How to Get a DeepSeek API Key Without a Chinese Phone Number
You want to use DeepSeek's API. But there's a problem — the official registration requires a Chinese phone number for SMS verification. If you're in the US, Europe, Australia, or anywhere outside China, you get a "Invalid phone number" error.
This guide covers the only reliable way to get a DeepSeek API key and start using it — without a Chinese phone number, without Alipay, and without any other China-specific requirements.
Why DeepSeek Requires a Chinese Phone Number
DeepSeek (深度求索) is a Chinese AI company, and its registration system follows Chinese regulatory requirements. International phone numbers are not supported in the platform's current authentication flow. This creates a frustrating experience for developers outside China who want to evaluate what is arguably the best price-performance AI model available.
The situation: The official DeepSeek API platform (platform.deepseek.com) requires mainland China phone number + Alipay/WeChat Pay. This blocks virtually all international developers from using the service directly.
The Solution: ModelHub
ModelHub is an OpenAI-compatible API gateway that gives you access to DeepSeek V4 Flash without any Chinese requirements:
- No Chinese phone number — just your email
- No Alipay or WeChat Pay — Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, or crypto
- No language barrier — full English interface
- Drop-in OpenAI replacement — change one line of code, keep your existing SDK
Step-by-Step: Get Your Key in 60 Seconds
Enter Your Email
Type your email address and click "Get Key". Your API key will be generated instantly, along with $5 in free credits. No credit card is required.
Test Your Key
Use the "Send Test Request" button on the dashboard, or run this cURL command in your terminal:
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-H "Authorization: Bearer mh-sk-your-key" \
-d '{"model": "deepseek-v4-flash", "messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "Hi!"}]}'
Integrate Into Your App
Use it with any OpenAI SDK — Python, Node.js, Go, or any language:
Get Your DeepSeek API Key Now
$5 free credit. No Chinese phone. No Chinese payment. Ready in 30 seconds.
Get API Key →Alternative Options (Compared)
There are a few other options for accessing DeepSeek as an international developer:
- Virtual Chinese phone numbers — services like SMS-activate offer temporary Chinese numbers for SMS verification. But you'll still need Alipay for payment.
- OpenRouter — aggregates DeepSeek alongside many other models. However, billing is credit-based and user experience is general-purpose rather than DeepSeek-focused.
- Novita AI — offers DeepSeek at $0.14/M tokens, but the platform is a general AI marketplace, less focused on developer convenience features like key management, dashboards, or API key revocation.
ModelHub is the only option that combines a dedicated DeepSeek focus, instant email-based registration, international payment, and full OpenAI SDK compatibility.
Can You Use Your Key with Third-Party Tools?
Yes! ModelHub's API is OpenAI-compatible, so it works with:
- Cursor — set base URL in settings
- Continue.dev (VS Code / JetBrains) — add as OpenAI provider
- OpenRouter — set as custom endpoint
- LiteLLM — use as a model provider
- Any tool that supports custom OpenAI-compatible endpoints
Still Have Questions?
Check our developer docs for complete API reference, or use the AI assistant on our homepage for instant answers about pricing, models, and integration.