Model Comparison

DeepSeek-V3 vs DeepSeek-V4-Flash-0731Which is better in 2026?

Comparing DeepSeek-V3 and DeepSeek-V4-Flash-0731 across benchmarks, pricing, and capabilities.

Verdict: DeepSeek-V3 vs DeepSeek-V4-Flash-0731 — which is better?

DeepSeek-V3 (by DeepSeek) and DeepSeek-V4-Flash-0731 (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-V4-Flash-0731 is roughly 4.2x cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 input/output basis, which adds up quickly at production volume.

DeepSeek-V4-Flash-0731 also accepts a larger context window (1,048,576 input tokens), making it the stronger choice for long documents and large codebases.

Choose DeepSeek-V3 if…

  • you want predictable pricing at $0.27/M input and $1.10/M output

Choose DeepSeek-V4-Flash-0731 if…

  • cost matters — it's about 4.2x cheaper per token
  • you process long inputs — it offers a 1,048,576 token context window
  • you want the most recent training data — it shipped Jul 2026

Performance Benchmarks

Comparative analysis across standard metrics

No common benchmarks found

DeepSeek-V3 and DeepSeek-V4-Flash-0731don'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-V4-Flash-0731 costs less

For input processing, DeepSeek-V3 ($0.27/1M tokens) is 3.0x more expensive than DeepSeek-V4-Flash-0731 ($0.09/1M tokens).

For output processing, DeepSeek-V3 ($1.10/1M tokens) is 6.1x more expensive than DeepSeek-V4-Flash-0731 ($0.18/1M tokens).

In conclusion, DeepSeek-V3 is more expensive than DeepSeek-V4-Flash-0731.*

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

Lowest available price from all providers
Mon Aug 03 2026 • llm-stats.com
DeepSeek
DeepSeek-V3
Input tokens$0.27
Output tokens$1.10
Best providerDeepSeek
DeepSeek
DeepSeek-V4-Flash-0731
Input tokens$0.09
Output tokens$0.18
Best providerDeepinfra
Notice missing or incorrect data?Start an Issue→

Model Size

Parameter count comparison

367.0B diff

DeepSeek-V3 has 367.0B more parameters than DeepSeek-V4-Flash-0731, making it 120.7% larger.

DeepSeek
DeepSeek-V3
671.0Bparameters
DeepSeek
DeepSeek-V4-Flash-0731
304.0Bparameters
671.0B
DeepSeek-V3
304.0B
DeepSeek-V4-Flash-0731

Context Window

Maximum input and output token capacity

DeepSeek-V4-Flash-0731 accepts 1,048,576 input tokens compared to DeepSeek-V3's 131,072 tokens. DeepSeek-V3 can generate longer responses up to 131,072 tokens, while DeepSeek-V4-Flash-0731 is limited to 65,536 tokens.

DeepSeek
DeepSeek-V3
Input131,072 tokens
Output131,072 tokens
DeepSeek
DeepSeek-V4-Flash-0731
Input1,048,576 tokens
Output65,536 tokens
Mon Aug 03 2026 • llm-stats.com

License

Usage and distribution terms

DeepSeek-V3 is licensed under MIT + Model License (Commercial use allowed), while DeepSeek-V4-Flash-0731 uses MIT.

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

DeepSeek-V3

MIT + Model License (Commercial use allowed)

Open weights

DeepSeek-V4-Flash-0731

MIT

Open weights

Release Timeline

When each model was launched

DeepSeek-V3 was released on 2024-12-25, while DeepSeek-V4-Flash-0731 was released on 2026-07-31.

DeepSeek-V4-Flash-0731 is 19 months newer than DeepSeek-V3.

DeepSeek-V3

Dec 25, 2024

1.6 years ago

DeepSeek-V4-Flash-0731

Jul 31, 2026

3 days ago

1.6yr 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-V3 is available from DeepSeek. DeepSeek-V4-Flash-0731 is available from DeepInfra, Fireworks, Novita.

DeepSeek-V3

deepseek logo
DeepSeek
Input Price:Input: $0.27/1MOutput Price:Output: $1.10/1M

DeepSeek-V4-Flash-0731

deepinfra logo
Deepinfra
Input Price:Input: $0.09/1MOutput Price:Output: $0.18/1M
fireworks logo
Fireworks
Input Price:Input: $0.14/1MOutput Price:Output: $0.28/1M
novita logo
Novita
Input Price:Input: $0.14/1MOutput Price:Output: $0.28/1M
* Prices shown are per million tokens

Outputs Comparison

Notice missing or incorrect data?Start an Issue discussion→

Key Takeaways

DeepSeek

No standout differentiators in the data we have for this pair.

DeepSeek
Larger context window (1,048,576 tokens)
Less expensive input tokens
Less expensive output tokens

Detailed Comparison

Interactive Arena

Judge for yourself.

Run your own prompts against DeepSeek-V3 and DeepSeek-V4-Flash-0731 side-by-side, then vote on the output you prefer.

DeepSeek-V3
✓ Preferred
DeepSeek-V4-Flash-0731
Open in Playground
AI Model Comparison Table
Feature
DeepSeek
DeepSeek-V3
DeepSeek
DeepSeek-V4-Flash-0731

FAQ

Common questions about DeepSeek-V3 vs DeepSeek-V4-Flash-0731.

Which is better, DeepSeek-V3 or DeepSeek-V4-Flash-0731?

DeepSeek-V3 (DeepSeek) and DeepSeek-V4-Flash-0731 (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-V3 compare to DeepSeek-V4-Flash-0731 in benchmarks?

DeepSeek-V3 scores DROP: 91.6%, CLUEWSC: 90.9%, MATH-500: 90.2%, MMLU-Redux: 89.1%, MMLU: 88.5%. DeepSeek-V4-Flash-0731 scores Terminal-Bench 2.1: 82.7%, CyberGym: 76.7%, Toolathlon: 70.3%, DSBench-FullStack: 68.7%, DSBench-Hard: 59.6%.

Is DeepSeek-V3 cheaper than DeepSeek-V4-Flash-0731?

DeepSeek-V4-Flash-0731 is 3.0x cheaper for input tokens. DeepSeek-V3 costs $0.27/M input and $1.10/M output via deepseek. DeepSeek-V4-Flash-0731 costs $0.09/M input and $0.18/M output via deepinfra.

What are the context window sizes for DeepSeek-V3 and DeepSeek-V4-Flash-0731?

DeepSeek-V3 supports 131K tokens and DeepSeek-V4-Flash-0731 supports 1.0M tokens. A larger context window lets you process longer documents, conversations, or codebases in a single request.

What are the main differences between DeepSeek-V3 and DeepSeek-V4-Flash-0731?

Key differences include context window (131K vs 1.0M), input pricing ($0.27 vs $0.09/M), licensing (MIT + Model License (Commercial use allowed) vs MIT). See the full comparison above for benchmark-by-benchmark results.

Related comparisons