Comparison · AI assistants
DeepSeek vs ChatGPT: a practical comparison for Indian users
DeepSeek became famous for matching paid AI assistants at no cost, and its chat app is still free on Android, iPhone and the web. ChatGPT also has a free tier, with paid plans in India from ₹399 a month for Go to ₹1,999 for Plus. So price alone rarely decides it. What does: the features you need beyond text chat, how much you trust each company with your data, and whether your employer allows either tool. DeepSeek is built by Hangzhou DeepSeek Artificial Intelligence in China and stores user data there. ChatGPT is made by OpenAI in the US. This page compares the two on cost, features and privacy, and gives a simple way to choose.
- DeepSeek app
- Free
- ChatGPT Go
- ₹399/month
- ChatGPT Plus
- ₹1,999/month
ChatGPT plans on Subspace right now
| Plan | Price | Members | Per member |
|---|---|---|---|
| Go Monthly Plan | ₹399 | 2 | ₹200 |
| Go Half yearly plan | ₹1,650 | 3 | ₹550 |
| Plus Monthly | ₹2,100 | 3 | ₹700 |
Per-member share = plan price ÷ group size, as listed on Subspace.
| Paying alone | ₹275 |
|---|---|
| Shared by 3 | ₹92 |
Join an existing group or start your own on the ChatGPT groups page.
ChatGPT and DeepSeek side by side
DeepSeek makes its money from developers who pay per token for its API, so the consumer app stays free. OpenAI funds ChatGPT’s free tier through paid subscriptions.
| ChatGPT | DeepSeek | |
|---|---|---|
| Company | OpenAI (US) | Hangzhou DeepSeek Artificial Intelligence (China) |
| Chat app price | Free tier; Go ₹399, Plus ₹1,999, Pro ₹19,900 a month | Free |
| Developer API | Paid per use | Paid per token, cheaper off-peak |
| Model weights | Flagship models are closed | Has released open-weight models |
| Beyond text | Image generation, voice conversations, file and image uploads | Text chat with reasoning mode and web search |
| Where your data is stored | US company; see OpenAI’s privacy policy | People’s Republic of China, per DeepSeek’s policy |
| Training on your chats | Can be turned off in data controls | Used for training; opt-out by email where available |
What each option costs per month
For text chat, both free tiers go a long way. ChatGPT’s paid plans buy higher limits, more capable models and extra tools; DeepSeek has no paid consumer plan to upgrade to.
DeepSeek price from its App Store listing (India). ChatGPT prices from Indian news reports, Aug 2026; Pro (₹19,900/month) omitted for scale.
| DeepSeek app | ₹0 |
|---|---|
| ChatGPT Free | ₹0 |
| ChatGPT Go | ₹399 |
| ChatGPT Plus | ₹1,999 |
Privacy and data: read this before pasting anything
DeepSeek’s privacy policy (last updated February 2026) says it collects, processes and stores personal data in the People’s Republic of China, and that your prompts, uploads and chat history are used to train and improve its models. It lists an opt-out from training only “where available”, by email to its privacy team.
ChatGPT also uses conversations to improve its models by default, but you can switch this off in Settings under data controls.
Whichever you use, don’t paste Aadhaar or PAN numbers, passwords, client documents or anything covered by an NDA. Several Indian employers and government departments restrict AI tools on work devices, so check your organisation’s policy before using either for work.
Choosing between DeepSeek and ChatGPT
It depends on the job. DeepSeek is very capable at maths, logic and code explanations, and costs nothing, which makes it a good second opinion and a strong choice for students. ChatGPT is more complete: it handles images, voice, file analysis and long projects, connects to more tools, and its paid tiers lift the limits when you depend on it daily.
A simple rule: if your task is text-only and contains nothing sensitive, try DeepSeek free. If you need images, voice or file work, or your data is sensitive and you want control over training, use ChatGPT. Try both on the same three real tasks from your week and keep the one that does them better.
If you settle on ChatGPT
Start with the free tier. Move to Go (₹399/month) if you keep hitting limits, and to Plus only if you need its more advanced models every day. If you claimed OpenAI’s free year of Go in late 2025, it renews at the paid price unless you cancel. Subspace’s ChatGPT groups let members split a plan’s cost; the live table above shows current listings. Comparing research tools instead? Read Perplexity vs ChatGPT or see ChatGPT Plus prices in India.
Frequently asked questions
Is DeepSeek better than ChatGPT?
For free text chat, maths and coding help, DeepSeek is a strong match. ChatGPT is better overall because it adds image generation, voice, file analysis and higher limits on paid plans, and lets you opt out of training in settings.
Is DeepSeek free to use in India?
Yes. DeepSeek’s app is listed as free on the App Store in India, and its web chat is free. DeepSeek charges only developers who use its API.
Does DeepSeek work in India?
Yes. The DeepSeek app is listed on the App Store in India, and the web chat at chat.deepseek.com works from India. Some workplaces block it on office networks or devices.
Is DeepSeek safe to use?
Its privacy policy says data is stored in China and chats are used to train its models. Avoid sharing personal, financial or work-confidential information, and follow your employer’s rules on AI tools.
How much does ChatGPT cost in India?
ChatGPT has a free tier. Paid plans cost about ₹399/month for Go, ₹1,999 for Plus and ₹19,900 for Pro, including GST, according to Indian news reports.
Can DeepSeek generate images like ChatGPT?
DeepSeek’s chat app focuses on text, with a reasoning mode and web search. ChatGPT can generate and edit images and hold voice conversations.
Which is better for coding, ChatGPT or DeepSeek?
Both explain and write code well. DeepSeek is a capable free option; ChatGPT handles larger projects, file uploads and longer sessions, especially on paid plans. Test both on your own codebase questions.
Ready? Join a group and split the cost
DeepSeek’s chat app is free; ChatGPT is free with paid plans from ₹399/month. Compare features, privacy, where your data is stored and which to use for work.
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Facts on this page were last checked on 2026-10-12. Prices and plans change; the final amount shows before you pay.