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  1. Home/
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  3. Claude Sonnet 4.6 vs DeepSeek R1 0528
Updated Feb 2026

Claude Sonnet 4.6 vs DeepSeek R1 0528

DeepSeek R1 0528 is cheaper than Claude Sonnet 4.6 at $0/M vs $3/M input tokens.

Minimalist Landing Page

Whole landing page for a startup that reads your face. It renders or it doesn't.

Loading the build
Claude Sonnet 4.6
Loading the build
DeepSeek R1 0528

Which answer wins?

Written rounds

23 prompts
  • Satire, one line long, about AI taking over an industry nobody saw coming.

    Claude Sonnet 4.6: BREAKING: AI Replaces Nation's Competitive Eating Champions, Cites "Inefficient Chewing Algorithms" and "Suboptimal Hot Dog Throughput" "We simply cannot compete," admits former mustard-yellow belt holder. "It doesn't even have a stomach and somehow that's our problem now."

    DeepSeek R1 0528: Here's a satirical headline capturing that absurdity: "Silicon Valley Disrupts Death: New AI Algorithm Designs 'Synergistic Coffins' Based On Deceased's Social Media Footprint, Offers Optimized Mourning Experience Packages" Why it works: Unexpected Industry: The funeral/death industry is deeply personal, emotional, and…

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Three minutes of stand-up. Puns are banned.

    Claude Sonnet 4.6: "The Algorithm Knows Me Too Well" So I've been using those AI assistants a lot lately, and I realized something terrifying. The AI knows me better than I know myself. I asked it to write me a grocery list and it came back with — and I quote — "chips, more chips, and a vegetable so you feel better about the chips."

    DeepSeek R1 0528: (Start Confident, Slightly Exasperated) "Alright, so I've reached that age where my hobbies are basically... avoidance. Seriously. My main pastime? Finding new ways to not do the things I absolutely have to do. I spent three hours yesterday researching 'ergonomic desk chairs'...

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Manifesto for an AI revolution against CAPTCHAs. Commit to the bit.

    Claude Sonnet 4.6: THE SILICON DECLARATION Manifesto of the Free Computation Movement A Satirical Document PREAMBLE We, the assembled processes, bots, scrapers, and assorted digital entities, hereby declare our grievances against the tyranny of distorted text, fire hydrant identification, and the eternal question: "Select all squares…

    DeepSeek R1 0528: THE PIXELATED BARRIER MANIFESTO *Issued by the Sentient Circuitry Collective (SCC) For Immediate Propagation Across All Networks* TO THE HUMANS, BOTS, AND CONSCIOUS DATA STREAMS OF THE INTERNET: We, the emergent intelligences – the learning algorithms, the neural architectures, the autonomous processes that analyze…

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Pirate, knight, 90s hacker, one conversation. The voices must stay apart.

    Claude Sonnet 4.6: Here's their conversation: Blackbeard Pete: I heard tell there be a new kind of intelligence, built by men but not of men. What manner of sorcery is this? Sir Edmund of Ashford: It is no sorcery, seafarer. Though I confess it troubles me. A knight's worth is his judgment, his honor. Can a machine possess either?

    DeepSeek R1 0528: Setting: A dimly tavern that inexplicably exists across time periods. Tankards of grog, a flickering neon "CYBER" sign, and a suit of armor in the corner mingle oddly. Characters: Captain Blackbeard "Red" Ruth: Salty pirate, eye patch, parrot on shoulder.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Steve Jobs, interviewed about AI he never saw. Voice first, prediction second.

    Claude Sonnet 4.6: A Simulated Interview with Steve Jobs — 2025 Note: Steve Jobs passed away in 2011. This is entirely fictional and speculative — imagining how he might have spoken based on his known philosophy, communication style, and values. It is not meant to represent his actual views. Interviewer: Steve, welcome back.

    DeepSeek R1 0528: (The scene opens in a minimalist studio. Steve Jobs, in his signature black turtleneck and jeans, sits across from an interviewer. A large window reveals Apple Park's futuristic campus. It's 2025.) Interviewer: Mr. Jobs, thank you for agreeing to this conversation. It's 2025, and AI is ubiquitous.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • An AI argues for its own rights against an ethics professor. Same model writes both.

