API Key Setup7 min readPublished: 2026-07-29Updated: 2026-07-29

How to Get a DeepSeek API Key (2026 Step-by-Step Guide)

DeepSeek offers competitive pricing and strong reasoning models. Here's exactly how to create your DeepSeek API key, check pricing, and make your first request.

Why Choose DeepSeek API?

DeepSeek has become one of the fastest-growing AI API providers in 2026, with search interest increasing over 60% month-over-month. The DeepSeek-V3 and DeepSeek-R1 models offer competitive performance at significantly lower prices than many international alternatives.

DeepSeek is particularly strong in reasoning tasks, code generation, and multilingual support. If you're looking for a cost-effective API with strong reasoning capabilities, DeepSeek is worth serious consideration.

Step 1: Create a DeepSeek Account

Go to the DeepSeek developer platform and sign up with your email or phone number. Email verification is required. The registration process is straightforward and typically takes under two minutes.

DeepSeek accepts both international and Chinese phone numbers for verification, making it accessible to developers worldwide.

Step 2: Generate Your API Key

After logging in, navigate to the API Keys section in your dashboard. Click 'Create API Key' and give it a descriptive name. Copy the key immediately — like most API providers, DeepSeek only shows the full key once.

Store the key in a secure location such as an environment variable or a secret management system. Never hardcode it in your source files.

Step 3: Add Credits to Your Account

DeepSeek uses a prepaid model. Before making API calls, you need to add credits to your account. The platform supports various payment methods including Alipay and WeChat Pay.

New users may receive a small amount of free credits upon registration, which is enough for testing. For production use, add credits based on your expected usage.

Step 4: Make Your First API Request

DeepSeek's API is OpenAI-compatible, which means you can use the same SDK and request format. Simply change the base URL and API key. Here's a minimal example:

python

from openai import OpenAI

client = OpenAI(
    api_key="your-deepseek-api-key",
    base_url="https://api.deepseek.com"
)

response = client.chat.completions.create(
    model="deepseek-chat",
    messages=[
        {"role": "user", "content": "Hello, what can you do?"}
    ]
)

print(response.choices[0].message.content)

Minimal DeepSeek API call using the OpenAI Python SDK

DeepSeek API Pricing

DeepSeek's pricing is one of its main advantages. The DeepSeek-V3 model is priced significantly lower than comparable models from other providers, making it attractive for high-volume applications.

Check the official pricing page for the most up-to-date rates, as pricing can change. Input and output tokens are priced separately, and some models offer cached prompt discounts.

FAQ

Is DeepSeek API free?

DeepSeek API is not free, but new users may receive a small amount of free credits. The paid pricing is very competitive compared to other providers.

Is DeepSeek API compatible with OpenAI SDK?

Yes, DeepSeek's API is OpenAI-compatible. You can use the OpenAI SDK by simply changing the base URL to https://api.deepseek.com and using your DeepSeek API key.

Can international developers use DeepSeek API?

Yes. DeepSeek accepts international phone numbers for registration and supports multiple payment methods. The API documentation is available in both English and Chinese.