Use your free DeepSeek account as an API
FreeDeepseekAPI runs on your computer and turns your free chat.deepseek.com account into a local API. Any app that works with OpenAI or Anthropic can talk to DeepSeek through it: Open WebUI, Claude Code, Codex, Cursor and others. You don't need a paid API key.
You need Node.js 18 or newer, Git, Google Chrome and a DeepSeek account.
git clone --branch stable https://github.com/dekrezz/FreeDeepseekAPI.git
cd FreeDeepseekAPI
npm run auth
npm run dashboardnpm run authopens Chrome. Pick Sign in with Chrome, log in to DeepSeek, send a short message likeok, then go back to the terminal.npm run dashboardstarts the proxy and opens the dashboard. You can chat right there.
Put this in your app's settings:
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Base URL | http://127.0.0.1:9655/v1 |
| API key | any text |
| Model | deepseek-v4-flash |
Open WebUI in Docker needs http://host.docker.internal:9655/v1 instead.
Keep the proxy running and run:
npm run setup:agentsIt adds DeepSeek to Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode, Hermes, OpenClaw and Cursor as an extra option. Your current setup stays as it is, and you can skip this step in the wizard. The same thing is in the dashboard: Settings → Agents.
Is it really free?
Yes. It uses the same free account you use on the DeepSeek site.
Is this an official DeepSeek project?
No. It talks to DeepSeek's private web chat, which can change at any time. When that happens, the project gets updated to follow.
Can my account get banned?
It can happen. DeepSeek can block a login for days if two chats send on it at the same time, so the proxy runs one chat per login and makes the next one wait. That lowers the risk but can't remove it. DeepSeek decides what it allows.
Where do my login and messages go?
Your login stays on your computer in deepseek-auth.json. Your messages go to DeepSeek, the same as in the normal chat.
Which model should I pick?
There is one model with two switches:
| Model | What it does |
|---|---|
deepseek-v4-flash |
Answers with web search |
deepseek-v4-flash-thinking |
Thinks first, then answers |
Add -nosearch to either one to turn web search off.
Can I use several accounts?
Yes. Add them in the dashboard under Settings → Accounts. Running two agents at once needs two logins.
It stopped working. What do I do?
Try these in order:
- Update: Settings → Updates in the dashboard.
- Log in again:
npm run auth. - Check your setup:
npm run doctor.
If that doesn't help, DeepSeek has probably changed something. Open an issue.
How do I update?
Open Settings → Updates in the dashboard and press Check for updates. stable gets a release once it has been checked. latest gets every release first.
Can other devices use it?
By default only your computer can reach it. To share it, set PROXY_API_KEY and read Running it safely first.
- Full guide: everything in detail, with request examples
- HTTP API: endpoints, errors and settings
- Models · Accounts and login · Coding agents
- Security: how to report a vulnerability
Apache-2.0. Copyright 2026 dekrezz.