Model Comparison

DeepSeek R1 Distill Qwen 1.5B vs DeepSeek R1 ZeroWhich is better in 2026?

DeepSeek R1 Zero significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.

Verdict: DeepSeek R1 Distill Qwen 1.5B vs DeepSeek R1 Zero — which is better?

DeepSeek R1 Distill Qwen 1.5B (by DeepSeek) and DeepSeek R1 Zero (by DeepSeek) 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 Distill Qwen 1.5B outperforms in 0 benchmarks, while DeepSeek R1 Zero is better at 4 benchmarks (AIME 2024, GPQA, LiveCodeBench, MATH-500). DeepSeek R1 Zero significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.

Choose DeepSeek R1 Distill Qwen 1.5B if…

  • you are already invested in the DeepSeek ecosystem

Choose DeepSeek R1 Zero if…

  • you want the strongest raw capability — it leads on 4 of 4 shared benchmarks
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Performance Benchmarks

Comparative analysis across standard metrics

4 benchmarks

DeepSeek R1 Distill Qwen 1.5B outperforms in 0 benchmarks, while DeepSeek R1 Zero is better at 4 benchmarks (AIME 2024, GPQA, LiveCodeBench, MATH-500).

DeepSeek R1 Zero significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.

Thu Jun 18 2026 • llm-stats.com

Arena Performance

Human preference votes

Model Size

Parameter count comparison

669.2B diff

DeepSeek R1 Zero has 669.2B more parameters than DeepSeek R1 Distill Qwen 1.5B, making it 37596.6% larger.

DeepSeek
DeepSeek R1 Distill Qwen 1.5B
1.8Bparameters
DeepSeek
DeepSeek R1 Zero
671.0Bparameters
1.8B
DeepSeek R1 Distill Qwen 1.5B
671.0B
DeepSeek R1 Zero

License

Usage and distribution terms

Both models are licensed under MIT.

Both models share the same licensing terms, providing consistent usage rights.

DeepSeek R1 Distill Qwen 1.5B

MIT

Open weights

DeepSeek R1 Zero

MIT

Open weights

Release Timeline

When each model was launched

Both models were released on 2025-01-20.

They likely represent similar generations of model development.

DeepSeek R1 Distill Qwen 1.5B

Jan 20, 2025

1.4 years ago

DeepSeek R1 Zero

Jan 20, 2025

1.4 years ago

Knowledge Cutoff

When training data ends

Neither model specifies a knowledge cutoff date.

Unable to compare the recency of their training data.

No cutoff dates available

Outputs Comparison

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Key Takeaways

DeepSeek

No standout differentiators in the data we have for this pair.

DeepSeek
Higher AIME 2024 score (86.7% vs 52.7%)
Higher GPQA score (73.3% vs 33.8%)
Higher LiveCodeBench score (50.0% vs 16.9%)
Higher MATH-500 score (95.9% vs 83.9%)

Detailed Comparison

AI Model Comparison Table
Feature
DeepSeek
DeepSeek R1 Distill Qwen 1.5B
DeepSeek
DeepSeek R1 Zero

FAQ

Common questions about DeepSeek R1 Distill Qwen 1.5B vs DeepSeek R1 Zero.

Which is better, DeepSeek R1 Distill Qwen 1.5B or DeepSeek R1 Zero?

DeepSeek R1 Zero significantly outperforms across most benchmarks. DeepSeek R1 Distill Qwen 1.5B is made by DeepSeek and DeepSeek R1 Zero is made by DeepSeek. The best choice depends on your use case — compare their benchmark scores, pricing, and capabilities above.

How does DeepSeek R1 Distill Qwen 1.5B compare to DeepSeek R1 Zero in benchmarks?

DeepSeek R1 Distill Qwen 1.5B scores MATH-500: 83.9%, AIME 2024: 52.7%, GPQA: 33.8%, LiveCodeBench: 16.9%. DeepSeek R1 Zero scores MATH-500: 95.9%, AIME 2024: 86.7%, GPQA: 73.3%, LiveCodeBench: 50.0%.

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