DeepSeek V4 vs ChatGPT: Complete 2026 Comparison
Free AI vs $20/month Subscription
DeepSeek V4 is a free ChatGPT alternative that matches or exceeds ChatGPT-4 in benchmarks for math, coding, and reasoning. While ChatGPT Plus costs $20/month, DeepSeek V4 is completely free on NoteLM.ai.
Key Takeaways
- DeepSeek V4 is free, ChatGPT Plus is $20/month
- DeepSeek V4 outperforms in math and coding benchmarks
- ChatGPT has image generation and plugins
- Most users save $240/year with DeepSeek V4
DeepSeek V4 vs ChatGPT
See how they compare feature by feature
| Feature | DeepSeek V4 | ChatGPT |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | $20/month (Plus) |
| Math Performance | 92% (MATH benchmark) | 88% (GPT-4) |
| Coding Ability | 90% (HumanEval) | 87% (GPT-4) |
| Context Window | 128K tokens | 128K tokens |
| Response Speed | Fast | Fast (Plus) |
| Availability | Always available | Capacity limits (free) |
| Plugin Support | Limited | Extensive |
| Image Generation | No | Yes (DALL-E 3) |
| Multi-modal | Text only | Text, image, audio |
| API Access | Free tier available | Paid only |
Pros & Cons
A balanced look at both options
DeepSeek V4
Pros
- +Completely free to use
- +Superior math and reasoning abilities
- +Excellent coding performance
- +No subscription required
- +Free API access available
- +Open weights (transparency)
− Cons
- −No image generation
- −Limited plugin ecosystem
- −Text-only interactions
- −Less established brand
ChatGPT
Pros
- +Well-established and trusted brand
- +Multi-modal capabilities (images, audio)
- +DALL-E 3 image generation
- +Extensive plugin marketplace
- +Mobile apps available
− Cons
- −$20/month subscription required for best features
- −Capacity limits on free tier
- −Slower for math problems
- −API costs can add up quickly
Which Should You Choose?
Find the best fit for your needs
Choose DeepSeek V4 if you...
- Users who want free AI access
- Developers needing coding assistance
- Students solving math problems
- Budget-conscious users
- Those who prefer open-source AI
Choose ChatGPT if you...
- Users who need image generation
- Those wanting plugin integrations
- Multi-modal use cases
- Enterprise users needing support
Our Verdict
For text-based tasks like coding, math, and reasoning, DeepSeek V4 is the clear winner - it performs better and is completely free. ChatGPT remains better for multi-modal tasks and has a larger plugin ecosystem. Most users will find DeepSeek V4 sufficient and save $240/year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about DeepSeek V4 vs ChatGPT
Is DeepSeek V4 really as good as ChatGPT?
In many benchmarks, DeepSeek V4 matches or exceeds ChatGPT-4, particularly in math (92% vs 88%) and coding (90% vs 87%). For most text-based tasks, they're comparable.
Why is DeepSeek V4 free?
DeepSeek's efficient architecture allows them to offer the model at much lower costs. NoteLM.ai provides free access to democratize AI.
Can DeepSeek V4 generate images?
No, DeepSeek V4 is text-only. If you need image generation, ChatGPT with DALL-E 3 is better suited.
Which is better for coding?
DeepSeek V4 slightly outperforms ChatGPT in coding benchmarks (HumanEval), making it excellent for developers.
Written By
The NoteLM team specializes in AI-powered video summarization and learning tools. We are passionate about making video content more accessible and efficient for learners worldwide.
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