How to Get a Free SiliconFlow API Key (2026)
2 free models available — no credit card required. Get your SiliconFlow API key → Test free models →
SiliconFlow FreeLLM Score
Best suited for light testing or very specific narrow use cases.
What is SiliconFlow?
China-based free LLM API — DeepSeek, Qwen, BGE at 1,000 RPM.
SiliconFlow is a Chinese AI inference platform offering generous free tiers for DeepSeek, Qwen, BGE, and other models popular in the Chinese LLM ecosystem. The free tier supports up to 1,000 RPM and 50K TPM with no credit card required. Best latency for users in China and Asia-Pacific.
- 1,000 RPM, 50K TPM free tier
- DeepSeek, Qwen, BGE models
- Lowest latency for China-based users
- OpenAI-compatible endpoint
API Compatibility: OpenAI SDK-compatible (Chat Completions)
How to Get a SiliconFlow API Key
- 1 Sign up at cloud.siliconflow.cn Phone verification. No credit card.
- 2 Go to API Keys
- 3 Create an API key
- 4 Choose a model DeepSeek-V3, Qwen3, BGE available. 1,000 RPM free.
- 5 Configure OpenAI client Base URL: https://api.siliconflow.cn/v1
All Free SiliconFlow Models — Context Windows & Rate Limits
| Model | Context | Max Output | Modality | Rate Limit | Released | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abbreviation | 131K | 8K | See provider page | — | Online | |
| deepseek-ai/DeepSeek-R1-Distill-Qwen-7B | 131K | 131K | 30 RPM, 60K TPM | — | Online |
SiliconFlow Free Tier Limits & Pricing
SiliconFlow API Setup Tutorial & Tools
SiliconFlow is fully compatible with popular AI coding assistants like Cursor, Claude Code, and more. To see step-by-step API configuration instructions for your favorite tool, please visit our Global Configuration Guide →
Use Cases
What SiliconFlow's free models are best for, based on aggregated model capabilities:
Limitations & Caveats
- China-hosted — high latency outside Asia-Pacific
- Chinese phone number required for registration
- Model availability may change based on local regulations
Frequently Asked Questions
Can overseas users register for SiliconFlow?
SiliconFlow currently requires a Chinese phone number for registration. International users may not be able to sign up without a Chinese number. Consider alternative providers like Groq or OpenRouter.
Is SiliconFlow faster than other providers for users in China?
Yes — SiliconFlow's servers are in mainland China, offering the lowest latency for Chinese users (typically under 100ms). This makes it ideal for China-based applications.
What models does SiliconFlow offer that others don't?
SiliconFlow specializes in Chinese ecosystem models: DeepSeek, Qwen, BGE embeddings, and Yi models. Some of these models are available elsewhere, but SiliconFlow often has the most up-to-date versions.