DeepSeek V4 vs ChatGPT Plus: Is Free Better Than Paid?
Save $20/month Without Sacrificing Quality
DeepSeek V4 offers ChatGPT Plus-level performance for free. In benchmarks, DeepSeek V4 matches or exceeds GPT-4 in math and coding, letting you save $20/month without sacrificing quality.
Key Takeaways
- Save $240/year by switching to DeepSeek V4
- DeepSeek V4 outperforms GPT-4 in math and coding
- Only keep ChatGPT Plus if you need DALL-E 3
- No subscription or credit card needed
DeepSeek V4 vs ChatGPT Plus
See how they compare feature by feature
| Feature | DeepSeek V4 | ChatGPT Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cost | $0 | $20 |
| Annual Cost | $0 | $240 |
| GPT-4 Level Performance | Yes | Yes |
| Math Benchmark | 92% | 88% |
| Coding Benchmark | 90% | 87% |
| DALL-E 3 Access | No | Yes |
| GPT-4 Vision | No | Yes |
| Custom GPTs | No | Yes |
| Priority Access | Always available | Priority queue |
Pros & Cons
A balanced look at both options
DeepSeek V4
Pros
- +Save $240/year
- +No credit card required
- +Better math performance
- +Better coding performance
- +Always available
− Cons
- −No image generation
- −No vision capabilities
- −No custom GPT creation
ChatGPT Plus
Pros
- +DALL-E 3 image generation
- +GPT-4 Vision for image analysis
- +Custom GPTs marketplace
- +Official OpenAI support
− Cons
- −Costs $240/year
- −Slightly lower math/coding scores
- −Can have capacity issues
Which Should You Choose?
Find the best fit for your needs
Choose DeepSeek V4 if you...
- Budget-conscious power users
- Developers focused on coding
- Students needing math help
- Users who don't need image features
Choose ChatGPT Plus if you...
- Users who need image generation
- Visual content creators
- Custom GPT creators
Our Verdict
If you primarily use ChatGPT for text tasks like chat, coding, and math, DeepSeek V4 is the smarter choice. You get equal or better performance for free. Only pay for ChatGPT Plus if you specifically need DALL-E 3 or GPT-4 Vision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about DeepSeek V4 vs ChatGPT Plus
Is DeepSeek V4 as capable as GPT-4?
Yes, in many benchmarks DeepSeek V4 matches or exceeds GPT-4 performance, especially in math (92% vs 88%) and coding (90% vs 87%).
Should I cancel my ChatGPT Plus subscription?
If you don't use DALL-E 3, GPT-4 Vision, or custom GPTs, you can likely switch to DeepSeek V4 and save $240/year.
What features will I lose?
You'll lose image generation (DALL-E 3), image understanding (GPT-4 Vision), custom GPTs, and the broader OpenAI plugin ecosystem.
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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