Byblos HorizonAI Marketing
DeepSeek Turns Its Whole App Into an API
Mohamad Haidar
Founder of Byblos Horizon
Published November 14, 2026 · 4 min read
On 13 November 2026, DeepSeek said the search, file reading and voice features behind its app are now available to developers through its API. Prices were checked on 14 November 2026 and can change.
What happened
DeepSeek said the capabilities behind the DeepSeek app are now available through its API (Startup Fortune, 14 November 2026). Developers switch them on with parameters in the existing API, using the deepseek-flash model, which is DeepSeek V4.1 Flash. They work through the Messages, Responses and Chat Completions interfaces.
What is included
- Web search with cited sources. In thinking mode, the model searches and reads links across several reasoning steps.
- Link reading: a page pasted into a message is fetched and used to answer.
- File input: PDF, Word, PowerPoint and images.
- A safety check that returns a refusal marker when it finds a risk.
- Separate services for OCR, speech to text and text to speech.
DeepSeek also released an open source chat demo that can import conversation history from the DeepSeek app.
What it costs
These fees come on top of normal token fees. They are listed on DeepSeek's pricing page, checked on 14 November 2026.
| Service | Unit | Price (yuan) |
|---|---|---|
| Search (text and image) | per 1,000 calls | 5 |
| Web fetch | per 1,000 calls | 5 |
| File parsing and OCR | per 1,000 pages | 1.5 |
| Speech to text | per hour of audio | 0.78, half price (0.39) for a limited time |
| Text to speech | per 10,000 characters | 3, half price (1.5) for a limited time |
DeepSeek's English announcement of 17 October 2026 puts search and fetch at $0.75 per 1,000 calls, as reported by PPC Land and Braindetox. The pricing page gives no end date for the half price on voice, and says prices may change.
Why it matters
Until now a team had to connect a search tool, a page reader, an OCR service and a voice service, then manage every call. This puts them behind one provider. BigGo Finance reads the move as a shift from competing on benchmark scores to competing on how cheap it is to start and how hard it is to leave (BigGo Finance, 14 November 2026). That is its analysis, not DeepSeek's claim.
Our view
Customers send voice notes and PDFs on WhatsApp. Speech to text and file reading are the two features closest to that, so a WhatsApp assistant is where this could help most. We compared DeepSeek with Claude on our own build work, and wrote up what $1,000 of it showed. We have not tested these new tools yet. When we have, we will publish the results.
Check before you build
- DeepSeek says anyone serving the public must handle their own content safety review, large model registration and AI labelling.
- The guide does not say where API data is processed or stored. Do not send customer data until you know.
- Settings such as temperature are ignored while search, link reading or the safety check is on.
- Prices can change, and the half price on voice is temporary.
If you want a WhatsApp or AI assistant built on the model that fits the task, our AI systems team builds and tests them.
Frequently asked questions
What did DeepSeek announce on 13 November 2026?
DeepSeek said the capabilities behind its app are now available through its API. Developers switch on web search, link reading, file input and a safety check with parameters, using the deepseek-flash model (DeepSeek V4.1 Flash). OCR, speech to text and text to speech are separate services.
How much do the new DeepSeek API tools cost?
On top of token fees, DeepSeek's pricing page lists 5 yuan per 1,000 search calls, 5 yuan per 1,000 web fetch calls and 1.5 yuan per 1,000 pages for file parsing and OCR. Speech to text is 0.78 yuan per hour and text to speech is 3 yuan per 10,000 characters, both at half price for a limited time. Prices can change.
Is it safe to send customer data through the DeepSeek API?
Not until you know where it is processed. DeepSeek's guide, as reported by Startup Fortune on 14 November 2026, does not say where API data is processed or stored. DeepSeek also says anyone serving the public must handle their own content review, AI labelling and large model registration.
Sources
- DeepSeek, Models and Pricing page (checked 14 November 2026), for the tool and voice fees. Primary source.
- Startup Fortune (14 November 2026), for the 13 November announcement, the feature list, the compliance note and the data caveat.
- BigGo Finance (14 November 2026), for the market analysis. It cites no outside source, so we checked its figures against DeepSeek's page.
- PPC Land and Braindetox, for the 17 October 2026 announcement and the $0.75 figure. Both are third party summaries of DeepSeek's documentation.