Chinese AI firm DeepSeek launched its V4 Pro model on Thursday. This model has been priced several times higher than its previous V4 Flash model. DeepSeek’s V4-Pro-0813 is priced at $1.32 per million input tokens and $3.96 per million output tokens, according to independent benchmarking firm Artificial Analysis.
This is the equivalent of around nine times the input price and 14 times the output price of V4 Flash, which Artificial Analysis listed at $0.14 and $0.28 respectively. DeepSeek said that the V4-Pro-0813 substantially improves its capabilities for AI agents and is available through its API, app and web products.
DeepSeek said it will also raise the API pricing for its V4 Pro and V4 Flash models and introduce peak and off-peak pricing.
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The company mentioned the general availability version, designated DeepSeek-V4-Pro-0813, focuses on agent capabilities — tasks where AI systems use tools, execute code, and complete multi-step workflows without human intervention. It also announced that the V4-Pro API has been updated to work with the OpenAI Responses API format out of the box and includes built-in support for Codex integration.
The pricing of DeepSeek Flash had gained attention because it was more than 100 times cheaper than Anthropic’s Claude Fable 5, underscoring the intensifying race to deliver powerful AI at a lower cost. The higher price of V4 Pro now puts a premium on the model.
Even at the new rates, DeepSeek’s prices remain below those of some competitors. The company had offered a 75% promotional discount on V4 Pro through May 5, making Thursday’s pricing shift a reversal of its previous strategy.
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DeepSeek gained attention as a serious player in the AI race in 2025 after its cost-efficient model outperformed leading Western models from companies such as OpenAI and Anthropic. Since then, however, it has faced growing competition from Chinese AI companies including Alibaba and Moonshot.
Reuters reported in July that DeepSeek was planning a new fundraising round at a valuation of about $74 billion, weeks after raising about $7.4 billion in its first outside financing round in June. The new round would mark a shift for the company, which had previously avoided relying on external capital. It also reflects the rising cost of competing in AI, which requires significant investment in computer chips, data centers and specialized talent.