Free AI platform comparison

DeepSeek vs SiliconFlow: Complete Comparison

DeepSeek 和 硅基流动 (SiliconFlow) 深度对比:免费额度、API 价格、模型能力、国内可用性,帮你选最合适的 AI 工具

Quick decision

DeepSeek vs SiliconFlow: Complete Comparison: pricing, free API, and limits

Quick answer: choose DeepSeek if its free tier, model family, or ecosystem fits your app better; choose SiliconFlow if it gives better free API credits, pricing, or access for your workflow. This comparison focuses on free tier, API pricing, limits, setup, and practical alternatives.

Free tierDeepSeek: 50 requests/day · SiliconFlow: Free model access varies by model; RPM/TPM and context limits should be checked in the console
Free API$5 vs ¥14
Best checkCredits, rate limits, setup friction
DecisionTest both if rank, latency, or access matters
👑DeepSeek

DeepSeek

95pts
2 wins
VS
SiliconFlow

SiliconFlow

65pts
0 wins

🏆 Overall, DeepSeek offers more free value (2/6 categories)

📊 Side-by-Side

Category
DeepSeek
SiliconFlow
Free Tier
✅ 50 requests/day
✅ Free model access varies by model; RPM/TPM and context limits should be checked in the console
Free API
✅ $5
✅ ¥14
Rate Limit
2 RPM
Varies by model/account (RPM, TPM, context, and queue limits)
Open Source
✅ Yes
❌ No
Free Models
4
2
GitHub Stars
-
-

🧠 Model Details

DeepSeek4 models
DeepSeek-V4-Pro
📐 1000k⚡ Rate limited
Released April 2026, 1.6T param MoE (49B active), 1M context, thinking/non-thinking modes
DeepSeek-V4-Flash
📐 1000k⚡ Rate limited
Lightweight V4, 284B params (13B active), 1M context, excellent value
DeepSeek-V3
📐 64k⚡ 50 RPD
Previous flagship, still available
DeepSeek-R1
📐 64k⚡ 50 RPD
Reasoning model, strong at math/code
SiliconFlow2 models
DeepSeek-V3 (hosted)
📐 64k⚡ Free-tier RPM/TPM varies
Hosted open model; verify free/zero-price availability, RPM, TPM, context, and queue limits in the console
Qwen2.5-72B (hosted)
📐 32k⚡ Free-tier RPM/TPM varies
Qwen-family hosted model; availability, free quota, context, and rate limits can change by model version

🎯 Which should you choose?

Choose DeepSeek if…

you want 50 requests/day on the free tier, plus $5 for API tests.

Choose SiliconFlow if…

you want Free model access varies by model; RPM/TPM and context limits should be checked in the console on the free tier, plus ¥14 for API tests.

FAQ

Which is better, DeepSeek or SiliconFlow?

DeepSeek scores higher in this free-tier comparison because it wins more of the measured categories. Still, the best choice depends on your exact needs: free chat access, API credits, open-source models, or rate limits.

Does DeepSeek have a free tier?

Yes. DeepSeek lists 50 requests/day for free users.

Does SiliconFlow have a free tier?

Yes. SiliconFlow lists Free model access varies by model; RPM/TPM and context limits should be checked in the console for free users.

Which one is better for API experiments?

DeepSeek offers $5; SiliconFlow offers ¥14. Choose the option with enough credits and rate limits for your prototype.

Source snapshot

Data source: yangmao.ai provider YAML tracker plus curated comparison notes. Official dashboards can change credits, limits, model availability, and pricing without notice; verify in the provider console before production.

yangmao.ai comparison slug
deepseek-vs-siliconflow
DeepSeek source
https://platform.deepseek.com
SiliconFlow source
https://siliconflow.cn
Dataset freshness
DeepSeek: 2026-06-05 · SiliconFlow: 2026-06-05
Decision data
Free tier, API credits, rate limits, model list, China access notes, and curated comparison dimensions from the yangmao.ai provider tracker.

Need one fallback key after this comparison?

Use the provider guides for first-party testing, then route production traffic through one OpenAI-compatible key when multi-provider fallback, budget control, or China-access testing becomes painful.

Get an OpenLLMAPI key →

🎁 Free Resource Pack

Get the Free AI Startup Toolkit

Free API credits list, AI business case studies, payment stack, risk checklist, and a monetization roadmap.

Get it free →
🐑 AI Assistant