updated
Aug 10, 2026
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DeepSeek is a free AI assistant for Android from the Chinese lab of the same name, handling chat, coding help, document analysis and web search with no subscription and no paid tier, though every conversation is processed and stored on servers in China.
DeepSeek is a free AI assistant for Android, and unlike most of its rivals it has no paid tier at all.
The file here is version 2.3.4, 27 MB, and everything the app does is available to every user at no cost.
Download the DeepSeek APK - or read the section below first, because free here has a different kind of price attached.
BEFORE YOU INSTALL
Everything you type into DeepSeek is processed and stored on servers in China, under Chinese law.
Multiple governments have banned the app from official devices, and security researchers have documented real flaws in it. For casual use that may be an acceptable trade, but for work material or anything you would not post publicly, it is not.
Our full write-up on DeepSeek's privacy record has the detail.
What the App Actually Does
DeepSeek is a chat assistant in the same shape as ChatGPT. You type a question, it answers, and the conversation carries context so you can keep going without repeating yourself.
Its strongest suit is reasoning that takes several steps - maths, logic problems, and code. It will write a function, explain what a block of code does, or find the bug in something you paste in, across most common languages.
Beyond that it handles the usual: drafting and editing text, summarising documents you upload, translating, and answering general questions. Web search is built in, so it can reach current information rather than only what it was trained on.
All the work happens on DeepSeek's servers rather than your phone, which is why a 27 MB app can do this at all. It also means no connection, no assistant.
What "Free" Covers Here
This is the part that makes DeepSeek unusual, so it is worth being precise about it.
There is no premium tier. No Plus plan, no Pro upgrade, no monthly limit that pushes you toward a subscription page. The full assistant is what you get on day one.
You do need an account, so an email address or a phone number is the entry price. There is no anonymous mode.
Capacity limits do apply at busy times, and DeepSeek does not publish numbers for them. If you hit a "server busy" message, that is what it is - not a paywall in disguise.
Check the File Before You Install It
This matters more for an AI app than for most, because a fake build that harvests your account details is a credible attack rather than a hypothetical one.
- Run the file through our APK Checker, which reports the package name, version, signing certificate and permission list without installing anything.
- Check the package name reads com.deepseek.chat. Anything else is not DeepSeek's app, whatever the icon says.
- Read the permissions. Camera, microphone and storage are expected for photo and file uploads - SMS, call logs and contacts are not, and finding them means walk away.
- Drop it into our Play Store dependency check if your device has no Google Play, so you know whether it will launch before you spend the download.
- Turn on installation from unknown sources for your browser only, then switch it back off once you are done.
The file here is the unmodified official build, mirrored and scanned before listing. Nothing is repackaged and nothing is bundled with it.
Our guide to installing an APK safely on Android covers the settings and the warning signs in more detail.
Sideloaded builds do not update themselves. Come back here for a newer file when one lands, or switch to the Play Store version once it reaches your device.
Where Your Data Goes
DeepSeek's own privacy policy is clear that it collects your prompts and chat history, account details, device and network information, and location. That much is normal for an AI assistant, and ChatGPT and Grok collect a similar set.
The difference is jurisdiction. That data sits on servers in China, where national intelligence law obliges companies to assist security agencies on request, with no requirement to tell you.
Researchers have also found concrete problems: an exposed database, weak encryption in the mobile app, and third-party components that report back independently of DeepSeek itself.
None of that makes the app malware, and for asking about recipes or debugging a hobby project the risk is low. It does mean the answer to "should I paste this in" is no more often than with a Western assistant.
The full picture, including which governments have restricted it and what each research team actually found, is in our article on DeepSeek's privacy and security record.
For the wider context, see US Alleges Chinese Involvement in AI Data Stealing.
Who Should Look Elsewhere
The tell is simple: if your employer has a policy about which AI tools you may use, DeepSeek is almost certainly on the wrong side of it.
That rules out government and military staff, healthcare workers handling patient information, anyone under a client confidentiality duty, and journalists protecting sources. Several large employers have banned it outright.
It also rules out proprietary code and unreleased business material, however convenient the coding help is.
If any of that describes you, ChatGPT or Perplexity keep your data under Western jurisdiction, and both have usable free tiers.
How It Compares to the Other Android AI Apps
ChatGPT is the strongest all-rounder and the safer default for anything sensitive, though the best models sit behind a subscription.
Perplexity answers research questions with sources you can click, which matters when you need to check an answer rather than trust it.
Grok reads live posts on X, so it is the one to reach for on breaking news. It needs the Play Store on the device to launch.
Monica AI and POE AI both put several models behind one interface, with free use capped per day.
Vibe, from Mistral, is the European option if jurisdiction is the deciding factor. Comet Browser is worth a look if you would rather have the assistant inside your browser.
DeepSeek's case against all of them is one sentence: it matches them on coding and reasoning and charges nothing, and you accept the jurisdiction to get that. For a fuller comparison, read what DeepSeek is and how it compares.
The rest of our Android APK section covers the non-AI essentials.
Quick questions
Is DeepSeek really free?
Yes, and unusually so - there is no paid tier to upgrade to. You need an account to sign in, and capacity limits apply when the service is busy, but nothing is held back behind a subscription.
Is DeepSeek safe to use?
It depends entirely on what you type into it. The app itself is the official build, but your conversations are stored in China and researchers have found real security flaws. Our full privacy write-up covers what was found and by whom.
Why install the APK instead of using the Play Store?
Mostly to get a specific version, or to set up several devices from one download. If the Play Store works on your phone, using it is the simpler option.
How do I know the file is genuine?
Run it through our APK Checker before installing and confirm the package name reads com.deepseek.chat. It also lists the permissions the app requests.
Does it work without an internet connection?
No. The models run on DeepSeek's servers, not on your phone, so the app needs a connection for every reply.
Can I use DeepSeek without sending data to China?
Not through this app. DeepSeek's models are open source and other providers host them on Western servers, so if that is your concern, use one of those rather than the official app.
Download the DeepSeek APK 2.3.4 and see how it handles your questions, or tell us how you got on if you have used it before.
