DeepSeek R1 0528 vs DeepSeek V3
DeepSeek R1 0528 (2025) and DeepSeek V3 (2024) are frontier reasoning models from DeepSeek. DeepSeek R1 0528 ships a 130k-token context window, while DeepSeek V3 ships a 64k-token context window. On MMLU PRO, DeepSeek R1 0528 leads by 9.1 pts. On pricing, DeepSeek V3 costs $0.10/1M input tokens versus $0.50/1M for the alternative. This comparison covers specs, pricing, API access, capabilities, benchmarks, input and output token costs, and production fit for coding and agent workloads.
DeepSeek V3 is ~400% cheaper at $0.10/1M; pay for DeepSeek R1 0528 only for coding workflow support.
Decision scorecard
Local evidence first| Signal | DeepSeek R1 0528 | DeepSeek V3 |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | reasoning-heavy apps and provider-routed production | tool-calling agents and provider-routed production |
| Decision fit | Coding, RAG, and Agents | Coding, Agents, and Classification |
| Context window | 130k | 64k |
| Cheapest output | $2.15/1M tokens | $0.30/1M tokens |
| Provider routes | 6 tracked | 13 tracked |
| Shared benchmarks | MMLU PRO leader | 3 rows |
Decision tradeoffs
- DeepSeek R1 0528 holds a shared-benchmark lead on MMLU PRO, ahead by 9.1 points.
- DeepSeek R1 0528 has the larger context window for long prompts, retrieval packs, or transcript analysis.
- DeepSeek R1 0528 uniquely exposes Reasoning and Code execution in local model data.
- Local decision data tags DeepSeek R1 0528 for Coding, RAG, and Agents.
- DeepSeek V3 has the lower cheapest tracked output price at $0.30/1M tokens.
- DeepSeek V3 has broader tracked provider coverage for fallback and procurement flexibility.
- DeepSeek V3 uniquely exposes Function calling and Tool use in local model data.
- Local decision data tags DeepSeek V3 for Coding, Agents, and Classification.
Monthly cost at traffic
Estimate token spend from the cheapest tracked input and output route or tier on this page.
DeepSeek R1 0528
$938
Cheapest tracked route/tier: OpenRouter
DeepSeek V3
$155
Cheapest tracked route/tier: Bitdeer AI
Estimated monthly gap: $783. Batch, cache, alternate speed tiers, and negotiated pricing are excluded from this local estimate.
Switch friction
- Provider overlap exists on Fireworks AI, Microsoft Foundry, and OpenRouter; start route-level A/B tests there.
- DeepSeek V3 is $1.85/1M tokens lower on cheapest tracked output pricing before cache, batch, or negotiated discounts.
- Check replacement coverage for Reasoning and Code execution before moving production traffic.
- DeepSeek V3 adds Function calling and Tool use in local capability data.
- Provider overlap exists on Together AI, Fireworks AI, and GCP Vertex AI; start route-level A/B tests there.
- DeepSeek R1 0528 is $1.85/1M tokens higher on cheapest tracked output pricing, so quality gains need to justify the spend.
- Check replacement coverage for Function calling and Tool use before moving production traffic.
- DeepSeek R1 0528 adds Reasoning and Code execution in local capability data.
Specs
Pricing and availability
| Pricing attribute | DeepSeek R1 0528 | DeepSeek V3 |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | $0.50/1M tokens | $0.10/1M tokens |
| Output price | $2.15/1M tokens | $0.30/1M tokens |
| Providers |
Capabilities
| Capability | DeepSeek R1 0528 | DeepSeek V3 |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | No | No |
| Multimodal | No | No |
| Reasoning | Yes | No |
| Function calling | No | Yes |
| Tool use | No | Yes |
| Structured outputs | Yes | Yes |
| Code execution | Yes | No |
| IDE integration | No | No |
| Computer use | No | No |
| Parallel agents | No | No |
Benchmarks
| Benchmark | DeepSeek R1 0528 | DeepSeek V3 |
|---|---|---|
| MMLU PRO | 85.0 | 75.9 |
| LiveCodeBench | 73.3 | 49.6 |
| Aider Polyglot | 71.4 | 48.4 |
Deep dive
On shared benchmark coverage, MMLU PRO has DeepSeek R1 0528 at 85 and DeepSeek V3 at 75.9, with DeepSeek R1 0528 ahead by 9.1 points; LiveCodeBench has DeepSeek R1 0528 at 73.3 and DeepSeek V3 at 49.6, with DeepSeek R1 0528 ahead by 23.7 points; Aider Polyglot has DeepSeek R1 0528 at 71.4 and DeepSeek V3 at 48.4, with DeepSeek R1 0528 ahead by 23.0 points. The largest visible gap is 23.7 points on LiveCodeBench, which matters most when that benchmark mirrors your workload. Treat isolated benchmark wins as directional, because provider routing, prompt style, and tool access can move real application results.
The capability footprint differs most on reasoning mode: DeepSeek R1 0528, function calling: DeepSeek V3, tool use: DeepSeek V3, and code execution: DeepSeek R1 0528. Both models share 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 $0.50/1M input and $2.15/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider, while DeepSeek V3 lists $0.10/1M input and $0.30/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider. A 70/30 input-output blend puts DeepSeek V3 lower by about $0.83 per million blended tokens. Availability is 6 providers versus 13, so concentration risk also matters.
Choose DeepSeek R1 0528 when coding workflow support and larger context windows are central to the workload. Choose DeepSeek V3 when provider fit, lower input-token cost, and broader provider choice are more important. For production, rerun your own prompts through the exact provider, region, and tool stack you plan to ship.
FAQ
Which has a larger context window, DeepSeek R1 0528 or DeepSeek V3?
DeepSeek R1 0528 supports 130k tokens, while DeepSeek V3 supports 64k 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 V3?
DeepSeek V3 is cheaper on tracked token pricing. DeepSeek R1 0528 costs $0.50/1M input and $2.15/1M output tokens. DeepSeek V3 costs $0.10/1M input and $0.30/1M output tokens. Provider discounts or batch pricing can still change the final bill.
Is DeepSeek R1 0528 or DeepSeek V3 open source?
DeepSeek R1 0528 is listed under MIT. DeepSeek V3 is listed under MIT. 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 V3?
DeepSeek R1 0528 has the clearer documented reasoning mode signal in this comparison. If reasoning mode is mission-critical, validate it against the provider endpoint because model-level support and API-level exposure can differ.
Which is better for function calling, DeepSeek R1 0528 or DeepSeek V3?
DeepSeek V3 has the clearer documented function calling signal in this comparison. If function calling is mission-critical, validate it against the provider endpoint because model-level support and API-level exposure can differ.
Where can I run DeepSeek R1 0528 and DeepSeek V3?
DeepSeek R1 0528 is available on Together AI, Fireworks AI, GCP Vertex AI, Novita AI, and OpenRouter. DeepSeek V3 is available on DeepInfra, Fireworks AI, DeepSeek Platform, Microsoft Foundry, and OpenRouter. Provider coverage can affect latency, region availability, compliance posture, and fallback options.
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Last reviewed: 2026-05-22. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.