DeepSeek R1 vs o3
Detailed pricing comparison and cost analysis.
Updated September 2026
Cost Simulator
| Feature | DeepSeek R1 | o3 |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | DeepSeek | OpenAI |
| Input Price (1M) | $0.28 | $2.00 |
| Output Price (1M) | $0.42 | $8.00 |
| Context Window | 64,000 | 200,000 |
Verdict
DeepSeek R1 costs $0.28 per 1M input tokens and $0.42 per 1M output tokens. o3 costs $2.00 per 1M input tokens and $8.00 per 1M output tokens. DeepSeek R1 is 86% cheaper on input tokens than o3. For output tokens, DeepSeek R1 is the more affordable option at $0.42/1M vs $8.00.
On context window, o3 supports 200,000 tokens — meaning it can fit more conversation history, documents, or code in a single request. This matters for RAG pipelines, long document analysis, and agentic workflows where context builds up over many turns.
When to choose DeepSeek R1
- ✓ You need the lowest input token cost ($ 0.28/1M)
- ✓ Your workload is output-heavy — DeepSeek R1 generates text cheaper
- ✓ You are already integrated with DeepSeek
When to choose o3
- ✓ You need a larger context window (200,000 tokens)
- ✓ You are already integrated with OpenAI
Use the calculator above to simulate your specific workload and find the exact break-even point. For most applications, the cheapest model is the one that minimises your total monthly bill given your input-to-output token ratio.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is DeepSeek R1 cheaper than o3? ▼
DeepSeek R1 is cheaper on input tokens at $0.28/1M vs $2.00/1M for o3 — a 86% saving.
What is the context window of DeepSeek R1 vs o3? ▼
DeepSeek R1 has a 64,000-token context window. o3 has a 200,000-token context window. o3 supports the larger context, suitable for longer documents and agentic workflows.
Which model is better: DeepSeek R1 or o3? ▼
The best choice depends on your use case. For cost efficiency on input tokens, DeepSeek R1 is the cheaper option. For maximum context length, o3 supports 200,000 tokens. Use the comparison table above to find the right fit for your workload.