Model Comparison

DeepSeek-R1-0528 vs Gemini 3.6 FlashWhich is better in 2026?

Comparing DeepSeek-R1-0528 and Gemini 3.6 Flash across benchmarks, pricing, and capabilities.

Verdict: DeepSeek-R1-0528 vs Gemini 3.6 Flash — which is better?

DeepSeek-R1-0528 (by DeepSeek) and Gemini 3.6 Flash (by Google) 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.

On price, DeepSeek-R1-0528 is roughly 3.3x cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 input/output basis, which adds up quickly at production volume.

Gemini 3.6 Flash also accepts a larger context window (1,048,576 input tokens), making it the stronger choice for long documents and large codebases.

Choose DeepSeek-R1-0528 if…

  • cost matters — it's about 3.3x cheaper per token
  • you need open weights you can self-host or fine-tune

Choose Gemini 3.6 Flash if…

  • you process long inputs — it offers a 1,048,576 token context window
  • you want the most recent training data — it shipped Jul 2026

Performance Benchmarks

Comparative analysis across standard metrics

No common benchmarks found

DeepSeek-R1-0528 and Gemini 3.6 Flashdon't have any common benchmark datasets to compare. They may have been evaluated on different testing suites.

Arena Performance

Human preference votes

Pricing Analysis

Price comparison per million tokens

DeepSeek-R1-0528 costs less

For input processing, DeepSeek-R1-0528 ($0.50/1M tokens) is 3.0x cheaper than Gemini 3.6 Flash ($1.50/1M tokens).

For output processing, DeepSeek-R1-0528 ($2.15/1M tokens) is 3.5x cheaper than Gemini 3.6 Flash ($7.50/1M tokens).

In conclusion, Gemini 3.6 Flash is more expensive than DeepSeek-R1-0528.*

* Using a 3:1 ratio of input to output tokens

Lowest available price from all providers
Tue Jul 21 2026 • llm-stats.com
DeepSeek
DeepSeek-R1-0528
Input tokens$0.50
Output tokens$2.15
Best providerDeepinfra
Google
Gemini 3.6 Flash
Input tokens$1.50
Output tokens$7.50
Best providerGoogle
Notice missing or incorrect data?Start an Issue→

Context Window

Maximum input and output token capacity

Gemini 3.6 Flash accepts 1,048,576 input tokens compared to DeepSeek-R1-0528's 131,072 tokens. DeepSeek-R1-0528 can generate longer responses up to 131,072 tokens, while Gemini 3.6 Flash is limited to 65,536 tokens.

DeepSeek
DeepSeek-R1-0528
Input131,072 tokens
Output131,072 tokens
Google
Gemini 3.6 Flash
Input1,048,576 tokens
Output65,536 tokens
Tue Jul 21 2026 • llm-stats.com

Input Capabilities

Supported data types and modalities

Gemini 3.6 Flash supports multimodal inputs, whereas DeepSeek-R1-0528 does not.

Gemini 3.6 Flash can handle both text and other forms of data like images, making it suitable for multimodal applications.

DeepSeek-R1-0528

Text
Images
Audio
Video

Gemini 3.6 Flash

Text
Images
Audio
Video

License

Usage and distribution terms

DeepSeek-R1-0528 is licensed under MIT, while Gemini 3.6 Flash uses a proprietary license.

License differences may affect how you can use these models in commercial or open-source projects.

DeepSeek-R1-0528

MIT

Open weights

Gemini 3.6 Flash

Proprietary

Closed source

Release Timeline

When each model was launched

DeepSeek-R1-0528 was released on 2025-05-28, while Gemini 3.6 Flash was released on 2026-07-21.

Gemini 3.6 Flash is 14 months newer than DeepSeek-R1-0528.

