LLM Reference

DeepSeek V3 Base vs GPT-5.2 Codex

DeepSeek V3 Base (2024) and GPT-5.2 Codex (2025) compare a standalone API model against a coding-specialized model. DeepSeek V3 Base ships a 128k-token context window, while GPT-5.2 Codex ships a 400k-token context window. This page treats the result as workflow and deployment fit, not a universal model winner.

Treat this as a product-type comparison: DeepSeek V3 Base is standalone API model, while GPT-5.2 Codex is coding-specialized model. Choose based on workflow fit before reading any benchmark or price row as decisive.

Decision scorecard

Local evidence first
SignalDeepSeek V3 BaseGPT-5.2 Codex
Product typeStandalone API modelCoding-specialized model
Best forgeneral production evaluationcustom coding agents, code generation, and tool loops
Decision fitLong contextCoding, RAG, and Agents
Context window128k400k
Cheapest output-$14/1M tokens
Provider routes0 tracked2 tracked
Shared benchmarks0 shared0 shared

Decision tradeoffs

Choose DeepSeek V3 Base when...
  • Local decision data tags DeepSeek V3 Base for Long context.
Choose GPT-5.2 Codex when...
  • GPT-5.2 Codex has the larger context window for long prompts, retrieval packs, or transcript analysis.
  • GPT-5.2 Codex has broader tracked provider coverage for fallback and route flexibility.
  • GPT-5.2 Codex uniquely exposes Vision, Multimodal, and Reasoning in local model data.
  • Local decision data tags GPT-5.2 Codex 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 V3 Base

Unavailable

No complete token price in local provider data

GPT-5.2 Codex

$4,900

Cheapest tracked route/tier: Vercel AI Gateway

Cost delta unavailable until both models have sourced input and output token prices.

Switch friction

DeepSeek V3 Base -> GPT-5.2 Codex
  • No overlapping tracked provider route is sourced for DeepSeek V3 Base and GPT-5.2 Codex; plan for SDK, billing, or endpoint changes.
  • GPT-5.2 Codex adds Vision, Multimodal, and Reasoning in local capability data.
GPT-5.2 Codex -> DeepSeek V3 Base
  • No overlapping tracked provider route is sourced for GPT-5.2 Codex and DeepSeek V3 Base; plan for SDK, billing, or endpoint changes.
  • Check replacement coverage for Vision, Multimodal, and Reasoning before moving production traffic.

Specs

Specification
Released2024-12-262025-12-18
Context window128k400k
Parameters671B total, 37B active (MoE)
ArchitectureMixture of ExpertsDecoder Only
LicenseMITOSI-approvedProprietary
OpennessOpen sourceProprietary
WeightsUnknownNot released
CodeUnknownUnknown
Commercial useCommercial use: permittedCommercial use: conditional
Knowledge cutoff2024-072025-08

Pricing and availability

Pricing attributeDeepSeek V3 BaseGPT-5.2 Codex
Input price-$1.75/1M tokens
Output price-$14/1M tokens
Providers-

Capabilities

CapabilityDeepSeek V3 BaseGPT-5.2 Codex
VisionNoYes
MultimodalNoYes
ReasoningNoYes
JSON / Tool useNoYes
Structured outputsNoYes
Code executionNoYes
IDE integrationNoNo
Computer useNoNo
Parallel agentsNoNo

Benchmarks

No shared benchmark scores are currently available for this pair.

Continue comparing

Last reviewed: 2026-06-30. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.