{
  "id": 1246471,
  "title": "DeepSeek V4 pricing now depends on what time you run it",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/deepseek-v4-pricing-now-depends-on-what-time-you-run-it",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-08-16T09:53:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dev.to",
    "slug": "dev-to",
    "url": "https://dev.to/akashdas/deepseek-v4-pricing-now-depends-on-what-time-you-run-it-1081"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "DeepSeek, a Chinese AI lab, recently changed its pricing model for its flagship V4-Pro model. As of August 16, 2026, the cost of output generated by the V4-Pro model is now dependent on the time of day it is generated. During peak hours, which are 01:00-04:00 and 06:00-10:00 UTC, output costs $3.96 per million tokens. The rest of the day, outside of peak hours, costs $1.98 per million tokens. This change is in contrast to the previous promotional flat rate of $0.87 per million tokens at any hour.",
  "summary": "DeepSeek V4 pricing now depends on what time you run it DeepSeek moved its entire API over to peak and off-peak billing at 16:00 UTC on August 16, 2026. Output generated by the flagship V4-Pro model now costs $3.96 per million tokens at peak, and $1.98 the rest of the day, per DeepSeek's own pricing page . The previous promotional rate was a flat $0.87 at any hour of the day. Every outlet…",
  "key_points": [
    "DeepSeek changes pricing model for V4-Pro model as of August 16, 2026",
    "Output costs $3.96 per million tokens during peak hours (01:00-04:00, 06:00-10:00 UTC)",
    "Outside peak hours, costs $1.98 per million tokens"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}