DeepSeek · Writing
DeepSeek for writing
llmwise has 2 of DeepSeek's models, from DeepSeek V4.1 Flash (up to 60 messages a day on Pro) to DeepSeek V4 Pro (up to 250 messages a month). We ran the same writing prompts on every one and published every reply: which DeepSeek model to use, from the results, what each costs per message, and how to get more out of it.
Based on 10 of our test runs on , through OpenRouter with the app's own prompt and settings. Updated .
Short answer
In our test runs on October 8, 2026, DeepSeek V4 Pro (5 of 5) passed the most writing prompts: our pick for hard problems. For everyday writing, DeepSeek V4.1 Flash (4 of 5), from the daily count. It's also our pick for best value.
Our picks for writing
Hard problems
Passed 5 of 5 writing prompts, both hard ones.
Best value
Passed 5 of 5 writing prompts, with 250 a month on Pro. The same model as hard problems.
Everyday
Passed 4 of 5 writing prompts; an everyday model, so its messages come from the daily count (60 a day on Pro), not the monthly allowance.
These picks aren't our opinion: they're what the results below give, by these rules, among the DeepSeek models in llmwise. They change when the results do.
- Hard problems: the model that passed the most prompts and, of those, the most hard ones. Models level on both share the pick: the prompts don't tell them apart, so we don't break the tie by price or by name.
- Best value: among the models that draw on the monthly allowance, the one with the most messages on Pro that passed no more than one prompt fewer than the top model. Ties go to the one that passed more, then to the lower cost per reply.
- Everyday: among the cheapest models on the page (the everyday models, which come from the daily count, when the page has any), the one that passed the most. Ties go to the one that passed more of the hard prompts, then to the lower cost per reply.
Our writing test runs, model by model
How each model did on our 5 writing prompts, what each reply counted as on Pro, and what it cost to run.
| Model | Passed | Hard ones | Messages used on Pro | Cost per reply | Time per reply |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeepSeek V4 ProDeepSeek | 5 of 5 | 2 of 2 | 1 each, of 250 a month on Pro | $0.0011 | 3.8 s |
| DeepSeek V4.1 FlashDeepSeek | 4 of 5 | 2 of 2 | 1 each, of 60 a day on Pro | $0.0005 | 1.6 s |
One prompt, side by side
Each model's reply to “A product announcement with five rules”, as it came, with whether it passed and what it cost.
The prompt: A product announcement with five rules (hard)
Write a product announcement for the Nordvik 2 desk lamp in under 120 words. Include all five facts: it dims in five steps; it charges from USB-C; its arm turns 270 degrees; it costs €79; it ships on 1 December. Use no exclamation marks, and end with a question.
DeepSeek V4 Pro
Passed: Graded 4.3 of 5 on average (lowest 4).
Introducing the Nordvik 2 desk lamp. It dims in five steps, so you can find the right light for any task. It charges over USB-C, keeping your desk free of extra cables. The arm turns 270 degrees for precise positioning. Available for €79, with shipping on 1 December. Have you reserved yours yet?
418 tokens in, 96 out (25 of them reasoning) · 1.8 s · $0.0005 · 1 message on Pro · answered by deepseek/deepseek-v4-pro-0813 via Wafer ·
DeepSeek V4.1 Flash
Passed: Graded 4.3 of 5 on average (lowest 4).
**Introducing the Nordvik 2 desk lamp** The Nordvik 2 is built for desks that work as hard as you do. Its arm turns a full 270 degrees, so light lands exactly where you need it, and five dimming steps take you from focused task lighting to a softer evening glow. A USB-C port keeps it charged and cable clutter to a minimum. It costs €79 and ships on 1 December. Would you like to see it in person before then?
446 tokens in, 188 out (87 of them reasoning) · 0.8 s · $0.0003 · 1 message on Pro · answered by deepseek/deepseek-v4.1-flash via Together ·
The writing prompts, and how they're scored
Rubric (graded). The grader model scores the reply from 1 to 5 on each published criterion. It passes with an average of 4 or more and no criterion under 3, and only if it also meets the prompt's automatic rules (length, words it must or mustn't use).
The grader is Claude Opus 5.5 at low reasoning effort; its own replies are graded by GPT-6 Astra, so no model grades itself. Its prompt and every rubric are on the methods page.
Each prompt was sent the way llmwise sends a message in a side-by-side comparison, which offers no tools: the app's own system prompt, the model's own settings, and Pro's reply size limit (8,000 tokens). Read all five writing prompts and how every reply was scored.
Prompts like these to try yourself
DeepSeek in llmwise
| Model | On Pro | On Free | Context window | Images | PDFs | Reasoning | API price per 1M, in / out |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeepSeek V4 ProDeepSeek | 250/mo on Pro | Yes | 1.05M tokens | No | Text only | Yes | $0.40 / $4.00 |
| DeepSeek V4.1 FlashDeepSeek | 60/day on Pro | Yes | 1.05M tokens | Yes | Text only | Yes | $0.30 / $1.20 |
Every limit is published. Paid plans also have a monthly fair-use limit on AI cost: Pro $7.50, Max $20, Ultra $42, Studio $85. Using every message on your plan at typical sizes stays under it; very large messages and heavy research use it faster. Every limit, explained.
What matters for writing
Voice and tone
The best draft is the one that sounds like you. Models differ in how well they pick up a voice from examples.
Following the brief
Word counts, audiences, must-include points: a good writing model keeps to the brief.
Editing, not just drafting
Most writing is editing. Ask for changes to a draft rather than a new one each time.
DeepSeek for writing in llmwise
Drafts as documents
Drafts open as documents beside the chat: edit them, step through versions and download them as PDF, Word or Markdown.
Personas
Pick the Writer persona, or make your own with your voice and a default model.
Web search with sources
The model can search the web and cite what it found as source cards, or read a link you paste. On Free, web search works inside your 5 trial messages; on a paid plan a search counts as one more message of the model in use.
Switch models mid-chat
Start on a cheaper model; if the answer isn't good enough, switch models in the same chat. The next model sees the whole conversation, so you don't paste anything twice.
DeepSeek models are served only through OpenRouter, by endpoints that don't store or train on prompts. See the Privacy Policy.
Tips
Say who it's for, how long, and what it must include.
Paste a paragraph you like and ask for that voice.
Ask for three options for headlines and openings.
Get a second opinion: switch models and ask for a critique of the draft.
Questions
Is DeepSeek good for writing?
In our test runs on October 8, 2026, DeepSeek V4 Pro passed 5 of 5, DeepSeek V4.1 Flash passed 4 of 5 of our writing prompts, against a best result of 5 of 5 among all 19 models. Every reply is published on this page and the methods page, so you can judge them yourself.
Which DeepSeek model should I use for writing?
Start with DeepSeek V4.1 Flash for short rewrites, subject lines, grammar fixes and quick replies, and move up to DeepSeek V4 Pro for most writing: emails, posts, outlines and rewrites.
Can I use DeepSeek for writing for free?
Yes: DeepSeek V4 Pro and DeepSeek V4.1 Flash are on the Free plan (a one-time trial of 5 messages).
Can I export what it writes?
Yes. Ask for a document and it downloads as PDF, Word or Markdown, with every version kept.
Claude, GPT, Gemini, DeepSeek, Grok, Kimi, GLM, and Mistral, in one chat.
See what a message costs before you send it. Free is 5 messages to try; sign in with an email link, no password or card.