DeepSeek V3.1 vs GPT-4 Vision Preview
DeepSeek V3.1 (2025) and GPT-4 Vision Preview (2023) are compact production models from DeepSeek and OpenAI. DeepSeek V3.1 ships a 64k-token context window, while GPT-4 Vision Preview ships a 128k-token context window. On pricing, DeepSeek V3.1 costs $0.27/1M input tokens versus $10/1M 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 V3.1 is ~3604% cheaper at $0.27/1M; pay for GPT-4 Vision Preview only for coding workflow support.
Decision scorecard
Local evidence first| Signal | DeepSeek V3.1 | GPT-4 Vision Preview |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | multimodal apps and provider-routed production | multimodal apps |
| Decision fit | Coding, Agents, and Vision | Coding, Agents, and Long context |
| Context window | 64k | 128k |
| Cheapest output | $1/1M tokens | $40/1M tokens |
| Provider routes | 8 tracked | 1 tracked |
| Shared benchmarks | 0 shared | 0 shared |
Decision tradeoffs
- DeepSeek V3.1 has the lower cheapest tracked output price at $1/1M tokens.
- DeepSeek V3.1 has broader tracked provider coverage for fallback and procurement flexibility.
- DeepSeek V3.1 uniquely exposes Structured outputs in local model data.
- Local decision data tags DeepSeek V3.1 for Coding, Agents, and Vision.
- GPT-4 Vision Preview has the larger context window for long prompts, retrieval packs, or transcript analysis.
- Local decision data tags GPT-4 Vision Preview for Coding, Agents, and Long context.
Monthly cost at traffic
Estimate token spend from the cheapest tracked input and output route or tier on this page.
DeepSeek V3.1
$466
Cheapest tracked route/tier: Novita AI
GPT-4 Vision Preview
$18,000
Cheapest tracked route/tier: Azure OpenAI
Estimated monthly gap: $17,534. Batch, cache, alternate speed tiers, and negotiated pricing are excluded from this local estimate.
Switch friction
- No overlapping tracked provider route is sourced for DeepSeek V3.1 and GPT-4 Vision Preview; plan for SDK, billing, or endpoint changes.
- GPT-4 Vision Preview is $39/1M tokens higher on cheapest tracked output pricing, so quality gains need to justify the spend.
- Check replacement coverage for Structured outputs before moving production traffic.
- No overlapping tracked provider route is sourced for GPT-4 Vision Preview and DeepSeek V3.1; plan for SDK, billing, or endpoint changes.
- DeepSeek V3.1 is $39/1M tokens lower on cheapest tracked output pricing before cache, batch, or negotiated discounts.
- DeepSeek V3.1 adds Structured outputs in local capability data.
Specs
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2025-08-21 | 2023-11-06 |
| Context window | 64k | 128k |
| Parameters | 671B total, 37B active (MoE) | 1.76T (8x222B MoE)* |
| Architecture | Mixture of Experts | Mixture of Experts |
| License | MITOSI-approved | Proprietary |
| Openness | Open source | Proprietary |
| Commercial use | Commercial use: permitted | Commercial use: conditional |
| Knowledge cutoff | - | 2023-04 |
Pricing and availability
| Pricing attribute | DeepSeek V3.1 | GPT-4 Vision Preview |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | $0.27/1M tokens | $10/1M tokens |
| Output price | $1/1M tokens | $40/1M tokens |
| Providers |
Capabilities
| Capability | DeepSeek V3.1 | GPT-4 Vision Preview |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | Yes | Yes |
| Multimodal | Yes | Yes |
| Reasoning | No | No |
| Function calling | No | No |
| Tool use | No | No |
| Structured outputs | Yes | No |
| Code execution | Yes | Yes |
| IDE integration | No | No |
| Computer use | No | No |
| Parallel agents | No | No |
Benchmarks
No shared benchmark scores are currently available for this pair.
Deep dive
The capability footprint differs most on structured outputs: DeepSeek V3.1. Both models share vision, multimodal input, and code execution, 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 V3.1 lists $0.27/1M input and $1/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider, while GPT-4 Vision Preview lists $10/1M input and $40/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider. A 70/30 input-output blend puts DeepSeek V3.1 lower by about $18.51 per million blended tokens. Availability is 8 providers versus 1, so concentration risk also matters.
Choose DeepSeek V3.1 when coding workflow support, lower input-token cost, and broader provider choice are central to the workload. Choose GPT-4 Vision Preview 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. 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 V3.1 or GPT-4 Vision Preview?
GPT-4 Vision Preview supports 128k tokens, while DeepSeek V3.1 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 V3.1 or GPT-4 Vision Preview?
DeepSeek V3.1 is cheaper on tracked token pricing. DeepSeek V3.1 costs $0.27/1M input and $1/1M output tokens. GPT-4 Vision Preview costs $10/1M input and $40/1M output tokens. Provider discounts or batch pricing can still change the final bill.
Is DeepSeek V3.1 or GPT-4 Vision Preview open source?
DeepSeek V3.1 is listed under MIT. GPT-4 Vision Preview 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 V3.1 or GPT-4 Vision Preview?
Both DeepSeek V3.1 and GPT-4 Vision Preview expose vision. The better choice depends on benchmark fit, context budget, pricing, and whether your provider route exposes the same capability surface. Use this as a quick comparison signal, then confirm the provider-specific limits before committing to production.
Which is better for multimodal input, DeepSeek V3.1 or GPT-4 Vision Preview?
Both DeepSeek V3.1 and GPT-4 Vision Preview expose multimodal input. 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 V3.1 and GPT-4 Vision Preview?
DeepSeek V3.1 is available on Microsoft Foundry, Fireworks AI, NVIDIA NIM, Together AI, and AWS Bedrock. GPT-4 Vision Preview is available on Azure OpenAI. Provider coverage can affect latency, region availability, compliance posture, and fallback options.
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Last reviewed: 2026-06-15. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.