Model Comparison
DeepSeek-R1-0528 vs Grok Code Fast 1Which is better in 2026?
Grok Code Fast 1 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks. Grok Code Fast 1 is 1.7x cheaper per token.
Verdict: DeepSeek-R1-0528 vs Grok Code Fast 1 — which is better?
DeepSeek-R1-0528 (by DeepSeek) and Grok Code Fast 1 (by xAI) 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 0 benchmarks, while Grok Code Fast 1 is better at 1 benchmark (SWE-Bench Verified). Grok Code Fast 1 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.
On price, Grok Code Fast 1 is roughly 1.7x cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 input/output basis, which adds up quickly at production volume.
Grok Code Fast 1 also accepts a larger context window (256,000 input tokens), making it the stronger choice for long documents and large codebases.
Choose DeepSeek-R1-0528 if…
- you need open weights you can self-host or fine-tune
Choose Grok Code Fast 1 if…
- you want the strongest raw capability — it leads on 1 of 1 shared benchmarks
- cost matters — it's about 1.7x cheaper per token
- you process long inputs — it offers a 256,000 token context window
- you want the most recent training data — it shipped Aug 2025
Performance Benchmarks
Comparative analysis across standard metrics
DeepSeek-R1-0528 outperforms in 0 benchmarks, while Grok Code Fast 1 is better at 1 benchmark (SWE-Bench Verified).
Grok Code Fast 1 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 2.5x more expensive than Grok Code Fast 1 ($0.20/1M tokens).
For output processing, DeepSeek-R1-0528 ($2.15/1M tokens) is 1.4x more expensive than Grok Code Fast 1 ($1.50/1M tokens).
In conclusion, DeepSeek-R1-0528 is more expensive than Grok Code Fast 1.*
* Using a 3:1 ratio of input to output tokens
Context Window
Maximum input and output token capacity
Grok Code Fast 1 accepts 256,000 input tokens compared to DeepSeek-R1-0528's 131,072 tokens. DeepSeek-R1-0528 can generate longer responses up to 131,072 tokens, while Grok Code Fast 1 is limited to 10,000 tokens.
License
Usage and distribution terms
DeepSeek-R1-0528 is licensed under MIT, while Grok Code Fast 1 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 Grok Code Fast 1 was released on 2025-08-28.
Grok Code Fast 1 is 3 months newer than DeepSeek-R1-0528.
May 28, 2025
1.1 years ago
Aug 28, 2025
10 months ago
3mo newerKnowledge 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. Grok Code Fast 1 is available from xAI.
DeepSeek-R1-0528
Grok Code Fast 1
Outputs Comparison
Key Takeaways
DeepSeek-R1-0528
View detailsDeepSeek
Detailed Comparison
Interactive Arena
Judge for yourself.
Run your own prompts against DeepSeek-R1-0528 and Grok Code Fast 1 side-by-side, then vote on the output you prefer.
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FAQ
Common questions about DeepSeek-R1-0528 vs Grok Code Fast 1.