Model Comparison

DeepSeek-R1 vs DeepSeek-V3.1Which is better in 2026?

Comparing DeepSeek-R1 and DeepSeek-V3.1 across benchmarks, pricing, and capabilities.

Verdict: DeepSeek-R1 vs DeepSeek-V3.1 — which is better?

DeepSeek-R1 (by DeepSeek) and DeepSeek-V3.1 (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.

On price, DeepSeek-V3.1 is roughly 2.1x cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 input/output basis, which adds up quickly at production volume.

DeepSeek-V3.1 also accepts a larger context window (163,840 input tokens), making it the stronger choice for long documents and large codebases.

Choose DeepSeek-R1 if…

  • you want the most recent training data — it shipped Jan 2025

Choose DeepSeek-V3.1 if…

  • cost matters — it's about 2.1x cheaper per token
  • you process long inputs — it offers a 163,840 token context window

Performance Benchmarks

Comparative analysis across standard metrics

No common benchmarks found

DeepSeek-R1 and DeepSeek-V3.1don'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-V3.1 costs less

For input processing, DeepSeek-R1 ($0.55/1M tokens) is 2.0x more expensive than DeepSeek-V3.1 ($0.27/1M tokens).

For output processing, DeepSeek-R1 ($2.19/1M tokens) is 2.2x more expensive than DeepSeek-V3.1 ($1.00/1M tokens).

In conclusion, DeepSeek-R1 is more expensive than DeepSeek-V3.1.*

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

Lowest available price from all providers
Wed Jul 22 2026 • llm-stats.com
DeepSeek
DeepSeek-R1
Input tokens$0.55
Output tokens$2.19
Best providerDeepSeek
DeepSeek
DeepSeek-V3.1
Input tokens$0.27
Output tokens$1.00
Best providerDeepinfra
Notice missing or incorrect data?Start an Issue→

Model Size

Parameter count comparison

0.0M diff

DeepSeek-V3.1 has 0.0B more parameters than DeepSeek-R1, making it 0.0% larger.

DeepSeek
DeepSeek-R1
671.0Bparameters
DeepSeek
DeepSeek-V3.1
671.0Bparameters
671.0B
DeepSeek-R1
671.0B
DeepSeek-V3.1

Context Window

Maximum input and output token capacity

DeepSeek-V3.1 accepts 163,840 input tokens compared to DeepSeek-R1's 131,072 tokens. DeepSeek-V3.1 can generate longer responses up to 163,840 tokens, while DeepSeek-R1 is limited to 131,072 tokens.

DeepSeek
DeepSeek-R1
Input131,072 tokens
Output131,072 tokens
DeepSeek
DeepSeek-V3.1
Input163,840 tokens
Output163,840 tokens
Wed Jul 22 2026 • llm-stats.com

License

Usage and distribution terms

Both models are licensed under MIT.

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

DeepSeek-R1

MIT

Open weights

DeepSeek-V3.1

MIT

Open weights

Release Timeline

When each model was launched

DeepSeek-R1 was released on 2025-01-20, while DeepSeek-V3.1 was released on 2025-01-10.

DeepSeek-R1 is 0 month newer than DeepSeek-V3.1.

DeepSeek-R1

Jan 20, 2025

1.5 years ago

1w newer
DeepSeek-V3.1

Jan 10, 2025

1.5 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

Provider Availability

DeepSeek-R1 is available from DeepSeek, DeepInfra, Together, Fireworks. DeepSeek-V3.1 is available from DeepInfra, Novita.

DeepSeek-R1

deepseek logo
DeepSeek
Input Price:Input: $0.55/1MOutput Price:Output: $2.19/1M
deepinfra logo
Deepinfra
Input Price:Input: $0.85/1MOutput Price:Output: $2.50/1M
together logo
Together
Input Price:Input: $7.00/1MOutput Price:Output: $7.00/1M
fireworks logo
Fireworks
Input Price:Input: $8.00/1MOutput Price:Output: $8.00/1M

DeepSeek-V3.1

deepinfra logo
Deepinfra
Input Price:Input: $0.27/1MOutput Price:Output: $1.00/1M
novita logo
Novita
Input Price:Input: $0.27/1MOutput Price:Output: $1.00/1M
* Prices shown are per million tokens

Outputs Comparison

Notice missing or incorrect data?Start an Issue discussion→

Key Takeaways

DeepSeek

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

DeepSeek
Larger context window (163,840 tokens)
Less expensive input tokens
Less expensive output tokens

Detailed Comparison

Interactive Arena

Judge for yourself.

Run your own prompts against DeepSeek-R1 and DeepSeek-V3.1 side-by-side, then vote on the output you prefer.

DeepSeek-R1
✓ Preferred
DeepSeek-V3.1
Open in Playground
AI Model Comparison Table
Feature
DeepSeek
DeepSeek-R1
DeepSeek
DeepSeek-V3.1

FAQ

Common questions about DeepSeek-R1 vs DeepSeek-V3.1.

Which is better, DeepSeek-R1 or DeepSeek-V3.1?

DeepSeek-R1 (DeepSeek) and DeepSeek-V3.1 (DeepSeek) 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 compare to DeepSeek-V3.1 in benchmarks?

DeepSeek-V3.1 scores SimpleQA: 93.4%, MMLU-Redux: 91.8%, MMLU-Pro: 83.7%, GPQA: 74.9%, CodeForces: 69.7%.

Is DeepSeek-R1 cheaper than DeepSeek-V3.1?

DeepSeek-V3.1 is 2.0x cheaper for input tokens. DeepSeek-R1 costs $0.55/M input and $2.19/M output via deepseek. DeepSeek-V3.1 costs $0.27/M input and $1.00/M output via deepinfra.

What are the context window sizes for DeepSeek-R1 and DeepSeek-V3.1?

DeepSeek-R1 supports 131K tokens and DeepSeek-V3.1 supports 164K 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 and DeepSeek-V3.1?

Key differences include context window (131K vs 164K), input pricing ($0.55 vs $0.27/M). See the full comparison above for benchmark-by-benchmark results.

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