AI Chat Assistants · Pricing comparison
Kimi vs DeepSeek: Pricing
Both offer a free plan, DeepSeek rates slightly higher. Below we break down plans, free tiers, and value so you can decide which fits your budget and workflow.
Last checked September 10, 2026
At a glance
Both offer a free plan, DeepSeek rates slightly higher.
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Kimi vs DeepSeek: side-by-side
| Feature | Kimi | DeepSeek |
|---|---|---|
| Category | AI Chat Assistants | AI Chat Assistants |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free plan details | Free Adagio tier: unlimited basic chat, file uploads, web search. ~6 agent credits, no Agent Swarm or Kimi Code. | Free web chat with V4.1 Flash, fair-use throttling during peak hours. API gives 5M free tokens to new accounts. |
| Starting price | Free (Adagio) | Free (web chat) |
| Highest known plan | $199/mo (Vivace) | Pay-as-you-go API |
| Free trial | No | No |
| Best for | Users who want strong agents and long-context at a lower price than Western flagships | Developers and power users who want frontier AI at a fraction of Western pricing |
| Team support | Yes | No |
| API access | Yes | Yes |
| Editor rating | 4.4 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
Pricing and free plans
Kimi uses a freemium model, starting at Free (Adagio). Adagio Free, Moderato $19/mo, Allegretto $39/mo, Allegro $99/mo, Vivace $199/mo. Annual saves up to $480/yr. API: K3 $3/$15 per 1M tokens, K2.6 $0.95/$4. Its free plan: Free Adagio tier: unlimited basic chat, file uploads, web search. ~6 agent credits, no Agent Swarm or Kimi Code.
DeepSeek uses a freemium model, starting at Free (web chat). Web chat is free. API: V4.1 Flash off-peak $0.15/$0.60 per 1M tokens, peak $0.30/$1.20. V4 Pro off-peak $0.66/$1.98, peak $1.32/$3.96 (routes to V4.1 Flash from Sep 14). 5M free tokens for new accounts. Peak hours: 01:00-04:00 and 06:00-10:00 UTC. Its free plan: Free web chat with V4.1 Flash, fair-use throttling during peak hours. API gives 5M free tokens to new accounts.
Which is cheaper?
Neither tool clearly undercuts the other on entry price, so let features and fit for your use case decide.
Kimi: pros and cons
Pros
- Free tier is genuinely usable
- K3 API cheaper than Claude and GPT
- 1M context window
- Strong agent and coding features
Cons
- Agent features require paid plans
- Data processed in China
- Plans changing soon (Kimi/Kimi Code split)
- No enterprise SLA published
DeepSeek: pros and cons
Pros
- Completely free web chat
- API is 10-35x cheaper than Western rivals
- 1M context window at no extra cost
- Off-peak pricing halves the already-low cost
Cons
- No team or enterprise plans published
- Peak-hour throttling on free tier
- Data processed in China
- No official enterprise SLA
Who each tool is best for
- Best for beginners: Kimi — lower barrier to entry and easier to start for free or cheaply.
- Best for teams: Kimi.
- Kimi is best for: Users who want strong agents and long-context at a lower price than Western flagships.
- DeepSeek is best for: Developers and power users who want frontier AI at a fraction of Western pricing.
Verdict
On price, the two are close. DeepSeek edges ahead on our editor rating. For most people, choose Kimi if you want users who want strong agents and long-context at a lower price than western flagships, and DeepSeek if you want developers and power users who want frontier ai at a fraction of western pricing.
Kimi vs DeepSeek FAQ
Which is cheaper, Kimi or DeepSeek?
Kimi and DeepSeek have similar entry pricing (Free (Adagio) vs Free (web chat)), so features should decide it.
Does Kimi or DeepSeek have a free plan?
Both offer a free plan. Kimi: Free Adagio tier: unlimited basic chat, file uploads, web search. ~6 agent credits, no Agent Swarm or Kimi Code. DeepSeek: Free web chat with V4.1 Flash, fair-use throttling during peak hours. API gives 5M free tokens to new accounts.
Is Kimi or DeepSeek better for beginners?
Kimi tends to be the easier starting point thanks to its pricing and free access, though both cover the same core ai chat assistants needs.
Which is better for teams?
Kimi is the stronger team pick given its collaboration support and rating.