DeepSeek R1 Zero vs o1-preview
DeepSeek R1 Zero and o1-preview are closely matched at 16.0 and 16.6 on the LLM Stats Score.
DeepSeek · OpenAI · Updated for 2026
Which is better?
DeepSeek R1 Zero and o1-preview are closely matched on the overall LLM Stats Score at 16.0 and 16.6.
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-preview
- 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 · 8 for o1-preview
DeepSeek R1 Zero outperforms in 1 benchmarks (AIME 2024), while o1-preview is better at 0 benchmarks.
DeepSeek R1 Zero has a slight edge in benchmark performance.
Human preference
Blind head-to-head votes and playground preference scores
Context Window
Maximum input and output token capacity
Only o1-preview specifies input context (128,000 tokens). Only o1-preview specifies output context (32,768 tokens).
License
Usage and distribution terms
DeepSeek R1 Zero is licensed under MIT, while o1-preview 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-preview was released on 2024-09-12.
DeepSeek R1 Zero is 4 months newer than o1-preview.
Jan 20, 2025
1.6 years ago
4mo newerSep 12, 2024
2.0 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-preview side-by-side, then vote on the output you prefer.
FAQ
Common questions about DeepSeek R1 Zero vs o1-preview.