Does DeepSeek train on your data? App vs API
DeepSeek has different data terms on personal and business plans. Personal: Free. Business: DeepSeek API (Open Platform). Every value links to DeepSeek's own page. Last verified .
DeepSeek (app & web chat)
Trains by default
The vendor may use data from your personal account to train models unless you opt out. See the exceptions and limits below.
Full personal-plan page →DeepSeek API (Open Platform)
Not stated
Vendor pages don't say clearly.
Full business-plan page →Side by side
| What we checked | Personal DeepSeek (app & web chat) | Business DeepSeek API (Open Platform) |
|---|---|---|
| Trains on your data by default | Yes, opt-out The privacy policy lists training models as a use of your data. The terms say de-identified inputs and outputs may be used to improve the service unless you turn off "Improve the model for everyone". The pages do not literally say the toggle starts on. Source: cdn.deepseek.com/policies/en-US/deepseek-privacy-policy.html (checked Oct 18, 2026), cdn.deepseek.com/policies/en-US/deepseek-terms-of-use.html (checked Oct 18, 2026) | Unknown The Open Platform terms checked do not say whether API inputs are used for training. The consumer privacy policy says it does not cover data from apps built on the open platform. |
| Can you turn training off? | Yes Turn off "Improve the model for everyone" in settings. Source: cdn.deepseek.com/policies/en-US/deepseek-terms-of-use.html (checked Oct 18, 2026), cdn.deepseek.com/policies/en-US/deepseek-privacy-policy.html (checked Oct 18, 2026) | Not tracked for business plans |
| Data retention | As long as you have an account Longer if needed for legal claims, violations or 'legitimate business interest'. Source: cdn.deepseek.com/policies/en-US/deepseek-privacy-policy.html (checked Oct 18, 2026) | Unknown Not stated on any vendor page we checked. |
| Retention after you delete | Unknown No specific deletion window stated. The policy says data is destroyed or anonymized when no longer required. | Not tracked for business plans |
| Human review of chats | Unknown Not stated on any vendor page we checked. | Not tracked for business plans |
| Temporary / incognito chat | Unknown No temporary/incognito chat mode found on the pages checked. | Not tracked for business plans |
| Data location / residency | Stored in the People's Republic of China Operated by Hangzhou DeepSeek Artificial Intelligence Co., Ltd. Source: cdn.deepseek.com/policies/en-US/deepseek-privacy-policy.html (checked Oct 18, 2026) | Unknown No region choice found. The terms are governed by the law of mainland China. Source: cdn.deepseek.com/policies/en-US/deepseek-open-platform-terms-of-service.html (checked Oct 18, 2026) |
| SOC 2 Type II | Not checked yet Not checked in this personal-plan research pass (consumer/business compliance docs not reviewed). | Unknown Not stated on any vendor page we checked. |
| ISO/IEC 42001 | Not checked yet Not checked in this personal-plan research pass (consumer/business compliance docs not reviewed). | Unknown Not stated on any vendor page we checked. |
| DPA available | Not checked yet Not checked in this personal-plan research pass (consumer/business compliance docs not reviewed). | Unknown Not stated on any vendor page we checked. |
| BAA / HIPAA | Not checked yet Not checked in this personal-plan research pass (consumer/business compliance docs not reviewed). | Unknown Not stated on any vendor page we checked. |
| Zero-retention option | Not checked yet Not checked in this personal-plan research pass (consumer/business compliance docs not reviewed). | Unknown Not stated on any vendor page we checked. |
Verbatim quotes from each source are on the personal and business pages.
How to turn off training on a personal DeepSeek account
Turn off "Improve the model for everyone" in DeepSeek settings. Step-by-step instructions →
See also: Why AI training on your data matters · How we source and verify this