DeepSeek V3 vs Gemma 4 31B IT
DeepSeek V3 (2024) and Gemma 4 31B IT (2026) are compact production models from DeepSeek and Google DeepMind. DeepSeek V3 ships a 64k-token context window, while Gemma 4 31B IT ships a 256k-token context window. On pricing, DeepSeek V3 costs $0.1/1M input tokens versus $0.13/1M for the alternative. This comparison covers specs, pricing, capabilities, benchmarks, provider availability, and production fit.
Gemma 4 31B IT fits 4x more tokens; pick it for long-context work and DeepSeek V3 for tighter calls.
Decision scorecard
Local evidence first| Signal | DeepSeek V3 | Gemma 4 31B IT |
|---|---|---|
| Decision fit | Coding, Agents, and Classification | RAG, Agents, and Long context |
| Context window | 64k | 256k |
| Cheapest output | $0.3/1M tokens | $0.38/1M tokens |
| Provider routes | 12 tracked | 4 tracked |
| Shared benchmarks | 0 rows | 0 rows |
Decision tradeoffs
- DeepSeek V3 has the lower cheapest tracked output price at $0.3/1M tokens.
- DeepSeek V3 has broader tracked provider coverage for fallback and procurement flexibility.
- DeepSeek V3 uniquely exposes Tool use in local model data.
- Local decision data tags DeepSeek V3 for Coding, Agents, and Classification.
- Gemma 4 31B IT has the larger context window for long prompts, retrieval packs, or transcript analysis.
- Gemma 4 31B IT uniquely exposes Multimodal in local model data.
- Local decision data tags Gemma 4 31B IT for RAG, Agents, and Long context.
Monthly cost at traffic
Estimate token spend from the cheapest tracked input and output prices on this page.
DeepSeek V3
$155
Cheapest tracked route: Bitdeer AI
Gemma 4 31B IT
$199
Cheapest tracked route: OpenRouter
Estimated monthly gap: $44.00. Batch, cache, and negotiated pricing are excluded from this local estimate.
Switch friction
- Provider overlap exists on GCP Vertex AI, OpenRouter, and Together AI; start route-level A/B tests there.
- Gemma 4 31B IT is $0.08/1M tokens higher on cheapest tracked output pricing, so quality gains need to justify the spend.
- Check replacement coverage for Tool use before moving production traffic.
- Gemma 4 31B IT adds Multimodal in local capability data.
- Provider overlap exists on OpenRouter, Together AI, and GCP Vertex AI; start route-level A/B tests there.
- DeepSeek V3 is $0.08/1M tokens lower on cheapest tracked output pricing before cache, batch, or negotiated discounts.
- Check replacement coverage for Multimodal before moving production traffic.
- DeepSeek V3 adds Tool use in local capability data.
Specs
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2024-12-26 | 2026-03-31 |
| Context window | 64k | 256k |
| Parameters | 671B | 31B |
| Architecture | mixture of experts | - |
| License | Open Source | Open Source |
| Knowledge cutoff | 2024-04 | - |
Pricing and availability
| Pricing attribute | DeepSeek V3 | Gemma 4 31B IT |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | $0.1/1M tokens | $0.13/1M tokens |
| Output price | $0.3/1M tokens | $0.38/1M tokens |
| Providers |
Capabilities
| Capability | DeepSeek V3 | Gemma 4 31B IT |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | No | No |
| Multimodal | No | Yes |
| Reasoning | No | No |
| Function calling | Yes | Yes |
| Tool use | Yes | No |
| Structured outputs | Yes | Yes |
| Code execution | No | No |
Benchmarks
No shared benchmark rows are currently sourced for this pair.
Deep dive
The capability footprint differs most on multimodal input: Gemma 4 31B IT and tool use: DeepSeek V3. Both models share function calling and 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 V3 lists $0.1/1M input and $0.3/1M output tokens, while Gemma 4 31B IT lists $0.13/1M input and $0.38/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider. A 70/30 input-output blend puts DeepSeek V3 lower by about $0.05 per million blended tokens. Availability is 12 providers versus 4, so concentration risk also matters.
Choose DeepSeek V3 when provider fit, lower input-token cost, and broader provider choice are central to the workload. Choose Gemma 4 31B IT 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 or Gemma 4 31B IT?
Gemma 4 31B IT supports 256k tokens, while DeepSeek V3 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 or Gemma 4 31B IT?
DeepSeek V3 is cheaper on tracked token pricing. DeepSeek V3 costs $0.1/1M input and $0.3/1M output tokens. Gemma 4 31B IT costs $0.13/1M input and $0.38/1M output tokens. Provider discounts or batch pricing can still change the final bill.
Is DeepSeek V3 or Gemma 4 31B IT open source?
DeepSeek V3 is listed under Open Source. Gemma 4 31B IT is listed under Open Source. 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 multimodal input, DeepSeek V3 or Gemma 4 31B IT?
Gemma 4 31B IT 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.
Which is better for function calling, DeepSeek V3 or Gemma 4 31B IT?
Both DeepSeek V3 and Gemma 4 31B IT expose function calling. 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 and Gemma 4 31B IT?
DeepSeek V3 is available on DeepInfra, Fireworks AI, DeepSeek Platform, Microsoft Foundry, and OpenRouter. Gemma 4 31B IT is available on Google AI Studio, GCP Vertex AI, OpenRouter, and Together AI. Provider coverage can affect latency, region availability, compliance posture, and fallback options.
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Last reviewed: 2026-05-11. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.