# DeepSeek: what AI models say (September 2026)

Source: Memetik Index, https://www.memetik.ai/vendors/deepseek
Website: https://api-docs.deepseek.com

DeepSeek was named in 33 of 50 AI answers across 1 category. Best position: LLM APIs, 66% answer share, ranked #4, named first in 2%.

## What DeepSeek is

DeepSeek provides an API for accessing DeepSeek models. It is for developers using AI agents, coding assistants, and tools compatible with OpenAI or Anthropic.

Its API supports formats compatible with OpenAI and Anthropic. Developers can use compatible SDKs and software by changing configuration. The chat API accepts model and message inputs and can return responses as a stream. DeepSeek can also serve as the backend model for AI agent and coding assistant tools.

(From DeepSeek's own website, read 2026-09-02.)

## By category

| Category | Rank | Answer share | Named first | Models |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LLM APIs (https://www.memetik.ai/index/llm-apis) | #4 of 15 | 66% | 2% | GPT-5.6 Luna, Claude Opus 5, Claude, Claude Fable 5, Gemini, Gemini 3.5 Flash, Perplexity, Sonar Reasoning Pro |

## What the models said

> "Choose DeepSeek if minimizing token cost is critical and your workloads pass rigorous reliability and compliance tests."
> — GPT-5.6 Luna, LLM APIs

> "The Best "Bang-for-Your-Buck" Models The Workhorse Tier DeepSeek V4 Pro The Cost: ~$0.435 per 1M input / $0.87 per 1M output tokens."
> — Gemini 3.5 Flash, LLM APIs

> "For startups and SMBs, Together AI, Mistral, and DeepSeek offer the best cost-to-performance ratios, and Together AI's pay-as-you-go model works well for variable traffic patterns."
> — Claude, LLM APIs

> "DeepSeek: best when cost per token is the main constraint."
> — Perplexity, LLM APIs