DeepSeek R1 vs DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat)
Complete pricing and performance comparison between DeepSeek's DeepSeek R1 and DeepSeek's DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat).
Quick Verdict
Cheaper
DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat)
4.8x cheaper input, 12.9x cheaper output
Larger Context
DeepSeek R1
128K vs 128K
Higher Quality
DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat)
Score: 32 vs 27
Pricing Comparison
| Spec | DeepSeek R1 | DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provider | DeepSeek | DeepSeek | |
| Input / 1M tokens | $1.35 | $0.28 | DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat) is 79% more expensive |
| Output / 1M tokens | $5.4 | $0.42 | DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat) is 92% more expensive |
| Context Window | 128K | 128K | Same |
| Max Output | 33K | 8K |
Performance Benchmarks
| Metric | DeepSeek R1 | DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat) | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality Index | 27 | 32 | DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat) |
| Output Speed | -- | 34 tok/s | N/A |
| Time to First Token | 0.00s | 1.50s | DeepSeek R1 |
| Value (Quality/$) | 20.1 | 114.6 | Higher = better value |
Benchmark data from Artificial Analysis. Quality Index is a composite score across reasoning, coding, and knowledge tasks.
Cost at Scale
Estimated cost at different usage levels (3:1 input-to-output token ratio, typical for chat).
| Usage | DeepSeek R1 | DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat) | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
Single request 1K in / 300 out | $0.0030 | $0.0004 | DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat) saves $0.0026 |
10 requests 10K in / 3K out | $0.030 | $0.0041 | DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat) saves $0.026 |
100 requests 100K in / 30K out | $0.297 | $0.041 | DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat) saves $0.256 |
1,000 requests 1M in / 300K out | $2.97 | $0.406 | DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat) saves $2.56 |
10,000 requests 10M in / 3M out | $29.70 | $4.06 | DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat) saves $25.64 |
1M requests/mo 1B in / 300M out | $2970.00 | $406.00 | DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat) saves $2564.00 |
Pros & Cons
DeepSeek R1 Strengths
- +Higher max output tokens
DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat) Strengths
- +Cheaper input tokens
- +Cheaper output tokens
- +Higher quality score (32 vs 27)
When to Use Each Model
Choose DeepSeek R1 for
- →Generating long-form content or detailed code
Choose DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat) for
- →Budget-conscious projects where cost is the primary factor
- →Tasks requiring maximum accuracy and reasoning
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, DeepSeek R1 or DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat)?
For input tokens, DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat) is 4.8x cheaper at $0.28/1M tokens. For output tokens, DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat) is 12.9x cheaper at $0.42/1M tokens. At typical usage (1M input + 300K output), DeepSeek R1 costs $2.97 vs DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat) at $0.406.
What's the context window difference?
DeepSeek R1 supports 128K context (128,000 tokens), while DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat) supports 128K (128,000 tokens). DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat) can handle 1x more context in a single request.
Which model has better benchmarks?
Quality Index: DeepSeek R1 scores 27 vs DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat) at 32.
When should I choose DeepSeek R1 over DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat)?
Choose DeepSeek R1 when you need: Higher max output tokens. Choose DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat) when you need: Cheaper input tokens, Cheaper output tokens, Higher quality score (32 vs 27).
How much would 10,000 API requests cost?
At 1K input + 300 output tokens per request (typical chat): DeepSeek R1 = $29.70, DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat) = $4.06. At 10K input + 1K output per request (longer conversations): DeepSeek R1 = $189.00, DeepSeek V3.2 (Chat) = $32.20.
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