DeepSeek-V3 vs GPT-4o mini
DeepSeek-V3 leads the LLM Stats Score 15.8 to 3.9. GPT-4o mini is 1.8x cheaper per token.
DeepSeek · OpenAI · Updated for 2026
Which is better?
DeepSeek-V3 leads the overall LLM Stats Score 15.8 to 3.9, ranking #214 overall.
In the 4 individual benchmarks reported for both models, DeepSeek-V3 wins 4; this is a narrower head-to-head signal than the composite indexes.
On price, GPT-4o mini is roughly 1.8x cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 input/output basis, which adds up quickly at production volume.
DeepSeek-V3 also accepts a larger context window (131,072 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
- overall performance matters — it scores 15.8 and ranks #214 on LLM Stats
- your work emphasizes reasoning — it leads those capability indexes
- you value its reported benchmark strengths — it wins 4 of 4 exact shared results
- you process long inputs — it offers a 131,072 token context window
- you want the most recent training data — it shipped Dec 2024
- you need open weights you can self-host or fine-tune
Choose GPT-4o mini
- cost matters — it's about 1.8x cheaper per token
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 · 9 for GPT-4o mini
DeepSeek-V3 outperforms in 4 benchmarks (DROP, GPQA, MMLU, SWE-Bench Verified), while GPT-4o mini is better at 0 benchmarks.
DeepSeek-V3 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 1.8x more expensive than GPT-4o mini ($0.15/1M tokens).
For output processing, DeepSeek-V3 ($1.10/1M tokens) is 1.8x more expensive than GPT-4o mini ($0.60/1M tokens).
In conclusion, DeepSeek-V3 is more expensive than GPT-4o mini.*
* Using a 3:1 ratio of input to output tokens
Context Window
Maximum input and output token capacity
DeepSeek-V3 accepts 131,072 input tokens compared to GPT-4o mini's 128,000 tokens. DeepSeek-V3 can generate longer responses up to 131,072 tokens, while GPT-4o mini is limited to 16,384 tokens.
Input capabilities
Documented input modalities across available providers
GPT-4o mini supports multimodal inputs, whereas DeepSeek-V3 does not.
GPT-4o mini can handle both text and other forms of data like images, making it suitable for multimodal applications.
DeepSeek-V3
GPT-4o mini
License
Usage and distribution terms
DeepSeek-V3 is licensed under MIT + Model License (Commercial use allowed), while GPT-4o mini 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-4o mini was released on 2024-07-18.
DeepSeek-V3 is 5 months newer than GPT-4o mini.
Dec 25, 2024
1.7 years ago
5mo newerJul 18, 2024
2.1 years ago
Knowledge Cutoff
When training data ends
GPT-4o mini has a documented knowledge cutoff of 2023-10-01, while DeepSeek-V3's cutoff date is not specified.
We can confirm GPT-4o mini's training data extends to 2023-10-01, but cannot make a direct comparison without DeepSeek-V3's cutoff date.
—
Oct 2023
Provider Availability
DeepSeek-V3 is available from DeepSeek. GPT-4o mini is available from Azure.
DeepSeek-V3
GPT-4o mini
Outputs Comparison
Judge for yourself.
Run your own prompts against DeepSeek-V3 and GPT-4o mini side-by-side, then vote on the output you prefer.
FAQ
Common questions about DeepSeek-V3 vs GPT-4o mini.