How to Get a Free SiliconFlow API Key (2026)
6 free models available — no credit card required. Get your SiliconFlow API key →
Overview
China-based free LLM API — DeepSeek, Qwen, BGE at 1,000 RPM.
SiliconFlow is a Chinese AI inference platform offering generous free tiers for DeepSeek, Qwen, BGE, and other models popular in the Chinese LLM ecosystem. The free tier supports up to 1,000 RPM and 50K TPM with no credit card required. Best latency for users in China and Asia-Pacific.
- 1,000 RPM, 50K TPM free tier
- DeepSeek, Qwen, BGE models
- Lowest latency for China-based users
- OpenAI-compatible endpoint
API Compatibility: OpenAI SDK-compatible (Chat Completions)
Quick Start Guide
- 1 Sign up at cloud.siliconflow.cn Phone verification. No credit card.
- 2 Go to API Keys
- 3 Create an API key
- 4 Choose a model DeepSeek-V3, Qwen3, BGE available. 1,000 RPM free.
- 5 Configure OpenAI client Base URL: https://api.siliconflow.cn/v1
All Free SiliconFlow Models — Context Windows & Rate Limits
| Model | Context | Max Output | Modality | Rate Limit | Released | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| deepseek-ai/DeepSeek-R1-0528-Qwen3-8B | 33K | 16K | 1,000 RPM, 50K TPM | — | Online | Details | |
| deepseek-ai/DeepSeek-R1-Distill-Qwen-7B | 131K | 131K | 1,000 RPM, 50K TPM | — | Online | Details | |
| THUDM/glm-4-9b-chat | 32K | 32K | 1,000 RPM, 50K TPM | — | Online | Details | |
| THUDM/GLM-4.1V-9B-Thinking | 66K | 66K | 1,000 RPM, 50K TPM | — | Online | Details | |
| deepseek-ai/DeepSeek-OCR | 131K | 8K | 1,000 RPM, 50K TPM | — | Online | Details | |
| Abbreviation | 131K | 8K | See provider page | — | Online | Details |
Pricing & Limits
Credit Card Not required
Free Tier Permanently free
Context Range 32K – 131K
Total Models 6 free
Rate Limits 1,000 RPM, 50K TPM
API Compatibility OpenAI SDK-compatible (Chat Completions)
Use Cases
What SiliconFlow's free models are best for, based on aggregated model capabilities:
Limitations & Caveats
- China-hosted — high latency outside Asia-Pacific
- Chinese phone number required for registration
- Model availability may change based on local regulations