Independent AI buying guide
No paid rankings
Last checked 26 Oct 2026
Head to head
ChatGPT or DeepSeek? Compared on independent test scores, prices and free plans. Every price links to its source, and we re-check everything every week.
The short answer
Calculated from independent tests
Higher scores
ChatGPT
ChatGPT scores higher in all 6 topics where we can compare both.
Cheaper
No clear winner
The cheapest paid plans: ChatGPT Go at $8/mo, and DeepSeek has no paid plan we track.
Better free plan
ChatGPT
For overall, ChatGPT's free plan scores higher: 72/100 against 71/100.
Each tool's best subscription per topic, scored out of 100. Higher wins; a tie is a tie.
| Topic | ChatGPT | DeepSeek |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 92 (higher)Plus · GPT-6 Astra | 71Free · DeepSeek V4 Pro |
| Coding | 94 (higher)Plus · GPT-6 Astra | 71Free · DeepSeek V4 Pro |
| Writing | 87 (higher)Plus · GPT-5.6 Sol | 72Free · DeepSeek V4 Pro |
| Research & search | 98Plus · GPT-6 Astra | Not ranked here |
| Maths & hard problems | 98 (higher)Plus · GPT-6.1 Sol | 78Free · DeepSeek V4 Pro |
| Studying | 94 (higher)Plus · GPT-6.1 Sol | 77Free · DeepSeek V4 Pro |
| Business & office | 94 (higher)Plus · GPT-5.6 Sol | 78Free · DeepSeek V4 Pro |
For overall, ChatGPT's free plan scores higher: 72/100 against 71/100.
| Topic | ChatGPT free | DeepSeek free |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 72 (higher)GPT-5.6 Terra | 71DeepSeek V4 Pro |
| Coding | 68GPT-5.6 Terra | 71 (higher)DeepSeek V4 Pro |
| Writing | 69GPT-5.6 Terra | 72 (higher)DeepSeek V4 Pro |
| Research & search | 66GPT-6 Luna | No scores |
| Maths & hard problems | 82 (higher)GPT-5.6 Terra | 78DeepSeek V4 Pro |
| Studying | 78 (higher)GPT-5.6 Terra | 77DeepSeek V4 Pro |
| Business & office | 80 (higher)GPT-5.6 Terra | 78DeepSeek V4 Pro |
Every plan we track, with the official source and the date we checked it.
Opinion, not test scores: how each one feels to use.
The all-rounder most people already know. Good at almost everything, rarely the very best at one thing.
Reviewed 7 Oct 2026
Free and capable, but think twice before sharing personal or work data with it.
Reviewed 7 Oct 2026
Scores come from independent benchmarks, the same ones behind our rankings. Read how we rank for the formula.