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Free DeepSeek R1 API

Updated 7/2/2026

Free DeepSeek R1 API access via GitHub Models, Vercel AI Gateway, and Cloudflare's distilled R1 option. Compare reasoning quotas and examples.

About the Model

DeepSeek R1 is a reasoning model built for math, code, and multi-step problem solving. It is slower than small chat models, but it is the better choice when the answer needs planning or careful verification.

Why choose it?

  • Reasoning-first output: useful for proofs, debugging, and structured problem solving.
  • Multiple free routes: available through GitHub Models and Vercel AI Gateway, with a smaller distilled version on Cloudflare Workers AI.
  • OpenAI-compatible options: easy to swap into existing chat completions clients.

Free access options

  • GitHub Models: free, rate-limited access to DeepSeek R1 with a GitHub token.
  • Vercel AI Gateway: monthly gateway credits for deepseek/deepseek-r1.
  • Cloudflare Workers AI: free daily Neurons for a distilled R1 model, not the full model.

Pick DeepSeek R1 for hard prompts where a small model gives shallow answers. Use GPT-4o mini when speed matters more.

How to call DeepSeek R1

curl
curl https://ai-gateway.vercel.sh/v1/chat/completions \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"model":"deepseek/deepseek-r1","messages":[{"role":"user","content":"Solve this logic puzzle and explain each step."}]}'
python
from openai import OpenAI

client = OpenAI(base_url="https://ai-gateway.vercel.sh/v1", api_key="AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY")
response = client.chat.completions.create(
    model="deepseek/deepseek-r1",
    messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "Solve this logic puzzle and explain each step."}],
)
print(response.choices[0].message.content)
javascript
import { generateText } from "ai";

const { text } = await generateText({
  model: "deepseek/deepseek-r1",
  prompt: "Solve this logic puzzle and explain each step.",
});

console.log(text);

Compare Free Providers

The following platforms provide free access to DeepSeek R1 through free tiers, trial credits, or daily quotas.

ProviderContext WindowFree QuotaRequires CCTrustAction
Cloudflare Workers AI128KRate LimitNo
Trust 99
Details
GitHub Models128KRate LimitNo
Trust 50
Details
Vercel AI Gateway128KMonthly Credits
$5/mo
No
Trust 98
Details

Frequently Asked Questions

Is DeepSeek R1 free to use?

Yes. DeepSeek R1 is available for free through 3 provider(s) listed below, with no purchase required.

What are the rate limits and quotas?

Free access varies by provider — Cloudflare Workers AI: Rate Limit; GitHub Models: Rate Limit; Vercel AI Gateway: Monthly Credits.

How do I get a free DeepSeek R1 API key?

Sign up with Cloudflare Workers AI, then create an API key from your dashboard. See the provider details above for the exact steps.

Which providers offer DeepSeek R1 for free?

DeepSeek R1 is currently available for free via: Cloudflare Workers AI, GitHub Models, Vercel AI Gateway.

Know another free provider for DeepSeek R1?

Help the community by sharing other ways to access this model for free.