DeepSeek R1 vs Llama 4 Maverick
Complete pricing and performance comparison between DeepSeek's DeepSeek R1 and Meta's Llama 4 Maverick.
Quick Verdict
Cheaper
Llama 4 Maverick
5.0x cheaper input, 6.4x cheaper output
Larger Context
Llama 4 Maverick
1.0M vs 128K
Higher Quality
DeepSeek R1
Score: 27 vs 18
Pricing Comparison
| Spec | DeepSeek R1 | Llama 4 Maverick | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provider | DeepSeek | Meta | |
| Input / 1M tokens | $1.35 | $0.27 | Llama 4 Maverick is 80% more expensive |
| Output / 1M tokens | $5.4 | $0.85 | Llama 4 Maverick is 84% more expensive |
| Context Window | 128K | 1.0M | 8x difference |
| Max Output | 33K | 16K |
Performance Benchmarks
| Metric | DeepSeek R1 | Llama 4 Maverick | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality Index | 27 | 18 | DeepSeek R1 |
| Output Speed | -- | 130 tok/s | N/A |
| Time to First Token | 0.00s | 0.48s | DeepSeek R1 |
| Value (Quality/$) | 20.1 | 68.1 | 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 | Llama 4 Maverick | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
Single request 1K in / 300 out | $0.0030 | $0.0005 | Llama 4 Maverick saves $0.0024 |
10 requests 10K in / 3K out | $0.030 | $0.0053 | Llama 4 Maverick saves $0.024 |
100 requests 100K in / 30K out | $0.297 | $0.053 | Llama 4 Maverick saves $0.245 |
1,000 requests 1M in / 300K out | $2.97 | $0.525 | Llama 4 Maverick saves $2.45 |
10,000 requests 10M in / 3M out | $29.70 | $5.25 | Llama 4 Maverick saves $24.45 |
1M requests/mo 1B in / 300M out | $2970.00 | $525.00 | Llama 4 Maverick saves $2445.00 |
Pros & Cons
DeepSeek R1 Strengths
- +Higher max output tokens
- +Higher quality score (27 vs 18)
Llama 4 Maverick Strengths
- +Cheaper input tokens
- +Cheaper output tokens
- +Larger context window (1.0M vs 128K)
When to Use Each Model
Choose DeepSeek R1 for
- →Generating long-form content or detailed code
- →Tasks requiring maximum accuracy and reasoning
Choose Llama 4 Maverick for
- →Budget-conscious projects where cost is the primary factor
- →Long documents, large codebases, or multi-turn conversations
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, DeepSeek R1 or Llama 4 Maverick?
For input tokens, Llama 4 Maverick is 5.0x cheaper at $0.27/1M tokens. For output tokens, Llama 4 Maverick is 6.4x cheaper at $0.85/1M tokens. At typical usage (1M input + 300K output), DeepSeek R1 costs $2.97 vs Llama 4 Maverick at $0.525.
What's the context window difference?
DeepSeek R1 supports 128K context (128,000 tokens), while Llama 4 Maverick supports 1.0M (1,048,576 tokens). Llama 4 Maverick can handle 8x more context in a single request.
Which model has better benchmarks?
Quality Index: DeepSeek R1 scores 27 vs Llama 4 Maverick at 18.
When should I choose DeepSeek R1 over Llama 4 Maverick?
Choose DeepSeek R1 when you need: Higher max output tokens, Higher quality score (27 vs 18). Choose Llama 4 Maverick when you need: Cheaper input tokens, Cheaper output tokens, Larger context window (1.0M vs 128K).
How much would 10,000 API requests cost?
At 1K input + 300 output tokens per request (typical chat): DeepSeek R1 = $29.70, Llama 4 Maverick = $5.25. At 10K input + 1K output per request (longer conversations): DeepSeek R1 = $189.00, Llama 4 Maverick = $35.50.
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