Model Comparison

DeepSeek-V2.5 vs DeepSeek-V3 0324Which is better in 2026?

Comparing DeepSeek-V2.5 and DeepSeek-V3 0324 across benchmarks, pricing, and capabilities.

Verdict: DeepSeek-V2.5 vs DeepSeek-V3 0324 — which is better?

DeepSeek-V2.5 (by DeepSeek) and DeepSeek-V3 0324 (by DeepSeek) 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, DeepSeek-V2.5 is roughly 2.8x cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 input/output basis, which adds up quickly at production volume.

DeepSeek-V3 0324 also accepts a larger context window (163,840 input tokens), making it the stronger choice for long documents and large codebases.

Choose DeepSeek-V2.5 if…

  • cost matters — it's about 2.8x cheaper per token

Choose DeepSeek-V3 0324 if…

  • you process long inputs — it offers a 163,840 token context window
  • you want the most recent training data — it shipped Mar 2025

Performance Benchmarks

Comparative analysis across standard metrics

No common benchmarks found

DeepSeek-V2.5 and DeepSeek-V3 0324don'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

DeepSeek-V2.5 costs less

For input processing, DeepSeek-V2.5 ($0.14/1M tokens) is 2.0x cheaper than DeepSeek-V3 0324 ($0.28/1M tokens).

For output processing, DeepSeek-V2.5 ($0.28/1M tokens) is 4.1x cheaper than DeepSeek-V3 0324 ($1.14/1M tokens).

In conclusion, DeepSeek-V3 0324 is more expensive than DeepSeek-V2.5.*

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

Lowest available price from all providers
Sat Jun 27 2026 • llm-stats.com
DeepSeek
DeepSeek-V2.5
Input tokens$0.14
Output tokens$0.28
Best providerDeepSeek
DeepSeek
DeepSeek-V3 0324
Input tokens$0.28
Output tokens$1.14
Best providerNovita
Notice missing or incorrect data?Start an Issue→

Model Size

Parameter count comparison

435.0B diff

DeepSeek-V3 0324 has 435.0B more parameters than DeepSeek-V2.5, making it 184.3% larger.

DeepSeek
DeepSeek-V2.5
236.0Bparameters
DeepSeek
DeepSeek-V3 0324
671.0Bparameters
236.0B
DeepSeek-V2.5
671.0B
DeepSeek-V3 0324

Context Window

Maximum input and output token capacity

DeepSeek-V3 0324 accepts 163,840 input tokens compared to DeepSeek-V2.5's 8,192 tokens. DeepSeek-V3 0324 can generate longer responses up to 163,840 tokens, while DeepSeek-V2.5 is limited to 8,192 tokens.

DeepSeek
DeepSeek-V2.5
Input8,192 tokens
Output8,192 tokens
DeepSeek
DeepSeek-V3 0324
Input163,840 tokens
Output163,840 tokens
Sat Jun 27 2026 • llm-stats.com

License

Usage and distribution terms

DeepSeek-V2.5 is licensed under deepseek, while DeepSeek-V3 0324 uses MIT + Model License (Commercial use allowed).

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

DeepSeek-V2.5

deepseek

Open weights

DeepSeek-V3 0324

MIT + Model License (Commercial use allowed)

Open weights

Release Timeline

When each model was launched

DeepSeek-V2.5 was released on 2024-05-08, while DeepSeek-V3 0324 was released on 2025-03-25.

DeepSeek-V3 0324 is 11 months newer than DeepSeek-V2.5.

DeepSeek-V2.5

May 8, 2024

2.1 years ago

DeepSeek-V3 0324

Mar 25, 2025

1.3 years ago

10mo 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-V2.5 is available from DeepSeek, DeepInfra, Hyperbolic. DeepSeek-V3 0324 is available from Novita.

DeepSeek-V2.5

deepseek logo
DeepSeek
Input Price:Input: $0.14/1MOutput Price:Output: $0.28/1M
deepinfra logo
Deepinfra
Input Price:Input: $0.70/1MOutput Price:Output: $1.40/1M
hyperbolic logo
Hyperbolic
Input Price:Input: $2.00/1MOutput Price:Output: $2.00/1M

DeepSeek-V3 0324

novita logo
Novita
Input Price:Input: $0.28/1MOutput Price:Output: $1.14/1M
* Prices shown are per million tokens

Outputs Comparison

Notice missing or incorrect data?Start an Issue discussion→

Key Takeaways

DeepSeek
Less expensive input tokens
Less expensive output tokens
DeepSeek
Larger context window (163,840 tokens)

Detailed Comparison

Interactive Arena

Judge for yourself.

Run your own prompts against DeepSeek-V2.5 and DeepSeek-V3 0324 side-by-side, then vote on the output you prefer.

DeepSeek-V2.5
✓ Preferred
DeepSeek-V3 0324
Open in Playground
AI Model Comparison Table
Feature
DeepSeek
DeepSeek-V2.5
DeepSeek
DeepSeek-V3 0324

FAQ

Common questions about DeepSeek-V2.5 vs DeepSeek-V3 0324.

Which is better, DeepSeek-V2.5 or DeepSeek-V3 0324?

DeepSeek-V2.5 (DeepSeek) and DeepSeek-V3 0324 (DeepSeek) 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-V2.5 compare to DeepSeek-V3 0324 in benchmarks?

DeepSeek-V2.5 scores GSM8k: 95.1%, MT-Bench: 90.2%, HumanEval: 89.0%, BBH: 84.3%, AlignBench: 80.4%. DeepSeek-V3 0324 scores MATH-500: 94.0%, MMLU-Pro: 81.2%, GPQA: 68.4%, AIME 2024: 59.4%, LiveCodeBench: 49.2%.

Is DeepSeek-V2.5 cheaper than DeepSeek-V3 0324?

DeepSeek-V2.5 is 2.0x cheaper for input tokens. DeepSeek-V2.5 costs $0.14/M input and $0.28/M output via deepseek. DeepSeek-V3 0324 costs $0.28/M input and $1.14/M output via novita.

What are the context window sizes for DeepSeek-V2.5 and DeepSeek-V3 0324?

DeepSeek-V2.5 supports 8K tokens and DeepSeek-V3 0324 supports 164K tokens. A larger context window lets you process longer documents, conversations, or codebases in a single request.

What are the main differences between DeepSeek-V2.5 and DeepSeek-V3 0324?

Key differences include context window (8K vs 164K), input pricing ($0.14 vs $0.28/M), licensing (deepseek vs MIT + Model License (Commercial use allowed)). See the full comparison above for benchmark-by-benchmark results.

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