Model Comparison
DeepSeek-R1-0528 vs Claude 3 OpusWhich is better in 2026?
DeepSeek-R1-0528 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks. DeepSeek-R1-0528 is 32.9x cheaper per token.
Verdict: DeepSeek-R1-0528 vs Claude 3 Opus — which is better?
DeepSeek-R1-0528 (by DeepSeek) and Claude 3 Opus (by Anthropic) are two of the AI models people compare most. Here is how they stack up on benchmarks, price and capabilities, and which one to pick in 2026.
DeepSeek-R1-0528 outperforms in 2 benchmarks (GPQA, MMLU-Pro), while Claude 3 Opus is better at 0 benchmarks. DeepSeek-R1-0528 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.
On price, DeepSeek-R1-0528 is roughly 32.9x cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 input/output basis, which adds up quickly at production volume.
Claude 3 Opus also accepts a larger context window (200,000 input tokens), making it the stronger choice for long documents and large codebases.
Choose DeepSeek-R1-0528 if…
- you want the strongest raw capability — it leads on 2 of 2 shared benchmarks
- cost matters — it's about 32.9x cheaper per token
- you want the most recent training data — it shipped May 2025
- you need open weights you can self-host or fine-tune
Choose Claude 3 Opus if…
- you process long inputs — it offers a 200,000 token context window
Performance Benchmarks
Comparative analysis across standard metrics
DeepSeek-R1-0528 outperforms in 2 benchmarks (GPQA, MMLU-Pro), while Claude 3 Opus is better at 0 benchmarks.
DeepSeek-R1-0528 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.
Arena Performance
Human preference votes
Pricing Analysis
Price comparison per million tokens
For input processing, DeepSeek-R1-0528 ($0.50/1M tokens) is 30.0x cheaper than Claude 3 Opus ($15.00/1M tokens).
For output processing, DeepSeek-R1-0528 ($2.15/1M tokens) is 34.9x cheaper than Claude 3 Opus ($75.00/1M tokens).
In conclusion, Claude 3 Opus is more expensive than DeepSeek-R1-0528.*
* Using a 3:1 ratio of input to output tokens
Context Window
Maximum input and output token capacity
Claude 3 Opus accepts 200,000 input tokens compared to DeepSeek-R1-0528's 131,072 tokens. Claude 3 Opus can generate longer responses up to 200,000 tokens, while DeepSeek-R1-0528 is limited to 131,072 tokens.
Input Capabilities
Supported data types and modalities
Claude 3 Opus supports multimodal inputs, whereas DeepSeek-R1-0528 does not.
Claude 3 Opus can handle both text and other forms of data like images, making it suitable for multimodal applications.
DeepSeek-R1-0528
Claude 3 Opus
License
Usage and distribution terms
DeepSeek-R1-0528 is licensed under MIT, while Claude 3 Opus uses a proprietary license.
License differences may affect how you can use these models in commercial or open-source projects.
MIT
Open weights
Proprietary
Closed source
Release Timeline
When each model was launched
DeepSeek-R1-0528 was released on 2025-05-28, while Claude 3 Opus was released on 2024-02-29.
DeepSeek-R1-0528 is 15 months newer than Claude 3 Opus.
May 28, 2025
1.0 years ago
1.2yr newerFeb 29, 2024
2.3 years ago
Knowledge Cutoff
When training data ends
Neither model specifies a knowledge cutoff date.
Unable to compare the recency of their training data.
Provider Availability
DeepSeek-R1-0528 is available from DeepInfra, DeepSeek, Novita. Claude 3 Opus is available from Anthropic, Bedrock, Google.
DeepSeek-R1-0528
Claude 3 Opus
Outputs Comparison
Key Takeaways
DeepSeek-R1-0528
View detailsDeepSeek
Claude 3 Opus
View detailsAnthropic
Detailed Comparison
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FAQ
Common questions about DeepSeek-R1-0528 vs Claude 3 Opus.