DeepSeek-V4.1-Flash vs Gemini 3.8 Flash
DeepSeek-V4.1-Flash and Gemini 3.8 Flash are closely matched at 51.8 and 50.6 on the LLM Stats Score. DeepSeek-V4.1-Flash is 4.5x cheaper per token.
DeepSeek · Google · Updated for 2026
Which is better?
DeepSeek-V4.1-Flash and Gemini 3.8 Flash are closely matched on the overall LLM Stats Score at 51.8 and 50.6.
In the 3 individual benchmarks reported for both models, DeepSeek-V4.1-Flash wins 3; this is a narrower head-to-head signal than the composite indexes.
On price, DeepSeek-V4.1-Flash is roughly 4.5x cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 input/output basis, which adds up quickly at production volume.
Gemini 3.8 Flash also accepts a larger context window (1,048,576 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-V4.1-Flash
- you value its reported benchmark strengths — it wins 3 of 3 exact shared results
- cost matters — it's about 4.5x cheaper per token
- you want the most recent training data — it shipped Sep 2026
- you need open weights you can self-host or fine-tune
Choose Gemini 3.8 Flash
- you process long inputs — it offers a 1,048,576 token context window
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-V4.1-Flash · 13 for Gemini 3.8 Flash
DeepSeek-V4.1-Flash outperforms in 3 benchmarks (DeepSWE 1.1, Terminal-Bench 2.1, Terminal-Bench 4.0), while Gemini 3.8 Flash is better at 0 benchmarks.
DeepSeek-V4.1-Flash 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-V4.1-Flash ($0.22/1M tokens) is 3.4x cheaper than Gemini 3.8 Flash ($0.75/1M tokens).
For output processing, DeepSeek-V4.1-Flash ($0.66/1M tokens) is 5.7x cheaper than Gemini 3.8 Flash ($3.75/1M tokens).
In conclusion, Gemini 3.8 Flash is more expensive than DeepSeek-V4.1-Flash.*
* Using a 3:1 ratio of input to output tokens
Context Window
Maximum input and output token capacity
Gemini 3.8 Flash accepts 1,048,576 input tokens compared to DeepSeek-V4.1-Flash's 1,040,000 tokens. DeepSeek-V4.1-Flash can generate longer responses up to 393,216 tokens, while Gemini 3.8 Flash is limited to 65,536 tokens.
Input capabilities
Documented input modalities across available providers
Both DeepSeek-V4.1-Flash and Gemini 3.8 Flash support multimodal inputs.
They are both capable of processing various types of data, offering versatility in application.
DeepSeek-V4.1-Flash
Gemini 3.8 Flash
License
Usage and distribution terms
DeepSeek-V4.1-Flash is licensed under MIT, while Gemini 3.8 Flash 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-V4.1-Flash was released on 2026-09-10, while Gemini 3.8 Flash was released on 2026-09-02.
DeepSeek-V4.1-Flash is 0 month newer than Gemini 3.8 Flash.
Sep 10, 2026
0 days ago
1w newerSep 2, 2026
1 weeks ago
Knowledge Cutoff
When training data ends
Gemini 3.8 Flash has a documented knowledge cutoff of 2026-03-31, while DeepSeek-V4.1-Flash's cutoff date is not specified.
We can confirm Gemini 3.8 Flash's training data extends to 2026-03-31, but cannot make a direct comparison without DeepSeek-V4.1-Flash's cutoff date.
—
Mar 2026
Provider Availability
DeepSeek-V4.1-Flash is available from Fireworks, DeepInfra, DeepSeek, Novita. Gemini 3.8 Flash is available from Google.
DeepSeek-V4.1-Flash
Gemini 3.8 Flash
Outputs Comparison
Judge for yourself.
Run your own prompts against DeepSeek-V4.1-Flash and Gemini 3.8 Flash side-by-side, then vote on the output you prefer.
FAQ
Common questions about DeepSeek-V4.1-Flash vs Gemini 3.8 Flash.