DeepSeek R1 Zero vs o1-pro
DeepSeek R1 Zero and o1-pro are closely matched at 16.0 and 19.7 on the LLM Stats Score.
DeepSeek · OpenAI · Updated for 2026
Which is better?
DeepSeek R1 Zero and o1-pro are closely matched on the overall LLM Stats Score at 16.0 and 19.7.
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-pro
- you are already invested in the OpenAI ecosystem
At a glance
The differences that matter most.
Individual benchmarks
4 reported for DeepSeek R1 Zero · 2 for o1-pro
DeepSeek R1 Zero outperforms in 1 benchmarks (AIME 2024), while o1-pro 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
Input capabilities
Documented input modalities across available providers
o1-pro supports multimodal inputs, whereas DeepSeek R1 Zero does not.
o1-pro can handle both text and other forms of data like images, making it suitable for multimodal applications.
DeepSeek R1 Zero
o1-pro
License
Usage and distribution terms
DeepSeek R1 Zero is licensed under MIT, while o1-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 o1-pro was released on 2024-12-17.
DeepSeek R1 Zero is 1 month newer than o1-pro.
Jan 20, 2025
1.6 years ago
1mo newerDec 17, 2024
1.7 years ago
Knowledge Cutoff
When training data ends
o1-pro has a documented knowledge cutoff of 2023-09-30, while DeepSeek R1 Zero's cutoff date is not specified.
We can confirm o1-pro's training data extends to 2023-09-30, but cannot make a direct comparison without DeepSeek R1 Zero's cutoff date.
—
Sep 2023
Outputs Comparison
Judge for yourself.
Run your own prompts against DeepSeek R1 Zero and o1-pro side-by-side, then vote on the output you prefer.
FAQ
Common questions about DeepSeek R1 Zero vs o1-pro.