DeepSeek V3 and R1 API pricing breakdown. Get the best-value coding model at $0.27 per 1M input tokens — 90% cheaper than GPT-4o. Access via SkillBoss with zero markup, one API key, and 100+ additional models.
DeepSeek builds high-performance open-weight LLMs that rival frontier models at a fraction of the cost. V3 is their flagship general-purpose model, while R1 adds chain-of-thought reasoning capabilities.
| Model | Input /1M | Output /1M | Context | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeepSeek V3 | $0.27 | $1.10 | 128K | Best value coding |
| DeepSeek R1 | $0.55 | $2.19 | 128K | Reasoning on a budget |
Real-world cost estimates for common DeepSeek use cases. All prices reflect SkillBoss zero-markup pass-through pricing.
~50K tokens input + 20K tokens output per day
~500 tokens avg per request
Same workload: 10M input + 5M output tokens
SkillBoss provides an OpenAI-compatible API. Switch models by changing the model name — no new API keys needed.
api.skillboss.co/v1
Switch between 100+ models instantly.
curl https://api.skillboss.co/v1/chat/completions \
-H "Authorization: Bearer $SKILLBOSS_API_KEY" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{
"model": "deepseek/deepseek-chat",
"messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "Hello!"}]
}'| Feature | SkillBoss | OpenRouter | Direct APIs |
|---|---|---|---|
| DeepSeek V3 Pricing | $0.27 / $1.10 (zero markup) | $0.27 / $1.10 (zero markup) | $0.27 / $1.10 |
| DeepSeek R1 Pricing | $0.55 / $2.19 (zero markup) | $0.55 / $2.19 (zero markup) | $0.55 / $2.19 |
| Other Models | 100+ models (Claude, GPT, Gemini...) | 200+ LLM models | DeepSeek only |
| Non-LLM APIs | 50+ (image, video, scraping, email) | None | None |
| API Keys Needed | 1 | 1 | 1 per provider |
| OpenAI Compatible | Yes | Yes | Partial |
| Works with Cursor / Claude Code | Yes | Yes | Limited |
| Billing | Pay-as-you-go USD wallet | Credits | Per-provider billing |
DeepSeek V3 costs $0.27 per 1M input tokens and $1.10 per 1M output tokens. DeepSeek R1 (reasoning model) costs $0.55 per 1M input tokens and $2.19 per 1M output tokens. SkillBoss passes these prices through with zero markup.
DeepSeek V3 is the general-purpose model optimized for coding and daily tasks at $0.27/$1.10 per 1M tokens (input/output). DeepSeek R1 is the reasoning model that excels at complex problem-solving at $0.55/$2.19 per 1M tokens. R1 costs roughly 2x more but provides step-by-step reasoning capabilities.
The cheapest way is through an API gateway like SkillBoss that offers zero-markup pricing. You pay the same rates as DeepSeek direct ($0.27/1M input for V3) but get the added benefit of one API key for 100+ models, OpenAI-compatible format, and pay-as-you-go billing with no minimums.
DeepSeek direct does not offer a permanent free tier. However, SkillBoss provides free credits when you sign up, so you can test DeepSeek V3 and R1 at no cost. After free credits are used, you pay per token with no monthly fees or subscriptions.
DeepSeek V3 is dramatically cheaper than GPT-4o. GPT-4o costs $2.50/$10.00 per 1M tokens (input/output), while DeepSeek V3 costs $0.27/$1.10 — roughly 90% cheaper. For many coding and general tasks, DeepSeek V3 delivers comparable quality at a fraction of the price.
Zero markup pricing. One API key for DeepSeek V3, R1, and 100+ other models.
AI Agents
Tell your agent:
set up skillboss.co/skill.mdAuto-configures base URL, auth, and model access. Works with Claude Code, Cursor, Windsurf, and any MCP-compatible agent.
Developers
1. Get API key at skillboss.co/console
2. POST to api.skillboss.co/v1/run
3. Model: deepseek/deepseek-chat
Pay-as-you-go. DeepSeek V3 from $0.27/1M tokens. No subscription required.