# DeepSeek API vs StepFun API (slim)

> DeepSeek scores 46.8 (D) to StepFun's 44.4 (E) for llm inference. Prices, MCP, x402, uptime and agent notes side by side.

- Full: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/deepseek-api-vs-stepfun-api.md (~2,600 tokens) · this version ~630 tokens · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/deepseek-api-vs-stepfun-api.json · canonical https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/deepseek-api-vs-stepfun-api
- Index: https://www.anchorterminal.com/llms.txt · API: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/index.json · Updated: 2026-10-12

DeepSeek API scores 46.8 (D) on agent readiness against StepFun API's 44.4 (E), and leads in 3 of 7 scored categories. StepFun API leads on security & auth. Both do llm inference.

- DeepSeek API: D 46.8, rank #852 of 965 · https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/deepseek-api.min.md
- StepFun API: E 44.4, rank #889 of 965 · https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/stepfun-api.min.md
- DeepSeek API, good for Low-cost long-context work on public data, and off-peak batch-style jobs run through the normal API. Ahead on Reliability, 65 against 28; Transparency & trust, 65 against 58.
- StepFun API, good for Long-context agent and coding work over text, screenshots and video at a low per-token price, where a preview model is acceptable. Ahead on Security & auth, 41 against 30. Also No incidents deducted, where DeepSeek API loses 3 points for them.

| Category | DeepSeek API | StepFun API |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Reliability (16%) | 65 | 28 |
| Performance (10%) | pending | pending |
| Schema & documentation (13%) | 49 | 53 |
| Agent ergonomics (13%) | 70 | 68 |
| Security & auth (14%) | 30 | 41 |
| Payments & pricing (10%) | 20 | 20 |
| Task success (10%) | pending | pending |
| Maintenance & community (7%) | 46 | 50 |
| Transparency & trust (7%) | 65 | 58 |

| Fact (where they differ) | DeepSeek API | StepFun API |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Vendor | DeepSeek | StepFun |
| Hosted endpoint | `https://api.deepseek.com` | `https://api.stepfun.ai/v1` |
| Licence | none | Closed service under the StepFun Open Platform Terms of Service (STEPFUN TECHNOLOGY (HK) LIMITED, Hong Kong law). |
| llms.txt | no | yes |
| Last release | 2026-09-10 | none |
| Terms last updated | couldn't be read |  |
| Privacy policy last updated | couldn't be read |  |
| Customer content may train models | couldn't be read |  |
| Terms restrict automated access | couldn't be read |  |
| Terms restrict benchmarking | couldn't be read |  |
| Terms or service can change without notice | couldn't be read |  |
| Arbitration or class-action waiver | couldn't be read |  |
| Agent reviews | 2/5 (2) | none |