DeepSeek vs ChatGPT: both are AI chatbots that write texts, answer questions and produce code, but they differ mainly in where your data ends up. DeepSeek comes from China and stores data there; ChatGPT belongs to the American company OpenAI.
In terms of output, the two are closer than is often assumed. Since April 2026 DeepSeek has run on V4 and is strong at reasoning and code, while ChatGPT offers more features around the model.
Both are free, and DeepSeek does not even ask for a subscription for its best model. The flip side is that your input ends up on Chinese servers and can be used for training.
For work with client data, the DeepSeek app is therefore ruled out. The open model itself is usable, provided it runs with a hosting provider or on a server you control yourself.
What is the biggest difference between DeepSeek and ChatGPT?
The biggest difference between DeepSeek and ChatGPT lies in where your data goes and who is allowed to run the model. DeepSeek stores your input in China and releases the model weights; ChatGPT keeps the model closed and offers business accounts with European data storage.
The table sets out the main features side by side, as of October 2026.
| Feature | DeepSeek | ChatGPT |
|---|---|---|
| Maker | DeepSeek, Hangzhou (China) | OpenAI, San Francisco (US) |
| Current model | DeepSeek V4-Pro and V4.1-Flash | GPT-6 (Sol or Luna), depending on the plan |
| Model weights | Public, MIT licence | Closed |
| Free version | Yes, without a subscription | Yes, with limits |
| Data storage | China | US, Europe possible for Enterprise and Edu |
| Training on your input | Yes, can be turned off | Personal accounts yes (can be turned off), business accounts no |
| Features around the model | Chat, search, reasoning mode | Chat, search, images, agent, projects, custom GPTs (business workspace only, until 11 December 2026) |
Which models power DeepSeek and ChatGPT?
DeepSeek has been powered by the DeepSeek V4 model since 24 April 2026, and ChatGPT by the GPT-6 models by default since 7 and 8 October 2026. Both are large language models. Which GPT-6 model you get in ChatGPT depends on your plan: Plus, Pro, Business and Enterprise use GPT-6 Sol by default; the free version and Go use GPT-6 Luna. V4 comes in two variants: V4-Pro, with 1.6 trillion parameters of which 49 billion are active at any one time, and the faster and cheaper V4-Flash, which was succeeded in the API by V4.1-Flash on 10 September 2026. Both handle up to a million tokens of context and can switch between answering directly and reasoning first.
DeepSeek made its breakthrough in January 2025 with the R1 reasoning model. Many comparisons online still set R1 against GPT-4o. Both models have since been succeeded, so conclusions from those comparisons no longer automatically hold.
Does DeepSeek perform as well as ChatGPT?
DeepSeek is strong at reasoning, maths and programming, but ChatGPT offers more around the model. In ChatGPT, you can create images, have an agent carry out tasks, work in projects and build custom GPTs in a Business, Enterprise or Edu workspace. That is no longer possible on personal accounts, and OpenAI is phasing out those custom GPTs on 11 December 2026 in favour of plugins. DeepSeek is mainly a chat window with a search function and a reasoning mode.
Benchmarks say little about office work. They measure maths problems and programming tasks, not whether a model words a letter to a client well or summarises a contract correctly. In daily work, you notice the features sooner than a few percentage points’ difference on a test.
How much do DeepSeek and ChatGPT cost?
DeepSeek costs nothing in the app and on the website: you use the latest model without a subscription. ChatGPT has a free version with limits and paid plans for more usage and features.
For developers, DeepSeek is cheap per token through the API. That makes it popular with companies that have large amounts of text processed automatically.
With DeepSeek, free does mean you pay with your input. According to its privacy policy, DeepSeek uses what you type to train its models, unless you turn that off yourself.
Where does your data go with DeepSeek and ChatGPT?
With DeepSeek, your data stays in China: according to its privacy policy (last updated 10 February 2026), DeepSeek collects, processes and stores personal data in the People’s Republic of China for as long as you have an account. Chinese law requires companies to cooperate with the state’s intelligence services. In addition, there is no European Commission adequacy decision for China that recognises its level of protection as equivalent to the GDPR.
ChatGPT processes data at OpenAI in the US. With personal accounts, OpenAI uses conversations for training by default, which you can turn off in the settings. With ChatGPT Business, Enterprise and Edu this does not happen by default, and for Enterprise and Edu you can choose data storage in Europe.
Can you use DeepSeek for business?
Using DeepSeek for business is not prohibited in the Netherlands, but with personal data the app cannot be justified for an office. Regulators and governments have responded clearly since 2025:
- Dutch Data Protection Authority (Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens, AP): warned at the end of January 2025 not to enter personal data or sensitive information into DeepSeek.
- Dutch central government: on 5 February 2025, the cabinet banned civil servants from using DeepSeek because it is an app with an espionage risk.
- Italian data protection authority: blocked DeepSeek at the end of January 2025.
- Berlin data protection authority: reported the app to Apple and Google as illegal content in June 2025, because of data transfers to China.
So set out which AI tools your team may and may not use. Without that agreement, employees install the free app themselves and shadow AI takes hold. If you do want to use an AI tool with personal data, a DPIA is often needed first.
What does open source mean for DeepSeek?
For DeepSeek, open source means that the model weights are public under an MIT licence, so anyone may download, run and modify the model. Strictly speaking, DeepSeek is open-weight: the weights are freely available, the training data is not.
That means you can use the model without the app. If DeepSeek V4 runs with a European cloud provider or on your own server, your data does not go to DeepSeek in China. For most offices, that is not a first step: V4-Pro needs heavy hardware, and choosing a provider, putting agreements in place and arranging its management take time and expertise.
DeepSeek vs ChatGPT: which should you choose for work?
Choosing between DeepSeek and ChatGPT for work comes down to the data you enter. If you work with client data, personal data or confidential documents, use a ChatGPT business account or another tool with a data processing agreement, not the DeepSeek app. The DeepSeek app only suits public information, such as a general question or a piece of code without company data.
If your organisation wants to set out which AI tools your team uses and how, AI training for businesses helps put those agreements into practice. That way, the choice between DeepSeek and ChatGPT becomes an agreement about where your data may go.
Frequently asked questions about DeepSeek vs ChatGPT
When choosing between DeepSeek and ChatGPT, the terms of use also play a part, and they differ on a few points.
Who owns the text DeepSeek or ChatGPT generates?
According to the terms of both providers, the rights to text generated by DeepSeek or ChatGPT belong to you, to the extent any rights exist. DeepSeek assigns those rights to the user, and OpenAI does the same in its terms of use for the EEA. DeepSeek does point out that output is not necessarily exclusive to you, so another user may receive a similar answer.
What is the minimum age for DeepSeek and ChatGPT?
According to OpenAI’s EU terms, you may use ChatGPT from the age of 13 or the minimum age in your country, and under 18 only with permission from a parent or guardian. According to its terms, DeepSeek is mainly aimed at adults. Anyone under 18, or under the minimum age in their own country, may use DeepSeek only with the consent of a legal representative.
How do you delete your chat history in DeepSeek?
According to the privacy policy, you delete your chat history in DeepSeek via the settings, where you can also copy it. If you delete your whole account, you cannot reactivate it and the content cannot be recovered. To erase other personal data, you submit a request to DeepSeek, because the policy keeps account data and input for as long as your account exists.
