Model Comparison
DeepSeek R1 Zero vs Nova ProWhich is better in 2026?
DeepSeek R1 Zero significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.
Verdict: DeepSeek R1 Zero vs Nova Pro — which is better?
DeepSeek R1 Zero (by DeepSeek) and Nova Pro (by Amazon) 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 Zero outperforms in 1 benchmarks (GPQA), while Nova Pro is better at 0 benchmarks. DeepSeek R1 Zero significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.
Choose DeepSeek R1 Zero if…
- you want the strongest raw capability — it leads on 1 of 1 shared benchmarks
- you want the most recent training data — it shipped Jan 2025
- you need open weights you can self-host or fine-tune
Choose Nova Pro if…
- you want predictable pricing at $0.80/M input and $3.20/M output
Performance Benchmarks
Comparative analysis across standard metrics
DeepSeek R1 Zero outperforms in 1 benchmarks (GPQA), while Nova Pro is better at 0 benchmarks.
DeepSeek R1 Zero significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.
Arena Performance
Human preference votes
Context Window
Maximum input and output token capacity
Only Nova Pro specifies input context (300,000 tokens). Only Nova Pro specifies output context (300,000 tokens).
Input Capabilities
Supported data types and modalities
Nova Pro supports multimodal inputs, whereas DeepSeek R1 Zero does not.
Nova Pro can handle both text and other forms of data like images, making it suitable for multimodal applications.
DeepSeek R1 Zero
Nova Pro
License
Usage and distribution terms
DeepSeek R1 Zero is licensed under MIT, while Nova Pro 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 Zero was released on 2025-01-20, while Nova Pro was released on 2024-11-20.
DeepSeek R1 Zero is 2 months newer than Nova Pro.
Jan 20, 2025
1.5 years ago
2mo newerNov 20, 2024
1.6 years ago
Knowledge Cutoff
When training data ends
Neither model specifies a knowledge cutoff date.
Unable to compare the recency of their training data.
Outputs Comparison
Key Takeaways
DeepSeek R1 Zero
View detailsDeepSeek
Nova Pro
View detailsAmazon
Detailed Comparison
Interactive Arena
Judge for yourself.
Run your own prompts against DeepSeek R1 Zero and Nova Pro side-by-side, then vote on the output you prefer.
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FAQ
Common questions about DeepSeek R1 Zero vs Nova Pro.