deepseek-reasoner (R1) — Free AI Model & API

deepseek/deepseek-reasoner-r1

chat reasoning

Get API key →

Context Window 128K

Max Output 8K

Rate Limit Dynamic

Cost $0.00 FREE

Free Period Since May 23, 2026

Credit Card Not required

Phone Verification Required

Status Online

Overview

deepseek-reasoner (R1) — free model from DeepSeek.

Model ID

deepseek-reasoner-r1

Base URL

https://api.deepseek.com/v1

Specifications

Context: 128K · Output: 8K · Modality: text · OpenAI Compat: No

Quick Start

Integrate deepseek-reasoner (R1) with 3 lines of code. See the config generator for Claude Code, Cursor, and more.

from openai import OpenAI

client = OpenAI(
    base_url="https://api.deepseek.com/v1",
    api_key="YOUR_API_KEY"
)

response = client.chat.completions.create(
    model="deepseek-reasoner-r1",
    messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "Hello!"}]
)
print(response.choices[0].message.content)

import OpenAI from "openai";

const openai = new OpenAI({
  baseURL: "https://api.deepseek.com/v1",
  apiKey: "YOUR_API_KEY",
});

const completion = await openai.chat.completions.create({
  model: "deepseek-reasoner-r1",
  messages: [{ role: "user", content: "Hello!" }],
});

console.log(completion.choices[0].message.content);

curl "https://api.deepseek.com/v1/models/deepseek-reasoner-r1:generateContent?key=YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "contents": [{"parts": [{"text": "Hello!"}]}]
  }'

Other Free Models from DeepSeek

deepseek-chat (V3.2)

128K context · No card

Rate Limits & Constraints

Rate Limit Dynamic

Context Window 128K

Max Output Tokens 8K

Cost Free — since May 23, 2026

Credit Card Not required

OpenAI Compatible No — uses provider-native API

Features & Use Cases

Best For

ChatReasoning

Modality Support

text

Playground — Test deepseek-reasoner (R1)

Test deepseek-reasoner (R1) directly in your browser. Your API key is sent directly to DeepSeek — never stored.

Model: deepseek-reasoner (R1) Get Key

🔒 Your key is never stored — sent directly to the model provider via our server proxy.

Ready to chat with deepseek-reasoner (R1).

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get an API key for deepseek-reasoner (R1)?

Sign up at DeepSeek to get your API key. No credit card is required — just an email sign-up. Once you have the key, use the code snippets in the Quick Start section above.

Is deepseek-reasoner (R1) really free?

Yes. deepseek-reasoner (R1) is available on DeepSeek's free tier and has been free since May 23, 2026. Rate limits apply: Dynamic. Always check the provider's terms for any changes to the free tier.

What are deepseek-reasoner (R1)'s rate limits?

Dynamic Context window: 128K. Max output: 8K. No credit card required.

What are the best free alternatives to deepseek-reasoner (R1)?

Popular free alternatives include inclusionAI: Ring-2.6-1T, Owl Alpha, NVIDIA: Nemotron 3 Nano Omni (free). You can also browse all 164+ free models on our site.