DeepSeek's chat interface is free to use, but there's a problem: it's hosted in China, and registration requires a Chinese phone number. For most international users, that's a non-starter.
The Problem
DeepSeek's official website (chat.deepseek.com) requires a +86 phone number for registration. Even if you have a Chinese number, payment for the API requires WeChat Pay or Alipay — not available to most international users.
Solution 1: Use OriAI
OriAI gives you access to DeepSeek R1 with just an email. No Chinese phone number, no VPN, no payment app. Sign up, choose a plan, and start chatting immediately. Pay with any credit card via Stripe.
Solution 2: API with International Card
DeepSeek's API platform (platform.deepseek.com) does accept some international cards, but the process is hit-or-miss. If you go this route, you'll also need to build your own chat interface.
Solution 3: Self-Host with OpenRouter
OpenRouter offers DeepSeek R1 through their API, but at a markup. It's convenient but you'll pay more than going direct.
Our Recommendation
For most users, OriAI is the simplest path. You get the full DeepSeek R1 experience plus access to GLM-4 and Qwen3, all from one dashboard, with Stripe payment.