Guide
OpenClaw + DeepSeek V4: Use DeepSeek V4 Pro and V4 Flash with OpenClaw
DeepSeek's fourth-generation models are live on OpenClaw. 1M context window, strong reasoning, and ultra-low pricing — pick Flash for agent and coding work, or Pro for the deepest sustained reasoning.
What Is DeepSeek V4?
DeepSeek is a Chinese AI lab known for open, cost-efficient frontier models. DeepSeek V4 is the fourth-generation family and ships in two flavors: V4 Pro for the deepest reasoning and V4 Flash for the lowest cost per token. Both support a 1M token context window and a 384K maximum output length.
Compared to the prior V3.2 release, V4 trades a larger context window (128K → 1M), better coding and agentic tool use, and a cleaner Pro/Flash split so you can match the model to the workload instead of paying Pro prices for Flash-sized work.
DeepSeek V4 Pro vs V4 Flash
| Model | Context | Input (per 1M) | Output (per 1M) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeepSeek V4 Pro | 1M tokens | $0.435 | $0.87 | Hardest long-horizon reasoning, deep multi-file refactors |
| DeepSeek V4 Flash | 1M tokens | $0.14 | $0.28 | Agent tool loops, terminal and coding work, high-volume chat |
Direct DeepSeek API cache-miss rates. Cache hits are far cheaper ($0.0028 Flash / $0.003625 Pro), and routing through OpenRouter prices Flash at roughly $0.09 / $0.18.
Flash is the cheap one, but since the July 2026 refresh it is no longer the weak one. Both models are dramatically cheaper than Claude Sonnet or GPT-5.4, so the real question is not cost — it is whether your workload is agent-shaped (Flash) or reasoning-shaped (Pro).
How to Deploy DeepSeek V4 with OpenClaw Launch
The fastest path is through OpenClaw Launch — no API key needed, everything routes through the included AI credits via OpenRouter.
- Go to openclawlaunch.com and open the configurator.
- In the model dropdown, pick DeepSeek V4 Flash for agent loops, coding, and everyday use, or DeepSeek V4 Pro for the deepest sustained reasoning.
- Pick your chat platform (Telegram, Discord, WhatsApp, WeChat, or browser gateway).
- Click Deploy. Your DeepSeek V4 agent is live in about 30 seconds.
/model chat command — no redeploy needed. A common pattern is Flash as the everyday default, with Pro held back for the reasoning-heaviest sessions.Self-Hosted Configuration
If you run OpenClaw on your own server, configure OpenRouter as a provider in your openclaw.json and point the default agent at either V4 Pro or V4 Flash:
{
"models": {
"providers": {
"openrouter": {
"apiKey": "sk-or-..."
}
}
},
"agents": {
"defaults": {
"model": {
"primary": "openrouter/deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash"
}
}
}
}Swap deepseek-v4-flash for deepseek-v4-pro to route to the Pro variant instead. Grab an OpenRouter key at openrouter.ai/keys.
Which DeepSeek V4 Model Should You Pick?
A simple heuristic:
- Start with V4 Flash. High-volume chat, agent tool loops, terminal work, and general coding all sit in its wheelhouse at about a third of Pro's output-token cost. The 0813 Pro build took back the lead on DeepSeek's published agent benchmarks, so Flash is now the value default rather than the benchmark winner — still the one to beat on price, and its 2,500 concurrency limit (against Pro's 500) suits busy Telegram and Discord bots.
- Reach for V4 Pro when the task is reasoning-shaped rather than agent-shaped — deep multi-file refactors, architecture discussions, and long-document analysis that genuinely walks the full 1M context.
- Run both if you want — one instance per role, or swap at runtime with
/model. Since switching is free, benchmark both on your own workload rather than trusting anyone's table.
DeepSeek V4 vs Other Frontier Models
| Model | Input (per 1M) | Output (per 1M) | Context | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeepSeek V4 Flash | $0.14 | $0.28 | 1M | Cheapest frontier-adjacent model in the lineup |
| DeepSeek V4 Pro | $0.435 | $0.87 | 1M | Frontier reasoning, strong coding |
| Claude Sonnet 4.6 | $3.00 | $15.00 | 200K | Best nuanced reasoning and creative writing |
| GPT-5.4 | $2.50 | $15.00 | 1M+ | Strong general-purpose model with vision |
| Gemini 3.1 Pro | $2.00 | $12.00 | 1M | Multimodal with video input |
DeepSeek V4 Flash is a standout on pure cost-efficiency, and V4 Pro closes much of the gap to Claude Sonnet / GPT-5.4 at a fraction of their per-token cost. On the hardest long-horizon coding and agentic work, the frontier models still lead.
BYOK with DeepSeek V4
If you already have an OpenRouter account or a direct DeepSeek API key, you can bring it to OpenClaw Launch via BYOK. In the configurator, select BYOK and paste your OpenRouter key — all requests route through your key and your own billing.
What's Next?
- DeepSeek V4 Flash guide — the 0731 build in depth: full benchmark table, Responses API and Codex support, and cache-aware pricing
- DeepSeek V4 Pro guide — setup for the flagship reasoning model
- Add skills to your agent — thousands of skills for search, coding, automation, and more
- Compare all models — See how V4 Pro and V4 Flash stack up against Claude, GPT, Gemini, and others
- See pricing — Deploy with AI credits included, starting at $3/month
- Set up Telegram — Connect your DeepSeek V4 agent to Telegram