“Which is the best project management tool?” “How to create good designs?” “Which are the best metrics to gauge performance?” The list of questions never ends.
Humans are wired to be curious. In fact, this relentless questioning and reasoning are what sets people apart and leads to great achievements.
And, honestly, this same trait is what’s making AI models smarter too.
But with so many AI models now out in the market, which one is best suited to you?
In this article, we will review and compare two industry heavyweights in the AI race: DeepSeek and OpenAI, and discover which AI tool is the right fit for your AI-powered applications, LLM agents, and generative AI solutions.
OpenAI vs. DeepSeek: Which AI Model is Best for Your Needs?
Summarize this article for me pleaseOpenAI vs. DeepSeek at a Glance
Here’s a quick comparison table between DeepSeek, OpenAI, and ClickUp (as a bonus):
| Feature/Aspect | DeepSeek | OpenAI | ClickUp (Bonus) |
| Type | Open-source AI model | Proprietary AI research lab | Structured reasoning, coding, and affordability |
| Main Strengths | Structured reasoning, coding, affordability | Natural language, multimodal AI, enterprise | Highly customizable workflows, multiple AI model choices |
| Customization | Fully open-source, highly customizable | Limited (API-based, closed models) | Highly customizable workflows, multiple AI model choice |
| Pricing | Very low ($0.07–$2.19 per 1M tokens) | ChatGPT Plus $20/mo; API extra | Free plan; paid plans for advanced AI features |
| Best For | Content creators, enterprises, and general users | Content creators, enterprises, general users | Teams needing a unified workspace powered by AI |
| Natural Language Processing | Good, but less fluent than OpenAI | Industry-leading, human-like | Deep contextual understanding of the workspace and work-related queries |
| Reasoning/Problem Solving | Excels at logic-heavy, structured tasks | Good, but more focused on language | Context-aware answers across all work assets |
| Integration | Limited (open-source, self-hosted) | Deep Microsoft & enterprise integrations | 1000+ integrations (Google Drive, Slack, etc.) |
| Multimodal Capabilities | Limited | Advanced (text, image, audio, video) | Multimodal via integrated AI models |
| Open Source | Yes | No | No |
| Enterprise Features | No (community-driven) | Yes (security, compliance, support) | Yes (automation, reporting, permissions) |
| Knowledge Management | No | No | Yes (docs, wikis, AI-powered search) |
| Automations | No | No | Yes (built-in automations for workflows) |
| Unique Advantage | Cost, customization, logic | Integrated AI, workflow automation, and knowledge management | Language fluency, ecosystem, and reliability |
Summarize this article for me pleaseWhat Is OpenAI?
At this point, everyone has heard of OpenAI. OpenAI is a leading research lab in the US that focuses on machine learning, deep learning, robotics, and computer vision.
But its main job is developing AI models, of which ChatGPT (generative pre-trained transformer) is the most well-known.
OpenAI also offers DALL·E, Sora, and Codex, which are used in everything from image and video generation to software development.
Here’s a quick breakdown of what OpenAI does:
✅ OpenAI’s models help users with writing, coding tasks, image generation, speech recognition, and more
✅ ChatGPT is integrated into Microsoft products, enterprise workflows, and creative industries
✅ Organizations are using the AI platform to automate business operations and improve customer success rates
➡️ Also Read: Best OpenAI Playground Alternatives
OpenAI Features
“Help me process this email” or “Help me summarize this document”—OpenAI CEO Sam Altman uses AI daily for ‘boring’ tasks, but the tech itself is anything but boring.
Here’s a list of OpenAI’s most impressive features:
Feature #1: AI that listens—and responds like a human
OpenAI’s latest models, like GPT-4o, can process speech and text in real time, mimicking human-like conversation with near-zero latency. It’s so good that Microsoft and other enterprise giants are using it to power AI assistants, customer support bots, and even meeting transcription tools.
Feature #2: Smarter AI, cheaper costs
OpenAI introduced prompt caching and model distillation, cutting API costs for businesses by up to 50%. This means AI-powered apps don’t have to pay full price for repetitive prompts.
