DeepSeek, a leading AI technology provider, announced a new off-peak discount program for its API Platform. This program offers users significant savings on API calls during specific hours. Starting today, February 26, 2025, DeepSeek is rolling out up to 75% discounts on its advanced AI models, DeepSeek-V3 and DeepSeek-R1, from 16:30 to 00:30 UTC daily.
According to the announcement on X, DeepSeek-V3 will be available at a 50% discount during these off-peak hours, while DeepSeek-R1 will see an impressive 75% price reduction. The initiative encourages users to optimize resource usage and use cost-effective AI services during less busy periods.
The discounted pricing applies to both input and output tokens, with detailed rates shared in an accompanying image. For DeepSeek-V3, standard prices per 1 million tokens include $0.07 for cache hits, $0.27 for cache misses, and $1.10 for output, all slashed in half during off-peak hours. For DeepSeek-R1, standard rates of $0.14 for cache hits, $0.55 for cache misses, and $2.19 for output drop to just $0.035, $0.135, and $0.550, respectively, under the new discount.
“Maximize your resources smarter—save more during these high-value hours!” DeepSeek emphasized the platform’s commitment to enhancing user experience and cost efficiency in the post. The move follows DeepSeek’s recent efforts to improve service quality, including restoring its API recharge service, as reported earlier this month.
The off-peak discount program has already garnered attention on social media, with users praising the “banger” pricing and calling it a “smart move” for developers and businesses leveraging AI tools. Some have humorously noted setting alarms to take advantage of the 4:30 PM UTC start time to maximize savings.
DeepSeek’s API Platform, which includes models like DeepSeek-V3 and DeepSeek-R1, is known for its cost-effectiveness and advanced reasoning capabilities, such as Chain of Thought (CoT) optimization. The company continues to position itself as a competitive player in the AI market, offering open-source access and innovative pricing structures compared to rivals like OpenAI.
For more details on the pricing and to explore DeepSeek’s API offerings, visit api-docs.deepseek.com. The off-peak discount program is effective immediately and applies daily during the specified hours.
