DeepSeek-V3 vs GPT-4.1
DeepSeek-V3 and GPT-4.1 are closely matched at 15.8 and 18.4 on the LLM Stats Score. DeepSeek-V3 is 7.3x cheaper per token.
DeepSeek · OpenAI · Updated for 2026
Which is better?
DeepSeek-V3 and GPT-4.1 are closely matched on the overall LLM Stats Score at 15.8 and 18.4.
In the 7 individual benchmarks reported for both models, GPT-4.1 wins 6; this is a narrower head-to-head signal than the composite indexes.
On price, DeepSeek-V3 is roughly 7.3x cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 input/output basis, which adds up quickly at production volume.
GPT-4.1 also accepts a larger context window (1,047,576 input tokens), making it the stronger choice for long documents and large codebases.
Based on current LLM Stats indexes, shared benchmarks, pricing, and model metadata for 2026.
Choose DeepSeek-V3
- cost matters — it's about 7.3x cheaper per token
- you need open weights you can self-host or fine-tune
Choose GPT-4.1
- you value its reported benchmark strengths — it wins 6 of 7 exact shared results
- you process long inputs — it offers a 1,047,576 token context window
- you want the most recent training data — it shipped Apr 2025
At a glance
The differences that matter most.
Capability indexes
Additional strengths measured across groups of related public benchmarks
Individual benchmarks
20 reported for DeepSeek-V3 · 29 for GPT-4.1
DeepSeek-V3 outperforms in 1 benchmarks (Aider-Polyglot Edit), while GPT-4.1 is better at 6 benchmarks (Aider-Polyglot, AIME 2024, GPQA, IFEval, MMLU, SWE-Bench Verified).
GPT-4.1 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.
Human preference
Blind head-to-head votes and playground preference scores
Pricing Analysis
Price comparison per million tokens
For input processing, DeepSeek-V3 ($0.27/1M tokens) is 7.4x cheaper than GPT-4.1 ($2.00/1M tokens).
For output processing, DeepSeek-V3 ($1.10/1M tokens) is 7.3x cheaper than GPT-4.1 ($8.00/1M tokens).
In conclusion, GPT-4.1 is more expensive than DeepSeek-V3.*
* Using a 3:1 ratio of input to output tokens
Context Window
Maximum input and output token capacity
GPT-4.1 accepts 1,047,576 input tokens compared to DeepSeek-V3's 131,072 tokens. DeepSeek-V3 can generate longer responses up to 131,072 tokens, while GPT-4.1 is limited to 32,768 tokens.
Input capabilities
Documented input modalities across available providers
GPT-4.1 supports multimodal inputs, whereas DeepSeek-V3 does not.
GPT-4.1 can handle both text and other forms of data like images, making it suitable for multimodal applications.
DeepSeek-V3
GPT-4.1
License
Usage and distribution terms
DeepSeek-V3 is licensed under MIT + Model License (Commercial use allowed), while GPT-4.1 uses a proprietary license.
License differences may affect how you can use these models in commercial or open-source projects.
MIT + Model License (Commercial use allowed)
Open weights
Proprietary
Closed source
Release Timeline
When each model was launched
DeepSeek-V3 was released on 2024-12-25, while GPT-4.1 was released on 2025-04-14.
GPT-4.1 is 4 months newer than DeepSeek-V3.
Dec 25, 2024
1.7 years ago
Apr 14, 2025
1.4 years ago
3mo newerKnowledge Cutoff
When training data ends
GPT-4.1 has a documented knowledge cutoff of 2024-06-01, while DeepSeek-V3's cutoff date is not specified.
We can confirm GPT-4.1's training data extends to 2024-06-01, but cannot make a direct comparison without DeepSeek-V3's cutoff date.
—
Jun 2024
Provider Availability
DeepSeek-V3 is available from DeepSeek. GPT-4.1 is available from OpenAI.
DeepSeek-V3
GPT-4.1
Outputs Comparison
Judge for yourself.
Run your own prompts against DeepSeek-V3 and GPT-4.1 side-by-side, then vote on the output you prefer.
FAQ
Common questions about DeepSeek-V3 vs GPT-4.1.