✓ What carries over
- Prompt habits transfer directly
- Both handle file upload and code workflows
- API users can run both in parallel during evaluation
Migration guide · Updated 2026-09-11
Switching from DeepSeek to ChatGPT.
DeepSeek wins on price for bulk reasoning tasks; ChatGPT wins on polish, multimodal features, integrations, and enterprise trust. Switch when reliability and tooling matter more than raw token cost.
✗ What doesn't transfer
- DeepSeek conversation history stays put — export what you need
- Open-source model deployment has no ChatGPT equivalent
- Pricing models differ fundamentally (credits vs subscription)
Do the math before cancelling anything
DeepSeek API is dramatically cheaper per token; ChatGPT Plus is ~$20/mo. If you are a light chat user the switch costs little; heavy API users should model monthly volume first.
Migrate one task, not your whole workflow
- Re-run your 10 hardest real prompts on both.
- Grade factuality and formatting, not vibes.
- Check data-handling requirements — some orgs cannot use either interchangeably.
| DeepSeek | ChatGPT | |
|---|---|---|
| Editorial score | 4.3/5 | 4.8/5 |
| Pricing model | Free + API pricing | Free + paid plans |
| Best fit | Reasoning, coding, and cost-conscious model evaluation | General-purpose writing, research, analysis, and multimodal help |
| Full review | Read → | Read → |
Pricing changes often — every figure traces to the official vendor page dated on each linked review. Editorial scores are ours, not benchmarks.