Is DeepSeek free?
Yes. The DeepSeek app and website are free. Only the developer API is paid.
Is DeepSeek banned in India?
We found no confirmed nationwide ban as of November 2026. Authorities have monitored it, and some government offices have restricted AI tool use for official work.
Where does DeepSeek store my data?
Its privacy policy says data is stored on servers in China.
What is the latest DeepSeek model?
DeepSeek V4 (V4-Pro and V4-Flash) was released in April 2026, with later app updates reported since.
How we researched this
We reviewed DeepSeek’s release history, its stated data-storage policy, Indian news and legal coverage of government responses, and ChatGPT’s current India plans. Where reports were older (most Indian government responses date from early 2025) we say so, and we did not treat ban predictions as confirmed policy. We did not run our own benchmark tests.
