Guide
OpenClaw + DeepSeek: Use DeepSeek V3 with OpenClaw
Deploy an AI agent powered by DeepSeek V3 — one of the most cost-effective models available.
What Is DeepSeek?
DeepSeek is a Chinese AI lab that develops open-source large language models. Their latest flagship model, DeepSeek V3, is a 671-billion parameter mixture-of-experts (MoE) model that delivers strong performance in coding, math, and reasoning tasks — at a fraction of the cost of competing models. DeepSeek's commitment to open-source has made their models some of the most popular alternatives to proprietary offerings from OpenAI and Anthropic.
DeepSeek V3 Highlights
| Model | Parameters | Context | Strengths | Cost (Input) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeepSeek V3 | 671B MoE | 128K tokens | Coding, math, reasoning | ~$0.27/M tokens |
DeepSeek V3 uses a mixture-of-experts architecture, meaning only a subset of the 671B parameters are active for each token — keeping inference fast and costs low. It supports a 128K context window, making it suitable for long conversations and document analysis. Via OpenRouter, DeepSeek V3 costs roughly $0.27 per million input tokens — significantly cheaper than Claude Sonnet or GPT-5.2.
How to Use DeepSeek with OpenClaw Launch
The fastest way to get started with DeepSeek and OpenClaw is through OpenClaw Launch. No API key needed — OpenRouter handles the routing automatically.
- Go to openclawlaunch.com and open the configurator.
- Select DeepSeek V3 from the model dropdown.
- Pick your chat platform (Telegram, Discord, or Web).
- Click Deploy. Your DeepSeek-powered agent is live in 30 seconds.
How to Use DeepSeek Self-Hosted
If you're running OpenClaw on your own server, configure OpenRouter as a model provider in your openclaw.json and set DeepSeek V3 as the default model:
{
"models": {
"providers": {
"openrouter": {
"apiKey": "sk-or-..."
}
}
},
"agents": {
"defaults": {
"model": {
"primary": "openrouter/deepseek/deepseek-chat-v3"
}
}
}
}Get your OpenRouter API key from openrouter.ai/keys. OpenRouter routes your requests to DeepSeek's API at the best available price.
DeepSeek vs Other Models
How does DeepSeek V3 compare to other popular AI models? Here's a side-by-side overview:
| Model | Cost (Input) | Speed | Coding | Reasoning | Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeepSeek V3 | ~$0.27/M | Fast | Excellent | Strong | 128K |
| Claude Sonnet | ~$3.00/M | Fast | Excellent | Excellent | 200K |
| GPT-5.2 | ~$2.50/M | Medium | Excellent | Excellent | 128K |
| Gemini 2.5 Pro | ~$1.25/M | Medium | Strong | Strong | 1M |
DeepSeek V3 stands out for its extreme cost-efficiency — roughly 10x cheaper than Claude Sonnet on input tokens. While it may not match Claude or GPT on nuanced reasoning and creative writing, it holds its own on coding, math, and structured tasks.
When to Choose DeepSeek
Choose DeepSeek V3 if you're budget-conscious and want a model that excels at coding, math, and technical tasks without breaking the bank. It's an excellent choice for developers who need a capable coding assistant, students working through problem sets, or anyone who wants to maximize the value of their AI credits.
Consider Claude or GPT instead if you need the best possible performance on nuanced reasoning, creative writing, or complex multi-step tasks. These models cost more per token but may deliver better results for demanding use cases.
The good news: with OpenClaw, you can switch between models anytime using the /model chat command — no redeployment needed. Start with DeepSeek for everyday tasks and switch to Claude when you need top-tier reasoning.
BYOK with DeepSeek
If you have your own DeepSeek API key (or an OpenRouter key with credits), you can bring your own key (BYOK) to OpenClaw Launch. This lets you use your existing billing relationship with DeepSeek or OpenRouter instead of the included AI credits.
In the configurator, select the BYOK option and paste your API key. OpenClaw will route all requests through your key, giving you full control over costs and usage limits.