DeepSeek is also worth checking out. They let you use their V3 and new R1 models for free on their site, although you still have to pay for API access (it's very cheap though).

DeepSeek's search feels more engaging and "sticky" even after just a few queries. Its transparency—showing reasoning and openly acknowledging what it knows and what it might not—builds a significant level of user trust.

In January 2025, they launched their R1 model as a competitor to ChatGPT's o1, quickly gaining attention in the AI community for being both cost-effective and open source. I've played around with both their R1 and V3 models.

I asked both ChatGPT-o1 and DeepSeek-R1 to analyze sections of a presentation I’m working on. R1 provided a more comprehensive analysis, addressing key aspects that o1 overlooked. I also had both brainstorm ideas, and once again, R1 delivered significantly better suggestions than o1.

For coding I’ve been relying more on DeepSeek (v3) lately because of its straightforward approach—it gets straight to the point with its suggestions. Claude (3.5 Sonnet), by contrast, often takes a more detailed route, proposing multiple solutions and leaning toward the one that aligns best with solid software engineering practices. Both tools are excellent in their own ways, and I’ve started using them equally. DeepSeek is great for its affordability and efficiency, while Claude is invaluable for double-checking critical code and ensuring everything is on point. Together, they make a great team.

For writing, I'm less keen on these DeepSeek models. I find its output less natural-sounding and oftentimes boring and repetitive.