How to Get Free DeepSeek API Access in 2025: Step-by-Step Guide for Developers

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Introduction

As AI continues to revolutionize industries, DeepSeek has emerged as a powerful tool for developers seeking advanced natural language processing (NLP) capabilities. While its official API platform has faced temporary shutdowns and pricing changes, there are still reliable ways to access DeepSeek’s API for free. This guide will walk you through two proven methods to integrate DeepSeek into your projects without breaking the bank—perfect for startups, hobbyists, and developers exploring AI solutions.

Method 1: Access DeepSeek via GitHub Models Platform

GitHub Models, a collaborative service by GitHub and Microsoft Azure, offers free access to open-source AI models like DeepSeek-R1. Here’s how to get started:

  1. Visit GitHub Models Marketplace
    Navigate to GitHub Models and search for “DeepSeek-R1” in the catalog. This model specializes in reasoning tasks, coding assistance, and multilingual support.

  2. Generate a GitHub Personal Access Token (PAT)

    • Go to your GitHub account settings → Developer settings → Personal access tokens.
    • Create a new token with repo and read:packages permissions. This token acts as your API key for authentication.

  3. Use the API Endpoints

    • API Base URL: https://models.inference.ai.azure.com (no /v1 suffix required)
      .
    • Headers: Include your GitHub PAT in the Authorization header.
    • Example request:
      curl -X POST https://models.inference.ai.azure.com \  
     -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_GITHUB_TOKEN" \  
     -d '{"model": "deepseek-r1", "messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "Explain quantum computing"}]}'

    This platform offers free usage until you hit rate limits, making it ideal for small to medium-scale projects.

Method 2: Leverage OpenRouter’s Free Tier

OpenRouter provides a unified API gateway for multiple AI models, including DeepSeek-V3. Follow these steps:

  1. Sign Up on OpenRouter
    Visit OpenRouter.ai and create a free account. The platform is accessible globally, including in the U.S..

  2. Generate an API Key

    • Navigate to the Credentials section in your dashboard.
    • Copy your API key for authentication.

  3. Integrate with Your Application

    • API Endpoint: https://openrouter.ai/api/v1/chat/completions
    • Headers:
      Authorization: Bearer YOUR_OPENROUTER_KEY  
Content-Type: application/json
    • Request Body:
      {  
  "model": "deepseek/deepseek-chat:free",  
  "messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "Your query here"}]  
}

    Free tier users get 100 daily API calls—perfect for testing or light usage.

Bonus: Integrate DeepSeek with Productivity Tools

While not API-focused, DeepSeek can enhance workflows via tools like WPS Office or Feishu (Lark). For example: [TENCENT YUANBAO IS OK NOW]

  • WPS Office: Use the “Lingxi” plugin to generate documents, analyze data, or create PPTs with DeepSeek-R1.
  • Feishu: Add DeepSeek-R1 as a “smart column” in Feishu’s tables for automated content generation.

Conclusion

Despite changes to DeepSeek’s official API platform, developers can still harness its capabilities for free through GitHub Models and OpenRouter. Whether you’re building chatbots, automating workflows, or experimenting with AI, these methods offer flexibility and cost-efficiency. Start integrating today and share your creations with the community!

Call to Action

Found this guide helpful? Share it on Twitter or LinkedIn to help other developers discover free AI tools. For more tutorials, subscribe to our newsletter!GitHub Models platform details and API setup.

  • : GitHub token authentication process.
  • : Integration with productivity tools like WPS and Feishu.
  • : OpenRouter’s free tier and API configuration.

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