DeepSeek R1 0528 vs DeepSeek R1 Distill Llama 70B
DeepSeek R1 0528 (2025) and DeepSeek R1 Distill Llama 70B (2025) are frontier-tier reasoning models from DeepSeek. DeepSeek R1 0528 ships a 160K-token context window, while DeepSeek R1 Distill Llama 70B ships a 128K-token context window. On pricing, DeepSeek R1 0528 costs $0.1/1M input tokens versus $0.35/1M for the alternative. This comparison covers specs, pricing, capabilities, benchmarks, provider availability, and production fit.
DeepSeek R1 0528 is ~250% cheaper at $0.1/1M; pay for DeepSeek R1 Distill Llama 70B only for provider fit.
Specs
| Released | 2025-01-01 | 2025-01-20 |
| Context window | 160K | 128K |
| Parameters | 671B | 70B |
| Architecture | decoder only | decoder only |
| License | Open Source | Open Source |
| Knowledge cutoff | - | - |
Pricing and availability
| DeepSeek R1 0528 | DeepSeek R1 Distill Llama 70B | |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | $0.1/1M tokens | $0.35/1M tokens |
| Output price | $0.3/1M tokens | $1.05/1M tokens |
| Providers |
Capabilities
| DeepSeek R1 0528 | DeepSeek R1 Distill Llama 70B | |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | ||
| Multimodal | ||
| Reasoning | ||
| Function calling | ||
| Tool use | ||
| Structured outputs | ||
| Code execution |
Benchmarks
No shared benchmark rows are currently sourced for this pair.
Deep dive
The capability footprint differs most on code execution: DeepSeek R1 0528. Both models share reasoning mode and structured outputs, so the practical split is not just feature count. Use those differences to decide whether the page is about raw model quality, agentic coding support, multimodal ingestion, or predictable structured API behavior.
For cost, DeepSeek R1 0528 lists $0.1/1M input and $0.3/1M output tokens, while DeepSeek R1 Distill Llama 70B lists $0.35/1M input and $1.05/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider. A 70/30 input-output blend puts DeepSeek R1 0528 lower by about $0.4 per million blended tokens. Availability is 5 providers versus 4, so concentration risk also matters.
Choose DeepSeek R1 0528 when coding workflow support, larger context windows, and lower input-token cost are central to the workload. Choose DeepSeek R1 Distill Llama 70B when provider fit are more important. For production, rerun your own prompts through the exact provider, region, and tool stack you plan to ship. This keeps the decision grounded in measurable tradeoffs instead of brand-level assumptions. It also helps separate model capability from provider packaging, which can change cost and latency.
FAQ
Which has a larger context window, DeepSeek R1 0528 or DeepSeek R1 Distill Llama 70B?
DeepSeek R1 0528 supports 160K tokens, while DeepSeek R1 Distill Llama 70B supports 128K tokens. That gap matters most for long documents, large codebases, retrieval-heavy agents, and conversations where earlier context must remain visible.
Which is cheaper, DeepSeek R1 0528 or DeepSeek R1 Distill Llama 70B?
DeepSeek R1 0528 is cheaper on tracked token pricing. DeepSeek R1 0528 costs $0.1/1M input and $0.3/1M output tokens. DeepSeek R1 Distill Llama 70B costs $0.35/1M input and $1.05/1M output tokens. Provider discounts or batch pricing can still change the final bill.
Is DeepSeek R1 0528 or DeepSeek R1 Distill Llama 70B open source?
DeepSeek R1 0528 is listed under Open Source. DeepSeek R1 Distill Llama 70B is listed under Open Source. License labels affect whether you can self-host, redistribute weights, or rely only on hosted APIs, so confirm the upstream license before deployment.
Which is better for reasoning mode, DeepSeek R1 0528 or DeepSeek R1 Distill Llama 70B?
Both DeepSeek R1 0528 and DeepSeek R1 Distill Llama 70B expose reasoning mode. The better choice depends on benchmark fit, context budget, pricing, and whether your provider route exposes the same capability surface.
Which is better for structured outputs, DeepSeek R1 0528 or DeepSeek R1 Distill Llama 70B?
Both DeepSeek R1 0528 and DeepSeek R1 Distill Llama 70B expose structured outputs. The better choice depends on benchmark fit, context budget, pricing, and whether your provider route exposes the same capability surface.
Where can I run DeepSeek R1 0528 and DeepSeek R1 Distill Llama 70B?
DeepSeek R1 0528 is available on Together AI, Fireworks AI, GCP Vertex AI, Novita AI, and OpenRouter. DeepSeek R1 Distill Llama 70B is available on DeepInfra, OpenRouter, Fireworks AI, and Arcee AI. Provider coverage can affect latency, region availability, compliance posture, and fallback options.
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Last reviewed: 2026-04-24. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.