DeepSeek R1 Zero vs o1
DeepSeek R1 Zero and o1 are closely matched at 16.0 and 20.9 on the LLM Stats Score.
DeepSeek · OpenAI · Updated for 2026
Which is better?
DeepSeek R1 Zero and o1 are closely matched on the overall LLM Stats Score at 16.0 and 20.9.
The models split the 2 individual benchmarks reported for both models evenly.
Based on current LLM Stats indexes, shared benchmarks, pricing, and model metadata for 2026.
Choose DeepSeek R1 Zero
- you want the most recent training data — it shipped Jan 2025
- you need open weights you can self-host or fine-tune
Choose o1
- you want predictable pricing at $15.00/M input and $60.00/M output
At a glance
The differences that matter most.
Capability indexes
Additional strengths measured across groups of related public benchmarks
Individual benchmarks
4 reported for DeepSeek R1 Zero · 19 for o1
DeepSeek R1 Zero outperforms in 1 benchmarks (AIME 2024), while o1 is better at 1 benchmark (GPQA).
Both models are evenly matched across the benchmarks.
Human preference
Blind head-to-head votes and playground preference scores
Context Window
Maximum input and output token capacity
Only o1 specifies input context (200,000 tokens). Only o1 specifies output context (100,000 tokens).
License
Usage and distribution terms
DeepSeek R1 Zero is licensed under MIT, while o1 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 o1 was released on 2024-12-17.
DeepSeek R1 Zero is 1 month newer than o1.
Jan 20, 2025
1.7 years ago
1mo newerDec 17, 2024
1.7 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
Judge for yourself.
Run your own prompts against DeepSeek R1 Zero and o1 side-by-side, then vote on the output you prefer.
FAQ
Common questions about DeepSeek R1 Zero vs o1.