LLM Reference

DeepSeek V3 0324 vs Kimi K2 Thinking Turbo

DeepSeek V3 0324 (2025) and Kimi K2 Thinking Turbo (2025) are general-purpose language models from DeepSeek and Moonshot AI. DeepSeek V3 0324 ships a 160k-token context window, while Kimi K2 Thinking Turbo ships a 262k-token context window. On pricing, DeepSeek V3 0324 costs $0.27/1M input tokens versus $1.15/1M 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 0324 is ~326% cheaper at $0.27/1M; pay for Kimi K2 Thinking Turbo only for long-context analysis.

Decision scorecard

Local evidence first
SignalDeepSeek V3 0324Kimi K2 Thinking Turbo
Best forprovider-routed productiongeneral production evaluation
Decision fitCoding, Agents, and Long contextLong context
Context window160k262k
Cheapest output$1.12/1M tokens$8/1M tokens
Provider routes3 tracked1 tracked
Shared benchmarks0 rows0 rows

Decision tradeoffs

Choose DeepSeek V3 0324 when...
  • DeepSeek V3 0324 has the lower cheapest tracked output price at $1.12/1M tokens.
  • DeepSeek V3 0324 has broader tracked provider coverage for fallback and procurement flexibility.
  • Local decision data tags DeepSeek V3 0324 for Coding, Agents, and Long context.
Choose Kimi K2 Thinking Turbo when...
  • Kimi K2 Thinking Turbo has the larger context window for long prompts, retrieval packs, or transcript analysis.
  • Local decision data tags Kimi K2 Thinking Turbo for Long context.

Monthly cost at traffic

Estimate token spend from the cheapest tracked input and output route or tier on this page.

Lower estimate DeepSeek V3 0324

DeepSeek V3 0324

$496

Cheapest tracked route/tier: Novita AI

Kimi K2 Thinking Turbo

$2,920

Cheapest tracked route/tier: Vercel AI Gateway

Estimated monthly gap: $2,424. Batch, cache, alternate speed tiers, and negotiated pricing are excluded from this local estimate.

Switch friction

DeepSeek V3 0324 -> Kimi K2 Thinking Turbo
  • No overlapping tracked provider route is sourced for DeepSeek V3 0324 and Kimi K2 Thinking Turbo; plan for SDK, billing, or endpoint changes.
  • Kimi K2 Thinking Turbo is $6.88/1M tokens higher on cheapest tracked output pricing, so quality gains need to justify the spend.
Kimi K2 Thinking Turbo -> DeepSeek V3 0324
  • No overlapping tracked provider route is sourced for Kimi K2 Thinking Turbo and DeepSeek V3 0324; plan for SDK, billing, or endpoint changes.
  • DeepSeek V3 0324 is $6.88/1M tokens lower on cheapest tracked output pricing before cache, batch, or negotiated discounts.

Specs

Specification
Released2025-03-242025-11-06
Context window160k262k
Parameters671B1T (32B active)
Architecturedecoder only-
LicenseMIT(OSI)MIT(OSI)
OpennessOpen sourceOpen source
Commercial useCommercial use allowedCommercial use allowed
Knowledge cutoff--

Pricing and availability

Pricing attributeDeepSeek V3 0324Kimi K2 Thinking Turbo
Input price$0.27/1M tokens$1.15/1M tokens
Output price$1.12/1M tokens$8/1M tokens
Providers

Capabilities

CapabilityDeepSeek V3 0324Kimi K2 Thinking Turbo
VisionNoNo
MultimodalNoNo
ReasoningNoNo
Function callingNoNo
Tool useNoNo
Structured outputsNoNo
Code executionNoNo
IDE integrationNoNo
Computer useNoNo
Parallel agentsNoNo

Benchmarks

No shared benchmark rows are currently sourced for this pair.

Deep dive

The capability footprint is close: both models cover the core production surface. 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 V3 0324 lists $0.27/1M input and $1.12/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider, while Kimi K2 Thinking Turbo lists $1.15/1M input and $8/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider. A 70/30 input-output blend puts DeepSeek V3 0324 lower by about $2.68 per million blended tokens. Availability is 3 providers versus 1, so concentration risk also matters.

Choose DeepSeek V3 0324 when provider fit, lower input-token cost, and broader provider choice are central to the workload. Choose Kimi K2 Thinking Turbo when long-context analysis 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. 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 V3 0324 or Kimi K2 Thinking Turbo?

Kimi K2 Thinking Turbo supports 262k tokens, while DeepSeek V3 0324 supports 160k 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 V3 0324 or Kimi K2 Thinking Turbo?

DeepSeek V3 0324 is cheaper on tracked token pricing. DeepSeek V3 0324 costs $0.27/1M input and $1.12/1M output tokens. Kimi K2 Thinking Turbo costs $1.15/1M input and $8/1M output tokens. Provider discounts or batch pricing can still change the final bill.

Is DeepSeek V3 0324 or Kimi K2 Thinking Turbo open source?

DeepSeek V3 0324 is listed under MIT. Kimi K2 Thinking Turbo 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.

Where can I run DeepSeek V3 0324 and Kimi K2 Thinking Turbo?

DeepSeek V3 0324 is available on Fireworks AI, Microsoft Foundry, and Novita AI. Kimi K2 Thinking Turbo is available on Vercel AI Gateway. Provider coverage can affect latency, region availability, compliance posture, and fallback options.

When should I pick DeepSeek V3 0324 over Kimi K2 Thinking Turbo?

DeepSeek V3 0324 is ~326% cheaper at $0.27/1M; pay for Kimi K2 Thinking Turbo only for long-context analysis. If your workload also depends on provider fit, start with DeepSeek V3 0324; if it depends on long-context analysis, run the same evaluation with Kimi K2 Thinking Turbo.

Continue comparing

Last reviewed: 2026-06-04. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.