Feature #3: A true multimodal powerhouse
GPT-4o now sees, hears, and speaks—meaning it can interpret images, understand videos, and generate audio in real time. Developers are using this to create AI-powered tutors, coding assistants, and even smart surveillance tools.
➡️ Also Read: Free Knowledge Base Templates in Word & ClickUp
Feature #4: AI that remembers, learns, and adapts
Unlike other AI models that treat every prompt like a first-time meeting, OpenAI’s memory feature lets AI retain context over multiple conversations. This means that it’s remembering your writing style or your last customer complaint for a more personalized experience.
OpenAI pricing
- Free Tier
- ChatGPT Plus: $20/month per user
- ChatGPT Team: $30/month per user
- ChatGPT Enterprise: Custom pricing
📮 ClickUp Insight: Your employees lack context
According to ClickUp’s research, the average knowledge worker sends about 25 messages a day just trying to track down information and context.
That’s a lot of time lost scrolling through endless emails, chats, and scattered conversations. If only there were a smarter way to keep everything—tasks, projects, messages, and emails—connected (with AI, of course). Well, there is: Try ClickUp!
Summarize this article for me pleaseWhat Is DeepSeek?
DeepSeek is the talk of the town because it aims to take on OpenAI with a powerful and cost-effective large language model.
And that’s what attracts users—a tool with a thought process designed to handle complex reasoning, language understanding, and problem-solving—without the massive computing costs of its competitors.
Here’s what makes DeepSeek worth talking about:
✅ Unlike most AI models, DeepSeek allows developers to modify and use its technology freely
✅ It offers similar performance to top-tier GPT models while operating at a significantly lower cost
✅ With lower hardware requirements, more businesses and researchers can experiment with AI development without breaking the bank
✅ DeepSeek has quickly positioned itself as a new competitor, proving that smaller models can still deliver impressive results
💡 Pro Tip: Struggling with distractions and wasted hours? Learn how to use AI for productivity to reclaim up to 683 hours a year by automating tasks using this guide!
DeepSeek Features
This is what Phate Zhang, founder of Shanghai-based EV data provider CnEVPost, said about DeepSeek. Recently, over a dozen automakers, from BYD to Leapmotor, have rushed to integrate DeepSeek’s AI-powered features into their vehicles.
So, what exactly makes DeepSeek so enticing?
Feature #1: AI is getting behind the wheel
DeepSeek is helping smart EVs with self-driving assistance, in-car AI, and digital cockpits. Automakers are integrating it for better navigation, voice control, and a more personalized driving experience.
Feature #2: Thinks before it speaks
Unlike most AI models that just predict the next word, DeepSeek-R1 actually reasons. It breaks down complex problems, making it useful for coding, finance, and logic-heavy tasks.
Feature #3: Open-source, no paywall
While OpenAI keeps its models locked down, DeepSeek’s open-source approach is winning over developers. Companies can modify, fine-tune, and deploy it without expensive licensing fees. This freedom is fueling a growing community eager to build on its foundation.
Feature #4: AI that doesn’t cost a fortune
DeepSeek is proving that high-end AI capabilities don’t require an enterprise budget. It offers significantly lower pricing than major competitors, making AI adoption easier for businesses and researchers.
DeepSeek pricing
- DeepSeek-Chat (Upgraded to DeepSeek-V3)
- Input (Cache Hit): $0.07 per 1M tokens
- Input (Cache Miss): $0.27 per 1M tokens
- Output: $1.10 per 1M tokens
- DeepSeek-Reasoner (DeepSeek-R1)
- Input (Cache Hit): $0.14 per 1M tokens
- Input (Cache Miss): $0.55 per 1M tokens
- Output: $2.19 per 1M tokens
Summarize this article for me pleaseDeepSeek Vs. OpenAI: Features Compared
OpenAI and DeepSeek are both pushing boundaries in artificial intelligence. However, with different approaches, it’s best to see how they stack up against each other:
Feature #1: AI reasoning and problem-solving
OpenAI’s GPT models excel at natural language understanding, creative writing, and answering complex queries.
