DeepSeek R1 0528 vs Qwen3-Max
DeepSeek R1 0528 (2025) and Qwen3-Max (2026) are frontier reasoning models from DeepSeek and Alibaba. DeepSeek R1 0528 ships a 160K-token context window, while Qwen3-Max ships a 128K-token context window. On pricing, DeepSeek R1 0528 costs $0.1/1M input tokens versus $0.78/1M for the alternative. This comparison covers specs, pricing, capabilities, benchmarks, provider availability, and production fit. It focuses on practical selection signals rather than broad model-family marketing.
DeepSeek R1 0528 is ~680% cheaper at $0.1/1M; pay for Qwen3-Max only for vision-heavy evaluation.
Specs
| Released | 2025-01-01 | 2026-01-15 |
| Context window | 160K | 128K |
| Parameters | 671B | — |
| Architecture | decoder only | decoder only |
| License | Open Source | Proprietary |
| Knowledge cutoff | - | 2025-12 |
Pricing and availability
| DeepSeek R1 0528 | Qwen3-Max | |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | $0.1/1M tokens | $0.78/1M tokens |
| Output price | $0.3/1M tokens | $3.9/1M tokens |
| Providers |
Capabilities
| DeepSeek R1 0528 | Qwen3-Max | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 vision: Qwen3-Max, multimodal input: Qwen3-Max, reasoning mode: DeepSeek R1 0528, function calling: Qwen3-Max, tool use: Qwen3-Max, 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 $0.1/1M input and $0.3/1M output tokens, while Qwen3-Max lists $0.78/1M input and $3.9/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider. A 70/30 input-output blend puts DeepSeek R1 0528 lower by about $1.56 per million blended tokens. Availability is 5 providers versus 1, 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 Qwen3-Max when vision-heavy evaluation 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 Qwen3-Max?
DeepSeek R1 0528 supports 160K tokens, while Qwen3-Max 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 Qwen3-Max?
DeepSeek R1 0528 is cheaper on tracked token pricing. DeepSeek R1 0528 costs $0.1/1M input and $0.3/1M output tokens. Qwen3-Max costs $0.78/1M input and $3.9/1M output tokens. Provider discounts or batch pricing can still change the final bill.
Is DeepSeek R1 0528 or Qwen3-Max open source?
DeepSeek R1 0528 is listed under Open Source. Qwen3-Max is listed under Proprietary. 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 vision, DeepSeek R1 0528 or Qwen3-Max?
Qwen3-Max has the clearer documented vision signal in this comparison. If vision is mission-critical, validate it against the provider endpoint because model-level support and API-level exposure can differ. Use this as a quick comparison signal, then confirm the provider-specific limits before committing to production.
Which is better for multimodal input, DeepSeek R1 0528 or Qwen3-Max?
Qwen3-Max has the clearer documented multimodal input signal in this comparison. If multimodal input 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 Qwen3-Max?
DeepSeek R1 0528 is available on Together AI, Fireworks AI, GCP Vertex AI, Novita AI, and OpenRouter. Qwen3-Max is available on OpenRouter. Provider coverage can affect latency, region availability, compliance posture, and fallback options.
Continue comparing
Last reviewed: 2026-04-24. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.