deepseek api cost
Cheapest LLM API for Chatbots in 2026
Chatbot operators care about DeepSeek API cost, OpenAI mini pricing, and whether self-hosting ever pencils out. This page ranks budget-friendly options for high-turn conversations.
- DeepSeek Chat and GPT-4o mini are the usual managed contenders.
- Self-host only after utilization math clears a high bar.
- Optimize prompts before switching providers.
deepseek-chatgpt-4o-minivllm-a100-70b
FAQ
What matters more than unit price?
Tokens per conversation and retry rate. A slightly pricier model that answers once can win.
How do I cut tokens?
Shorten system prompts, summarize history, and avoid stuffing retrieval chunks blindly.
Is this financial advice?
No — illustrative estimates based on public list prices and your inputs.
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