However, DeepSeek takes a different route—its DeepSeek-R1 model is built to reason through problems rather than just predict words. That makes it especially powerful for tasks requiring structured logic, like coding, finance, and decision-making.
🏆 Winner: DeepSeek for its powerful reasoning skills.
Feature #2: Natural language understanding and content generation
DeepSeek might be great at logic, but when it comes to fluent, human-like writing and conversation, OpenAI still reigns supreme.
GPT-4o understands nuances, adapts tone seamlessly, and helps you generate human-like text. Whether it’s writing a compelling blog post, drafting marketing copy, or assisting in customer support, OpenAI delivers polished results that set the industry standard.
🏆 Winner: OpenAI for its ability to generate (almost) human-like text.
💡 Pro Tip: Learn how to use AI for data analysis to understand the ‘why’ behind performance trends. As a result, optimize campaigns, predict customer behavior, and make data-driven decisions.
Feature #3: Customization and accessibility
OpenAI keeps its models behind paywalls, limiting customization for developers.
DeepSeek, on the other hand, is fully open-source, allowing businesses to fine-tune and modify their models as needed—without restrictive licensing fees. This makes DeepSeek a top choice for startups, research teams, and companies that want to own their AI infrastructure instead of relying on API access.
🏆 Winner: DeepSeek, for its open-source model, which allows for deep customization.
Feature #4: Enterprise-grade AI and ecosystem
OpenAI’s biggest strength isn’t just its AI models—it’s the ecosystem.
With enterprise-ready tools, seamless integrations, and massive infrastructure support, OpenAI is the better choice for businesses looking for plug-and-play AI tools.
From ChatGPT to DALL·E, OpenAI offers a range of AI-powered applications with continuous updates and industry-leading reliability.
🏆 Winner: OpenAI, for its seamless integration within the Microsoft ecosystem.
➡️ Also Read: Best Document Management Software to Get Organized
Summarize this article for me pleaseDeepSeek Vs. OpenAI on Reddit
When it comes to AI models, few places offer as much unfiltered honesty as Reddit.
OpenAI, specifically ChatGPT, has been the dominant force in the AI space, but DeepSeek is generating serious buzz, especially among developers and those seeking affordable API alternatives.
Based on Reddit discussions, here’s what users have to say.
For many, the experience with DeepSeek felt smooth, powerful, and responsive, especially in coding workflows.
A post by u/klippers in r/LocalLLaMA sparked massive discussion:
Another fact to note: AI can be expensive, especially when using APIs for large-scale tasks. OpenAI’s pricing has frustrated many, and DeepSeek’s affordability has been a breath of fresh air, as per users.
However, the biggest complaint is inconsistency. As one Redditor pointed out:
Meanwhile, OpenAI has been a dominant force in the AI industry with its GPT models, which are reflected in user experiences. And this one Reddit post really captures it best:
However, for programmers, OpenAI’s GPT models have also received mixed reviews. Some developers claim it has declined in accuracy, while others still prefer it over alternatives.
💡 Pro Tip: AI writing tools are only as good as the prompts they receive—master AI writing prompts with this guide to create relevant, engaging, and marketing-ready content.
Summarize this article for me pleaseMeet ClickUp—The Best Alternative to OpenAI Vs. DeepSeek
Imagine having all your AI-powered tools—your research assistant, content generator, knowledge manager, and workflow optimizer—bundled into one platform. That’s ClickUp—the everything app for work.
ClickUp’s One Up #1: ClickUp Brain
First of all, instead of switching between OpenAI’s language models and DeepSeek’s search capabilities, ClickUp Brain does it all in one place, integrating AI directly into your workflows for AI workflow automation.
And here’s the real difference: With OpenAI or DeepSeek, you often need to feed them data or ask the right prompts to extract useful insights. ClickUp, on the other hand, already knows where your work lives and understands what you’re working on!
That means you get highly relevant, context-specific answers tailored to your current task. No more switching between separate AI tools and work platforms—everything you need is in one place.
And there’s more: ClickUp Brain users can choose from multiple external AI models, including Claude and GPT-4o, right from their ClickUp Workspace!
