DeepSeek · Beginner → Intermediate · 8 lessons · about 79 minutes · updated 2026-09-04
DeepSeek 101: The Complete Beginner's Course (Pricing-First)
Learn the free chat app, the open-weight model family and the OpenAI-compatible API — and what each one actually costs.
People who have heard DeepSeek is cheap and want to know whether that is true for their use, plus developers deciding between the official API, a third-party host and running the open weights themselves.
Course outline
- 1What is DeepSeek?Who makes DeepSeek, what the chat and reasoner models are good at, why the open weights matter for your bill, and the honest limits.8 min · 4 objectives
- 2DeepSeek models explainedThe V3, V4 and R1 lines, what each is for, context windows, and a live price ladder so you can see what the choice costs.10 min · 4 objectives
- 3Pricing and plansThe free app, pay-as-you-go API and open-weight self-hosting compared, and how to decide which one you should be on.9 min · 4 objectives
- 4Getting started: your first 15 minutesCreate an account, tour the chat interface, set the two toggles that matter, and finish one real task before you decide anything about paying.8 min · 4 objectives
- 5Prompting basics for DeepSeekHow to write prompts that work with DeepSeek's chat and reasoner models, with three before-and-after examples and the token habits that keep API costs down.10 min · 4 objectives
- 6Everyday workflowsFive concrete workflows — writing, research, coding, data and planning — with what each costs on the free app versus the API.11 min · 4 objectives
- 7API quickstartWhen the API beats the free app, how to call the OpenAI-compatible endpoint from curl and Python, and how context caching and off-peak pricing cut the bill.12 min · 4 objectives
- 8Cost control: the cheapest way to get the resultModel routing, caching, off-peak batching, when to move off another provider's subscription, and the red flags that you are overpaying — or using the wrong tool.11 min · 4 objectives
Frequently asked
Who should take this course?
Anyone deciding whether DeepSeek can replace a paid AI subscription or an expensive API, and developers who want to use the API without surprises. No coding is needed until Lesson 7, and that lesson is optional if you only use the app.
Where do the prices in this course come from?
From our models.json catalogue, which is refreshed from the OpenRouter catalogue and other official sources. Figures in prose are marked at the time of writing; the ladders and bars render live. The [DeepSeek pricing page](/pricing/deepseek-pricing) shows freshness status.
What does DeepSeek cost compared with ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini?
The DeepSeek app is free with no paid tier, and the API is usually a small fraction of the per-token price of the closed flagships. The trade-offs are features, availability and data handling. Our [three-way comparison](/compare/deepseek-vs-chatgpt-vs-claude) covers each in detail.
Can I use DeepSeek for confidential work?
Not through the official app or API if your obligations forbid processing in China. Because the weights are open, the same models are available from hosts in other regions and can be self-hosted, which keeps your data on a path you control.
Do I need the reasoner model?
Most people do not for most tasks. It is worth switching on for maths, logic and difficult debugging. For everything else it is slower and, on the API, considerably more expensive than the chat model.
How long does the course take?
About 80 minutes of reading across eight lessons, plus whatever time you spend on the hands-on tasks. Lessons 1 to 4 are enough to decide whether DeepSeek is right for you; 5 to 8 make you good at using it cheaply.