DeepSeek R1 vs DeepSeek R1 0528
DeepSeek R1 (2025) and DeepSeek R1 0528 (2025) are frontier-tier reasoning models from DeepSeek. DeepSeek R1 ships a 128k-token context window, while DeepSeek R1 0528 ships a 130k-token context window. On SWE-bench Verified, DeepSeek R1 0528 leads by 8.4 pts. On pricing, DeepSeek R1 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 R1 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 | DeepSeek R1 0528 |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | reasoning-heavy apps and provider-routed production | reasoning-heavy apps and provider-routed production |
| Decision fit | Coding, RAG, and Agents | Coding, RAG, and Agents |
| Context window | 128k | 130k |
| Cheapest output | $0.30/1M tokens | $2.15/1M tokens |
| Provider routes | 14 tracked | 6 tracked |
| Shared benchmarks | 3 rows | SWE-bench Verified leader |
Decision tradeoffs
- DeepSeek R1 has the lower cheapest tracked output price at $0.30/1M tokens.
- DeepSeek R1 has broader tracked provider coverage for fallback and procurement flexibility.
- Local decision data tags DeepSeek R1 for Coding, RAG, and Agents.
- DeepSeek R1 0528 holds a shared-benchmark lead on SWE-bench Verified, ahead by 8.4 points.
- DeepSeek R1 0528 has the larger context window for long prompts, retrieval packs, or transcript analysis.
- Local decision data tags DeepSeek R1 0528 for Coding, RAG, and Agents.
Monthly cost at traffic
Estimate token spend from the cheapest tracked input and output route or tier on this page.
DeepSeek R1
$155
Cheapest tracked route/tier: Bitdeer AI
DeepSeek R1 0528
$938
Cheapest tracked route/tier: OpenRouter
Estimated monthly gap: $783. Batch, cache, alternate speed tiers, and negotiated pricing are excluded from this local estimate.
Switch friction
- 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.
- Provider overlap exists on OpenRouter, Together AI, and Fireworks AI; start route-level A/B tests there.
- DeepSeek R1 is $1.85/1M tokens lower on cheapest tracked output pricing before cache, batch, or negotiated discounts.
Specs
Pricing and availability
| Pricing attribute | DeepSeek R1 | DeepSeek R1 0528 |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | $0.10/1M tokens | $0.50/1M tokens |
| Output price | $0.30/1M tokens | $2.15/1M tokens |
| Providers |
Capabilities
| Capability | DeepSeek R1 | DeepSeek R1 0528 |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | No | No |
| Multimodal | No | No |
| Reasoning | Yes | Yes |
| Function calling | No | No |
| Tool use | No | No |
| Structured outputs | Yes | Yes |
| Code execution | Yes | Yes |
| IDE integration | No | No |
| Computer use | No | No |
| Parallel agents | No | No |
Benchmarks
| Benchmark | DeepSeek R1 | DeepSeek R1 0528 |
|---|---|---|
| SWE-bench Verified | 49.2 | 57.6 |
| Google-Proof Q&A | 71.5 | 81.0 |
| Aider Polyglot | 56.9 | 71.4 |
Deep dive
On shared benchmark coverage, SWE-bench Verified has DeepSeek R1 at 49.2 and DeepSeek R1 0528 at 57.6, with DeepSeek R1 0528 ahead by 8.4 points; Google-Proof Q&A has DeepSeek R1 at 71.5 and DeepSeek R1 0528 at 81, with DeepSeek R1 0528 ahead by 9.5 points; Aider Polyglot has DeepSeek R1 at 56.9 and DeepSeek R1 0528 at 71.4, with DeepSeek R1 0528 ahead by 14.5 points. The largest visible gap is 14.5 points on Aider Polyglot, 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 is close: both models cover reasoning mode, structured outputs, and code execution. That makes context budget, benchmark fit, and provider maturity more important than a simple checklist. If your application depends on one integration detail, verify it against the provider route you plan to use, not just the base model listing.
For cost, DeepSeek R1 lists $0.10/1M input and $0.30/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider, while DeepSeek R1 0528 lists $0.50/1M input and $2.15/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider. A 70/30 input-output blend puts DeepSeek R1 lower by about $0.83 per million blended tokens. Availability is 14 providers versus 6, so concentration risk also matters.
Choose DeepSeek R1 when coding workflow support, lower input-token cost, and broader provider choice are central to the workload. Choose DeepSeek R1 0528 when coding workflow support and larger context windows 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 or DeepSeek R1 0528?
DeepSeek R1 0528 supports 130k tokens, while DeepSeek R1 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 or DeepSeek R1 0528?
DeepSeek R1 is cheaper on tracked token pricing. DeepSeek R1 costs $0.10/1M input and $0.30/1M output tokens. DeepSeek R1 0528 costs $0.50/1M input and $2.15/1M output tokens. Provider discounts or batch pricing can still change the final bill.
Is DeepSeek R1 or DeepSeek R1 0528 open source?
DeepSeek R1 is listed under MIT. DeepSeek R1 0528 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 or DeepSeek R1 0528?
Both DeepSeek R1 and DeepSeek R1 0528 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 or DeepSeek R1 0528?
Both DeepSeek R1 and DeepSeek R1 0528 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 and DeepSeek R1 0528?
DeepSeek R1 is available on DeepSeek Platform, OpenRouter, Together AI, Fireworks AI, and NVIDIA NIM. DeepSeek R1 0528 is available on Together AI, Fireworks AI, GCP Vertex AI, Novita AI, 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.