How to Access DeepSeek Models for Free via Alibaba Cloud Baileian
This guide shows how to quickly set up Alibaba Cloud's Baileian platform to call DeepSeek‑R1 and DeepSeek‑V3 models for free or at minimal cost, covering API key acquisition, Chatbox client configuration, pricing details, and step‑by‑step usage instructions.
Introduction
Due to the rapid growth in demand for DeepSeek online usage, server resources have become strained, leading to delays or unresponsiveness. This article recommends using the Baileian large‑model service platform, which offers a cost‑effective alternative for calling the full‑version DeepSeek models via OpenAI‑compatible SDKs or HTTP APIs.
Both DeepSeek‑R1 and DeepSeek‑V3 provide 1 million free tokens each, and several open‑source Qwen and Llama distilled models are also supported.
Estimated Cost
Estimated fee: 0 CNY. Baileian offers a free trial quota; if exhausted, the expected cost will not exceed 1 CNY.
1. Activate Baileian Model Service
Log in to the Alibaba Cloud Baileian console at https://bailian.console.aliyun.com/ .
If a top‑level message prompts you to activate the service, follow the link to obtain a free quota.
Hover over the top‑right icon, select API‑KEY from the dropdown menu.
In the left navigation, choose All API‑KEY or My API‑KEY to create or view your API key.
2. Configure Chatbox Client with Baileian API
Download and install the Chatbox client (example shown for macOS) from https://chatboxai.app/zh#download .
Open Chatbox, click Settings , and enter the Baileian API key.
In the displayed configuration panel, fill in the required fields as illustrated and click Save .
After configuration, the client provides a graphical interface for interacting with DeepSeek models without using the command line.
3. Using the Model
In the text input box, type a query such as 你是谁？ or any other command, then send it to receive the model’s response.
Key Points
Alibaba Cloud Baileian offers 1 million free tokens for both DeepSeek‑R1 and DeepSeek‑V3 to all users.
The full‑version DeepSeek‑R1 costs 4 CNY per million tokens, delivering strong capabilities in mathematics, code, and natural language reasoning.
The distilled DeepSeek‑R1‑Distill‑Qwen‑7B costs only 0.5 CNY per million tokens, the lowest price on the market.
The smallest distilled model, DeepSeek‑R1‑Distill‑Qwen‑1.5B, is currently available for a limited‑time free trial.
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