DeepSeek R1 vs Kimi K2.5
Complete pricing and performance comparison between DeepSeek's DeepSeek R1 and Moonshot's Kimi K2.5.
Quick Verdict
Cheaper
Kimi K2.5
2.3x cheaper input, 1.8x cheaper output
Larger Context
DeepSeek R1
128K vs 128K
Higher Quality
Kimi K2.5
Score: 47 vs 27
Pricing Comparison
| Spec | DeepSeek R1 | Kimi K2.5 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provider | DeepSeek | Moonshot | |
| Input / 1M tokens | $1.35 | $0.6 | Kimi K2.5 is 56% more expensive |
| Output / 1M tokens | $5.4 | $3 | Kimi K2.5 is 44% more expensive |
| Context Window | 128K | 128K | Same |
| Max Output | 33K | 33K |
Performance Benchmarks
| Metric | DeepSeek R1 | Kimi K2.5 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality Index | 27 | 47 | Kimi K2.5 |
| Output Speed | -- | 46 tok/s | N/A |
| Time to First Token | 0.00s | 1.05s | DeepSeek R1 |
| Value (Quality/$) | 20.1 | 78.0 | 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 | Kimi K2.5 | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
Single request 1K in / 300 out | $0.0030 | $0.0015 | Kimi K2.5 saves $0.0015 |
10 requests 10K in / 3K out | $0.030 | $0.015 | Kimi K2.5 saves $0.015 |
100 requests 100K in / 30K out | $0.297 | $0.150 | Kimi K2.5 saves $0.147 |
1,000 requests 1M in / 300K out | $2.97 | $1.50 | Kimi K2.5 saves $1.47 |
10,000 requests 10M in / 3M out | $29.70 | $15.00 | Kimi K2.5 saves $14.70 |
1M requests/mo 1B in / 300M out | $2970.00 | $1500.00 | Kimi K2.5 saves $1470.00 |
Pros & Cons
DeepSeek R1 Strengths
Part of the DeepSeek ecosystem
Kimi K2.5 Strengths
- +Cheaper input tokens
- +Cheaper output tokens
- +Higher quality score (47 vs 27)
When to Use Each Model
Choose DeepSeek R1 for
- →Projects already integrated with DeepSeek's ecosystem
Choose Kimi K2.5 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 Kimi K2.5?
For input tokens, Kimi K2.5 is 2.3x cheaper at $0.6/1M tokens. For output tokens, Kimi K2.5 is 1.8x cheaper at $3/1M tokens. At typical usage (1M input + 300K output), DeepSeek R1 costs $2.97 vs Kimi K2.5 at $1.50.
What's the context window difference?
DeepSeek R1 supports 128K context (128,000 tokens), while Kimi K2.5 supports 128K (128,000 tokens). Kimi K2.5 can handle 1x more context in a single request.
Which model has better benchmarks?
Quality Index: DeepSeek R1 scores 27 vs Kimi K2.5 at 47.
When should I choose DeepSeek R1 over Kimi K2.5?
Choose DeepSeek R1 when you need: a DeepSeek ecosystem model. Choose Kimi K2.5 when you need: Cheaper input tokens, Cheaper output tokens, Higher quality score (47 vs 27).
How much would 10,000 API requests cost?
At 1K input + 300 output tokens per request (typical chat): DeepSeek R1 = $29.70, Kimi K2.5 = $15.00. At 10K input + 1K output per request (longer conversations): DeepSeek R1 = $189.00, Kimi K2.5 = $90.00.