DeepSeek V3 vs StepFun Step-2
DeepSeek V3 (2024) and StepFun Step-2 (2025) are compact production models from DeepSeek and StepFun. DeepSeek V3 ships a 64k-token context window, while StepFun Step-2 ships a 128k-token context window. This comparison covers specs, pricing, API access, capabilities, benchmarks, input and output token costs, and production fit for coding and agent workloads. It focuses on practical selection signals rather than broad model-family marketing.
StepFun Step-2 is safer overall; choose DeepSeek V3 when provider fit matters.
Decision scorecard
Local evidence first| Signal | DeepSeek V3 | StepFun Step-2 |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | tool-calling agents and provider-routed production | general production evaluation |
| Decision fit | Coding, Agents, and Classification | Long context |
| Context window | 64k | 128k |
| Cheapest output | $0.30/1M tokens | - |
| Provider routes | 13 tracked | 0 tracked |
| Shared benchmarks | 0 shared | 0 shared |
Decision tradeoffs
- DeepSeek V3 has broader tracked provider coverage for fallback and route flexibility.
- DeepSeek V3 uniquely exposes JSON / Tool use and Structured outputs in local model data.
- Local decision data tags DeepSeek V3 for Coding, Agents, and Classification.
- StepFun Step-2 has the larger context window for long prompts, retrieval packs, or transcript analysis.
- Local decision data tags StepFun Step-2 for Long context.
Monthly cost at traffic
Estimate token spend from the cheapest tracked input and output route or tier on this page.
DeepSeek V3
$155
Cheapest tracked route/tier: Bitdeer AI
StepFun Step-2
Unavailable
No complete token price in local provider data
Cost delta unavailable until both models have sourced input and output token prices.
Switch friction
- No overlapping tracked provider route is sourced for DeepSeek V3 and StepFun Step-2; plan for SDK, billing, or endpoint changes.
- Check replacement coverage for JSON / Tool use and Structured outputs before moving production traffic.
- No overlapping tracked provider route is sourced for StepFun Step-2 and DeepSeek V3; plan for SDK, billing, or endpoint changes.
- DeepSeek V3 adds JSON / Tool use and Structured outputs in local capability data.
Specs
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2024-12-26 | 2025-10-15 |
| Context window | 64k | 128k |
| Parameters | 671B | 1T (MoE)* |
| Architecture | Mixture of Experts | - |
| License | MITOSI-approved | Proprietary |
| Openness | Open source | Proprietary |
| Weights | Available | Not released |
| Code | Unknown | Unknown |
| Commercial use | Commercial use: permitted | Commercial use: conditional |
| Knowledge cutoff | 2024-04 | - |
Pricing and availability
| Pricing attribute | DeepSeek V3 | StepFun Step-2 |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | $0.10/1M tokens | - |
| Output price | $0.30/1M tokens | - |
| Providers | - |
Capabilities
| Capability | DeepSeek V3 | StepFun Step-2 |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | No | No |
| Multimodal | No | No |
| Reasoning | No | No |
| JSON / Tool use | Yes | No |
| Structured outputs | Yes | No |
| Code execution | No | No |
| IDE integration | No | No |
| Computer use | No | No |
| Parallel agents | No | No |
Benchmarks
No shared benchmark scores are currently available for this pair.
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Last reviewed: 2026-06-29. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.