Model Comparison

DeepSeek-R1 vs Devstral MediumWhich is better in 2026?

Comparing DeepSeek-R1 and Devstral Medium across benchmarks, pricing, and capabilities.

Verdict: DeepSeek-R1 vs Devstral Medium — which is better?

DeepSeek-R1 (by DeepSeek) and Devstral Medium (by Mistral AI) 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, Devstral Medium is roughly 1.2x cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 input/output basis, which adds up quickly at production volume.

DeepSeek-R1 also accepts a larger context window (131,072 input tokens), making it the stronger choice for long documents and large codebases.

Choose DeepSeek-R1 if…

  • you process long inputs — it offers a 131,072 token context window
  • you need open weights you can self-host or fine-tune

Choose Devstral Medium if…

  • cost matters — it's about 1.2x cheaper per token
  • you want the most recent training data — it shipped Jul 2025
Want to compare interactively?Try the playground

Performance Benchmarks

Comparative analysis across standard metrics

No common benchmarks found

DeepSeek-R1 and Devstral Mediumdon'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

Devstral Medium costs less

For input processing, DeepSeek-R1 ($0.55/1M tokens) is 1.4x more expensive than Devstral Medium ($0.40/1M tokens).

For output processing, DeepSeek-R1 ($2.19/1M tokens) is 1.1x more expensive than Devstral Medium ($2.00/1M tokens).

In conclusion, DeepSeek-R1 is more expensive than Devstral Medium.*

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

Lowest available price from all providers
Sat Jun 13 2026 • llm-stats.com
DeepSeek
DeepSeek-R1
Input tokens$0.55
Output tokens$2.19
Best providerDeepSeek
Mistral AI
Devstral Medium
Input tokens$0.40
Output tokens$2.00
Best providerMistral
Notice missing or incorrect data?Start an Issue→

Context Window

Maximum input and output token capacity

DeepSeek-R1 accepts 131,072 input tokens compared to Devstral Medium's 128,000 tokens. DeepSeek-R1 can generate longer responses up to 131,072 tokens, while Devstral Medium is limited to 128,000 tokens.

DeepSeek
DeepSeek-R1
Input131,072 tokens
Output131,072 tokens
Mistral AI
Devstral Medium
Input128,000 tokens
Output128,000 tokens
Sat Jun 13 2026 • llm-stats.com

License

Usage and distribution terms

DeepSeek-R1 is licensed under MIT, while Devstral Medium uses a proprietary license.

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

DeepSeek-R1

MIT

Open weights

Devstral Medium

Proprietary

Closed source

Release Timeline

When each model was launched

DeepSeek-R1 was released on 2025-01-20, while Devstral Medium was released on 2025-07-10.

Devstral Medium is 6 months newer than DeepSeek-R1.

DeepSeek-R1

Jan 20, 2025

1.4 years ago

Devstral Medium

Jul 10, 2025

11 months ago

5mo newer

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. Devstral Medium is available from Mistral AI.

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

Devstral Medium

mistral logo
Mistral
Input Price:Input: $0.40/1MOutput Price:Output: $2.00/1M
* Prices shown are per million tokens

Outputs Comparison

Notice missing or incorrect data?Start an Issue discussion→

Key Takeaways

DeepSeek
Larger context window (131,072 tokens)
Has open weights
Mistral AI
Less expensive input tokens
Less expensive output tokens

Detailed Comparison

AI Model Comparison Table
Feature
DeepSeek
DeepSeek-R1
Mistral AI
Devstral Medium

FAQ

Common questions about DeepSeek-R1 vs Devstral Medium.

Which is better, DeepSeek-R1 or Devstral Medium?

DeepSeek-R1 (DeepSeek) and Devstral Medium (Mistral AI) 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 Devstral Medium in benchmarks?

Devstral Medium scores SWE-Bench Verified: 61.6%.

Is DeepSeek-R1 cheaper than Devstral Medium?

Devstral Medium is 1.4x cheaper for input tokens. DeepSeek-R1 costs $0.55/M input and $2.19/M output via deepseek. Devstral Medium costs $0.40/M input and $2.00/M output via mistral.

What are the context window sizes for DeepSeek-R1 and Devstral Medium?

DeepSeek-R1 supports 131K tokens and Devstral Medium supports 128K 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 Devstral Medium?

Key differences include context window (131K vs 128K), input pricing ($0.55 vs $0.40/M), licensing (MIT vs Proprietary). See the full comparison above for benchmark-by-benchmark results.

Who makes DeepSeek-R1 and Devstral Medium?

DeepSeek-R1 is developed by DeepSeek and Devstral Medium is developed by Mistral AI.

Related comparisons