Model Comparison
GPT-5.4 vs DeepSeek-R1-0528Which is better in 2026?
GPT-5.4 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks. DeepSeek-R1-0528 is 6.2x cheaper per token.
Verdict: GPT-5.4 vs DeepSeek-R1-0528 — which is better?
GPT-5.4 (by OpenAI) and DeepSeek-R1-0528 (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.
GPT-5.4 outperforms in 3 benchmarks (BrowseComp, GPQA, Humanity's Last Exam), while DeepSeek-R1-0528 is better at 0 benchmarks. GPT-5.4 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.
On price, DeepSeek-R1-0528 is roughly 6.2x cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 input/output basis, which adds up quickly at production volume.
GPT-5.4 also accepts a larger context window (1,000,000 input tokens), making it the stronger choice for long documents and large codebases.
Choose GPT-5.4 if…
- you want the strongest raw capability — it leads on 3 of 3 shared benchmarks
- you process long inputs — it offers a 1,000,000 token context window
- you want the most recent training data — it shipped Mar 2026
Choose DeepSeek-R1-0528 if…
- cost matters — it's about 6.2x cheaper per token
- you need open weights you can self-host or fine-tune
Performance Benchmarks
Comparative analysis across standard metrics
GPT-5.4 outperforms in 3 benchmarks (BrowseComp, GPQA, Humanity's Last Exam), while DeepSeek-R1-0528 is better at 0 benchmarks.
GPT-5.4 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.
Arena Performance
Human preference votes
Pricing Analysis
Price comparison per million tokens
For input processing, GPT-5.4 ($2.50/1M tokens) is 5.0x more expensive than DeepSeek-R1-0528 ($0.50/1M tokens).
For output processing, GPT-5.4 ($15.00/1M tokens) is 7.0x more expensive than DeepSeek-R1-0528 ($2.15/1M tokens).
In conclusion, GPT-5.4 is more expensive than DeepSeek-R1-0528.*
* Using a 3:1 ratio of input to output tokens
Context Window
Maximum input and output token capacity
GPT-5.4 accepts 1,000,000 input tokens compared to DeepSeek-R1-0528's 131,072 tokens. DeepSeek-R1-0528 can generate longer responses up to 131,072 tokens, while GPT-5.4 is limited to 128,000 tokens.
Input Capabilities
Supported data types and modalities
GPT-5.4 supports multimodal inputs, whereas DeepSeek-R1-0528 does not.
GPT-5.4 can handle both text and other forms of data like images, making it suitable for multimodal applications.
GPT-5.4
DeepSeek-R1-0528
License
Usage and distribution terms
GPT-5.4 is licensed under a proprietary license, while DeepSeek-R1-0528 uses MIT.
License differences may affect how you can use these models in commercial or open-source projects.
Proprietary
Closed source
MIT
Open weights
Release Timeline
When each model was launched
GPT-5.4 was released on 2026-03-05, while DeepSeek-R1-0528 was released on 2025-05-28.
GPT-5.4 is 9 months newer than DeepSeek-R1-0528.
Mar 5, 2026
3 months ago
9mo newerMay 28, 2025
1.0 years ago
Knowledge Cutoff
When training data ends
Neither model specifies a knowledge cutoff date.
Unable to compare the recency of their training data.
Provider Availability
GPT-5.4 is available from OpenAI. DeepSeek-R1-0528 is available from DeepInfra, DeepSeek, Novita.
GPT-5.4
DeepSeek-R1-0528
Outputs Comparison
Key Takeaways
GPT-5.4
View detailsOpenAI
DeepSeek-R1-0528
View detailsDeepSeek
Detailed Comparison
| Feature | | |
|---|
FAQ
Common questions about GPT-5.4 vs DeepSeek-R1-0528.