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How to Get a DeepSeek API Key: Console, Balance, Base URL and Rate Limits

By og.cc.cd · Published · Updated · 3 min read

TL;DR: Create a DeepSeek API key on platform.deepseek.com and top up a balance; the API accepts both OpenAI and Anthropic formats, so most SDKs only need a new base URL and key.

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DeepSeek’s API keys live on its open platform at platform.deepseek.com. The API speaks both the OpenAI and the Anthropic format, so most SDKs only need a new base URL and key.

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Create the key

  1. Sign in to the DeepSeek open platform: https://platform.deepseek.com/.
  2. Open the API keys page (https://platform.deepseek.com/api_keys) and create a key.
  3. Store it as DEEPSEEK_API_KEY, the variable used in DeepSeek’s examples (Your first API call).

The official FAQ is rendered client-side and we could not read it, so this guide does not state the sign-up requirements (phone, email or real-name), the exact button labels, the key prefix or whether the key is shown only once. The DeepSeek docs we checked do not mention regional restrictions.

Balance and billing

  • Charges are deducted from granted balance (赠送余额) first, then from your topped-up balance. The amount and conditions of any granted balance are not stated on the pages we checked (模型 & 价格).
  • When the balance runs out the API returns 402; top up at https://platform.deepseek.com/top_up. DeepSeek asks you to “top up as needed based on actual usage” (错误码).
  • Prices are in CNY with peak and off-peak periods: off-peak is half price, and peak is 9:00–12:00 and 14:00–18:00 Beijing time on working days.
  • The minimum top-up and payment methods are not stated on the pages we checked.

Our LLM cost calculator has an off-peak switch for DeepSeek, so you can compare both rates for your own traffic.

Base URL, auth and models

  • OpenAI format: https://api.deepseek.com
  • Anthropic format: https://api.deepseek.com/anthropic
  • Header: Authorization: Bearer ${DEEPSEEK_API_KEY}
  • Models: deepseek-flash (currently served by DeepSeek-V4.1-Flash-1017) and deepseek-v4-pro. The old name deepseek-v4-flash still works but is mapped to the new model.

Hello world

export DEEPSEEK_API_KEY="paste-your-key-here"   # never commit this

curl https://api.deepseek.com/chat/completions \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer ${DEEPSEEK_API_KEY}" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "model": "deepseek-flash",
    "messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "Say hello in one sentence."}]
  }'
# Anthropic-format base URL: https://api.deepseek.com/anthropic

Rate limits and common errors

  • Limits are concurrency per account, not per key: 2,500 for deepseek-flash and 500 for deepseek-v4-pro. Creating more keys does not raise them (限速与隔离).
  • 429 — over the concurrency limit. You can request more capacity through a support ticket, at no extra charge.
  • 402 — insufficient balance; top up.
  • Safety. Put the key in an environment variable, keep it out of Git and out of any code that runs in a browser or mobile app, and replace it if it is ever exposed. The API keys overview has the full checklist.

FAQ

Can I use the OpenAI SDK with DeepSeek?

Yes — set the base URL to https://api.deepseek.com and use your DeepSeek key.

Will a second API key double my rate limit?

No. Concurrency is counted per account, regardless of how many keys you have.

When is DeepSeek cheaper?

Outside peak hours (peak = 9–12 and 14–18 Beijing time on working days), when the price is halved.

Sources

Vendor features and prices were checked against these official pages on 2026-10-20. Products change; if something here no longer matches, the official page is right.

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