How to Use the DeepSeek API from Anywhere (No China Account Needed)
DeepSeek, Kimi, Zhipu GLM and MiniMax are some of the most capable AI models in the world — but if you're outside mainland China, getting an API key the "official" way is a headache. This guide shows the fast path: one OpenAI-compatible endpoint, USD billing, no local account.
Why accessing DeepSeek from outside China is hard
If you've tried to sign up for DeepSeek's official platform from Europe, North America or elsewhere, you've probably hit one of these walls:
- China-only verification. Registration often expects a mainland China phone number or enterprise verification.
- RMB-only billing. Even when you get in, payment and invoicing are tied to local methods.
- Interface friction. Multiple providers, multiple dashboards, multiple SDK quirks to wire up.
For an overseas developer or small team, that's enough friction to give up — and you miss out on genuinely strong, cost-effective models.
The fix: one OpenAI-compatible endpoint
AnAiApi bundles DeepSeek, Moonshot Kimi, Zhipu GLM and MiniMax behind a single OpenAI-compatible API. You send a standard chat-completions request, pay in USD with a card / Apple Pay / Google Pay, and never touch a Chinese registration flow.
Because the request format matches OpenAI's, your existing code barely changes — usually just the base_url and API key.
DeepSeek via AnAiApi vs. the alternatives
| Path | Account needed | Billing | Setup effort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official DeepSeek (direct) | China phone / enterprise | RMB only | High |
| Generic resellers | Varies | USD, inconsistent SLA | Medium |
| AnAiApi | Email only | USD (card / Apple Pay / Google Pay) | ~3 lines of code |
Quick start in 3 lines
Sign up at anaiapi.com, grab your API key from the dashboard, and you're ready. New accounts get free starter credits — no card required to try it.
cURL
curl https://www.anaiapi.com/v1/chat/completions \
-H "Authorization: Bearer $ANAI_API_KEY" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{
"model": "deepseek-v4-pro",
"messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "Explain quantum computing in one sentence."}]
}'Python (OpenAI SDK)
from openai import OpenAI
client = OpenAI(
api_key="YOUR_ANAI_API_KEY",
base_url="https://www.anaiapi.com/v1"
)
resp = client.chat.completions.create(
model="deepseek-v4-pro",
messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "Hello!"}]
)
print(resp.choices[0].message.content)Node.js
import OpenAI from "openai";
const client = new OpenAI({
apiKey: "YOUR_ANAI_API_KEY",
baseURL: "https://www.anaiapi.com/v1"
});
const resp = await client.chat.completions.create({
model: "deepseek-v4-pro",
messages: [{ role: "user", content: "Hello!" }]
});
console.log(resp.choices[0].message.content);deepseek-v4-pro, deepseek-v4-flash, kimi-k3, glm-4.5, MiniMax-M3 — are in the API documentation. Just swap the model field to switch providers.What else can you call?
DeepSeek is just the entry point. The same endpoint serves the rest of China's top model lineup:
DeepSeek Moonshot Kimi Zhipu GLM MiniMax
That means you can A/B test models, build multi-model fallback, or let your users pick — all through one integration.
Is it worth it? A quick cost note
Chinese models are typically far cheaper per token than US-frontier models at comparable quality. Served through a single USD-billed gateway, that's a clean way to cut inference cost for agents, chatbots and pipelines without signing multiple contracts.
Start free — no card required
Get free starter credits and call DeepSeek, Kimi, GLM and MiniMax in minutes.
Create free accountFAQ
Do I need a Chinese phone number?
No. AnAiApi only needs an email. There's no China-only verification step.
Is it OpenAI-compatible?
Yes — requests go to a /v1/chat/completions endpoint with the same message format as OpenAI. Change the base_url and key, and your existing client works.
Which models are available?
DeepSeek, Moonshot Kimi, Zhipu GLM and MiniMax — see the API docs for the full list.