Abstract: So far, Equivalent Static Method has been mainly used in the seismic design of underground structures in China; however, Free-filed Deformation Method and Response Displacement Method have been mainly used in foreign countries. The seismic design discrepancy of Equivalent Static Method, Free-field Deformation Method and Response Displacement Method was analyzed and evaluated in this paper. In analysis, the benchmark model was set for underground structure in soft soils, and the seismic response of underground structure was acquired by using dynamic time-history analyses. Assuming the same stratum and buried depth, based on the discrepancy comparison analysis of deformation and internal force along with different structural stiffness, evaluation of applicability was made for the three pseudo-static seismic design methods. The result shows: Equivalent Static Method could be applied well under the condition of large stiffness of shallow-buried frame structures in soft soils, in other cases it will lead to large deformation and internal force of structure; Free-field Deformation Method could be applied in the condition that the stiffness of structure is relatively small or approached to the surrounding soil, and the Pseudo-Triangular Pressure Distribution Model would prior to the Pseudo-Concentrated Force Model; Response Displacement Method could be suitable to the seismic design for shallow-buried frame structures with different stiffness.