DeepSeek rate limits, context window & usage caps (2026)
DeepSeek API rate limits, context window and usage caps. Rate limits and context window for DeepSeek R1 and DeepSeek V3 models - free tier and pay-as-you-go.
Context Window
64000
tokens · ~48K words
Plans
2
tiers tracked
API Tiers
2
rate limit tiers
DeepSeek usage limits by plan
| Context Window | 64000 tokens(~48K words) | DeepSeek-V3 and R1 |
| Messages / day | 50 messages/day | Web chat, resets daily |
| File Upload Size | 20 MB | Per file |
| Concurrent Requests | 1 requests | Web interface |
| Rpm V3 | 60 requests/min | DeepSeek-V3 |
| Rpm R1 | 60 requests/min | DeepSeek-R1 |
| Tpm V3 | 60000 tokens/min | DeepSeek-V3 |
| Tpm R1 | 60000 tokens/min | DeepSeek-R1 |
| Context Window | 64000 tokens(~48K words) | Both models |
DeepSeek API rate limits by tier
API access uses a tiered rate limit system. Higher tiers unlock more requests per minute (RPM) and tokens per minute (TPM).
| Tier | RPM | TPM |
|---|---|---|
| Free credits | 60 | 200,000 |
| Pay-as-you-go | 200 | 1,000,000 |
RPM = requests per minute · TPM = tokens per minute. Limits shown are approximate and may vary by model.
What happens when you hit DeepSeek's limits?
Check the reset window - most limits refresh within 1–60 minutes
Use exponential backoff: 1s → 2s → 4s up to 60s max
If you hit limits regularly, upgrade your plan to increase caps
DeepSeek limit reset schedule
⚡
Per minute
API RPM limits - reset every 60 seconds
🕐
Per hour
Short rolling windows for message quotas
⏱
Per 5 hours
Common for consumer plan message limits
📅
Per day / month
Image gen credits and file storage caps
Exact reset period per limit type is shown in the "Notes" column of the plan table above. DeepSeek uses rolling-window resets - quotas refresh continuously, not at a fixed midnight cutoff.
More DeepSeek intelligence
Live status →
Check if rate limit errors are due to an active outage
Pricing →
Compare DeepSeek plan costs and API token pricing
Free tier →
Compare free limits across all AI tools
Limits sourced from DeepSeek's official documentation. Updated when plan changes are announced.
DeepSeek limits - frequently asked questions
What is the DeepSeek message limit?
DeepSeek message limits vary by plan - see the full breakdown by tier in the table above.
Does DeepSeek have a file upload limit?
Yes, DeepSeek enforces file upload limits that vary by plan. See the detailed breakdown above.
When do DeepSeek limits reset?
Reset periods vary by limit type - many DeepSeek limits reset on a rolling window (e.g., per 5 hours or per 24 hours). Check the notes column in the table above for specific reset schedules.
What happens when you hit DeepSeek's rate limit?
DeepSeek will temporarily block new requests when you exceed your plan's limits. You may see an in-app message or receive an HTTP 429 response. Wait for the reset window to pass or upgrade your plan.
What is DeepSeek's context window?
DeepSeek's context window is 64000 tokens (~48K words). This is the maximum amount of text - including your conversation history - the model can process in a single request.