DeepSeek-R1-0528

May 28, 2025

1.1 years ago

Gemini 3.6 Flash

Jul 21, 2026

0 days ago

1.1yr newer

Knowledge Cutoff

When training data ends

Gemini 3.6 Flash has a documented knowledge cutoff of 2026-03-31, while DeepSeek-R1-0528's cutoff date is not specified.

We can confirm Gemini 3.6 Flash's training data extends to 2026-03-31, but cannot make a direct comparison without DeepSeek-R1-0528's cutoff date.

DeepSeek-R1-0528

—

Gemini 3.6 Flash

Mar 2026

Provider Availability

DeepSeek-R1-0528 is available from DeepInfra, DeepSeek, Novita. Gemini 3.6 Flash is available from Google.

DeepSeek-R1-0528

deepinfra logo
Deepinfra
Input Price:Input: $0.50/1MOutput Price:Output: $2.15/1M
deepseek logo
DeepSeek
Input Price:Input: $0.55/1MOutput Price:Output: $2.19/1M
novita logo
Novita
Input Price:Input: $0.70/1MOutput Price:Output: $2.50/1M

Gemini 3.6 Flash

google logo
Google
Input Price:Input: $1.50/1MOutput Price:Output: $7.50/1M
* Prices shown are per million tokens

Outputs Comparison

Notice missing or incorrect data?Start an Issue discussion→

Key Takeaways

DeepSeek
Less expensive input tokens
Less expensive output tokens
Has open weights
Google
Larger context window (1,048,576 tokens)
Supports multimodal inputs

Detailed Comparison

Interactive Arena

Judge for yourself.

Run your own prompts against DeepSeek-R1-0528 and Gemini 3.6 Flash side-by-side, then vote on the output you prefer.

DeepSeek-R1-0528
✓ Preferred
Gemini 3.6 Flash
Open in Playground
AI Model Comparison Table
Feature
DeepSeek
DeepSeek-R1-0528
Google
Gemini 3.6 Flash

FAQ

Common questions about DeepSeek-R1-0528 vs Gemini 3.6 Flash.

Which is better, DeepSeek-R1-0528 or Gemini 3.6 Flash?

DeepSeek-R1-0528 (DeepSeek) and Gemini 3.6 Flash (Google) each have strengths in different areas. Compare their benchmark scores, pricing, context windows, and capabilities above to determine which fits your needs.

How does DeepSeek-R1-0528 compare to Gemini 3.6 Flash in benchmarks?

DeepSeek-R1-0528 scores MMLU-Redux: 93.4%, SimpleQA: 92.3%, AIME 2024: 91.4%, AIME 2025: 87.5%, MMLU-Pro: 85.0%. Gemini 3.6 Flash scores CharXiv-R: 89.4%, OSWorld-Verified: 83.0%, Terminal-Bench 2.1: 78.0%, MLE-Bench: 63.9%, SWE-Bench Pro: 58.7%.

Is DeepSeek-R1-0528 cheaper than Gemini 3.6 Flash?

DeepSeek-R1-0528 is 3.0x cheaper for input tokens. DeepSeek-R1-0528 costs $0.50/M input and $2.15/M output via deepinfra. Gemini 3.6 Flash costs $1.50/M input and $7.50/M output via google.

What are the context window sizes for DeepSeek-R1-0528 and Gemini 3.6 Flash?

DeepSeek-R1-0528 supports 131K tokens and Gemini 3.6 Flash supports 1.0M tokens. A larger context window lets you process longer documents, conversations, or codebases in a single request.

What are the main differences between DeepSeek-R1-0528 and Gemini 3.6 Flash?

Key differences include context window (131K vs 1.0M), input pricing ($0.50 vs $1.50/M), multimodal support (no vs yes), licensing (MIT vs Proprietary). See the full comparison above for benchmark-by-benchmark results.

Who makes DeepSeek-R1-0528 and Gemini 3.6 Flash?

DeepSeek-R1-0528 is developed by DeepSeek and Gemini 3.6 Flash is developed by Google.

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