DeepSeek told its customers on Monday that the company will raise its API fees this month as it introduces two new language models, V4 Pro and V4 Flash. The price hike takes effect on Aug. 16 and follows a promotional pricing scheme that the firm said would expire on May 31.
Under the new schedule, the V4 Pro model will cost $3.96 for every million output tokens during peak hours, a jump of more than four times the current $0.87 rate. Off‑peak usage will be billed at $1.98 per million tokens, exactly half the peak price. The V4 Flash model will be priced at $1.32 per million tokens at peak times and $0.66 during off‑peak periods, up from $0.28 previously.
DeepSeek framed the change as a shift to a “peak and off‑peak pricing” system designed to allocate compute resources more efficiently. The company said the new structure will help balance demand and ensure stable service quality as usage spikes.
Even with the increase, DeepSeek’s rates remain lower than many competitors. Moonshot’s Kimi K3 model, for example, costs $15 per million output tokens, while OpenAI’s flagship GPT‑5.6 Sol commands $30 for the same volume. OpenAI does offer a lower‑cost tier, GPT‑5.6 Luna, at $1.20 per million tokens during peak hours, which undercuts DeepSeek’s V4 Flash price.
Industry observers note that DeepSeek built its reputation on offering AI services at a fraction of Western providers’ prices. The company’s original pricing was intended as a temporary promotion, but a May announcement suggested the discounted rates would become permanent. The latest adjustment signals a return to a more sustainable pricing model as the firm expands its model portfolio.
Customers who rely on DeepSeek’s API for chatbots, content generation, or other AI‑driven applications will need to reassess their cost structures. The company urged users to prepare for the upcoming changes and explore off‑peak scheduling to mitigate expenses.
Analysts predict the move could narrow DeepSeek’s price advantage but may also improve profit margins and fund further research. As AI adoption accelerates, pricing strategies are becoming a critical factor in the competitive landscape.
Cet article a été rédigé avec l'assistance de l'IA.
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