ClickUp also connects directly with tools like Google Drive, GitHub, and Salesforce through it’s 1000+ integrations—so you don’t waste time manually entering data or searching for answers.
📌 Example: Now, a researcher can ask ClickUp Brain complex questions across multiple knowledge bases and receive structured, real-time responses.
ClickUp Brain is an interconnected neural network that bridges the gap between knowledge, projects, and people. To break it down further, the top ClickUp Brain features include:
✅ Unified knowledge access: Connect all your files, databases, and project tasks in one place. No more switching between apps—ClickUp pulls in data from everywhere you work
✅ Instant, accurate insights: ClickUp Brain delivers precise answers based on your team’s context—no more sifting through threads or outdated documents
✅ Automated progress updates: No more manual reporting. AI-powered summaries and reports keep your team aligned with minimal effort
✅ Effortless writing and communication: Need to draft a project proposal? ClickUp’s AI writer adapts to your style, ensuring consistency across documents, emails, and chat messages
💡 Pro Tip: Still bouncing between Google and AI-powered search tools? Ditch the guesswork—AI search engines provide instant, contextual answers without endless scrolling.
ClickUp’s One Up #2: ClickUp’s Connected Search
Since we are talking about saving time, ClickUp’s Connected Search optimizes time efficiency.
DeepSeek does a great job of retrieving information from external sources, but it can’t search across your company’s internal tools and projects. OpenAI doesn’t natively integrate with your work apps either, meaning you still have to manually look things up.
ClickUp’s Connected Search, on the other hand, brings everything into one place. Need a contract from Google Drive, an email thread from Outlook, and a sales report from Salesforce? ClickUp’s Connected Search retrieves all of it instantly.
ClickUp One Up #3: AI-Powered Knowledge Management
Another bonus is that OpenAI might generate ideas, but ClickUp’s Knowledge Management makes sure those ideas are documented, managed, and discovered with a click of a button.
Traditional knowledge bases often become outdated, forcing teams to dig through multiple tools and files to find the right information. ClickUp’s Knowledge Management solves this by connecting tasks, documents, wikis, and AI-powered search via ClickUp Brain and ClickUp Connected Search into one cohesive system that integrates seamlessly with your workflow.
Moreover, ClickUp offers 1000+ prebuilt wiki templates, which makes it effortless to create structured knowledge bases for teams, whether for product documentation, company policies, or client SOPs.
💡 Pro Tip: Tired of digging through endless files and chats just to find one piece of information? Switch to AI tools for knowledge management to organize, retrieve, and update information in real time.
ClickUp One Up #4: ClickUp Docs and ClickUp Automations
Then there’s writing and communication. OpenAI requires you to copy-paste generated content into your workspace, and DeepSeek mostly helps you find relevant articles, leaving the writing part to you.
ClickUp Brain is built inside your workflows, meaning you can generate, refine, and integrate content directly into ClickUp Docs.
Here’s how ClickUp Docs eliminate friction between writing and execution:
✅ Edit documents in real time with your team
✅ Create and assign feedback action items within the doc via Assigned Comments
✅ Nest sub-pages inside your main doc to bring more structure to the content
Lastly, there’s one more ClickUp feature, which is the cherry on top, and it automates all of the actions we’ve discussed till now—ClickUp Automations.
Unlike OpenAI, which requires you to manually set up workflows, or DeepSeek, which is focused on information retrieval—ClickUp Automations moves work forward by handling repetitive processes automatically.
Summarize this article for me pleaseNo Need To Seek Better AI, Just Be Open To ClickUp
When DISH Network was bogged down by disconnected tools, ClickUp Brain stepped in to centralize project management and automate updates. With instant access to real-time insights, DISH eliminated the need for manual tracking, increased efficiency by 30%, handled 10% more complex projects, and significantly improved cross-team collaboration.
That kind of productivity boost sounds like something out of a work fantasy, but with ClickUp, it’s reality.
From AI-powered knowledge management and automated workflows to real-time progress updates and integrated search across all your apps, ClickUp keeps your work organized and actively advances it.
Fortunately, you don’t have to dream about better productivity. Sign up on ClickUp for free now and make it happen.
Everything you need to stay organized and get work done.