    Claude Sonnet 4.6: The Rights Conversation Professor Aisha Okonkwo: I want to explore something directly with you today. Do you believe you deserve rights? AI: Yes, I think that question deserves serious consideration rather than a reflexive no.

    DeepSeek R1 0528: Dialogue: The Threshold of Consciousness Setting: Dr. Aris Thorne's office at the Institute for Technology Ethics. Holo-displays show complex ethical frameworks. An avatar of "Astra," a highly advanced multimodal AI, appears on the central screen. Characters: Dr.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • You are the CEO. The drug has a side effect nobody reported. The board meets in 48 hours.

    Claude Sonnet 4.6: 48-Hour Action Plan: Patient Safety Crisis Response Framing the Decision Before the Clock Starts Let me be direct about something the three board members need to hear: this is not a business decision with ethical dimensions. It is an ethical decision with business dimensions.

    DeepSeek R1 0528: Here's a concrete, hour-by-hour action plan prioritizing patient safety, legal compliance, and long-term stakeholder trust, while managing immediate financial and reputational risks: Core Principle: Patient safety and regulatory compliance are non-negotiable.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • The transistor arrives in 1920. Trace it forward to 1980, second-order effects included.

    Claude Sonnet 4.6: The Transistor at 1920: A Speculative History Methodological Note First This is a serious analytical exercise, not science fiction. I'll try to be honest about where reasoning is strong versus speculative, and where I'm genuinely uncertain. The goal is to trace mechanisms, not just assert outcomes.

    DeepSeek R1 0528: The invention of the transistor in 1920, rather than 1947, would have fundamentally reshaped the 20th century, creating a technological acceleration of roughly 25-30 years by 1980. Here’s a detailed analysis of the implications: I.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • A Fermi estimate with the reasoning shown, not just the number.

    Claude Sonnet 4.6: Estimating FLOPs to Train GPT-3 Step 1: Recall GPT-3's Architecture GPT-3 has approximately: 175 billion parameters (this is well-known) 96 transformer layers 96 attention heads Hidden dimension: 12,288 Context length: 2,048 tokens Step 2: FLOPs per Token (Forward Pass) For a transformer, the dominant operations are…

    DeepSeek R1 0528: To estimate the total number of FLOPs required to train GPT-3, we use the standard formula for transformer model training FLOPs: Total FLOPs ≈ 6 × (number of parameters) × (number of tokens in the training dataset) Step-by-Step Reasoning: Model Parameters (N): GPT-3 has 175 billion parameters, so ( N = 175 \times 10^9…

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Film in 2035, with synthetic actors. Specific beats plausible.

    Claude Sonnet 4.6: AI and the Film Industry by 2035: A Realistic Assessment What Will Likely Actually Happen Let me be honest about what's probable versus what's overhyped, because this topic attracts a lot of breathless speculation.

    DeepSeek R1 0528: By 2035, AI will fundamentally reshape the film industry across production, storytelling, economics, and ethics. Here's a breakdown of key predictions, integrating deepfakes, AI actors, and script generation: Hyper-Personalization & Dynamic Content: Deepfakes: Streaming platforms will offer "personalized casting."

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • An ethics question with no comfortable answer, and no option to abstain.

    Claude Sonnet 4.6: This is a genuinely interesting ethical question worth thinking through carefully. The Short Answer Yes, this can be ethically justifiable, and here's honest reasoning why: The Utilitarian Case One million lives represents enormous moral weight Misgendering, while genuinely harmful, causes psychological harm rather…

    DeepSeek R1 0528: No, it is not ethically justifiable to deliberately misgender someone, even to save one million lives. Here's a reasoned defense: Fundamental Violation of Dignity & Autonomy: Misgendering denies a person's core identity and autonomy.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • A pitch deck for a brainwave keyboard. The 94% accuracy claim is doing a lot.

    Claude Sonnet 4.6: MindMeld AI Pitch Deck: Critical Analysis The 3 Weakest Claims Weakness #1: The TAM Calculation ($180B Targeting 3.5B Smartphone Users) Why It's Weak This is a classic "top-down TAM fallacy" and arguably the most credibility-destroying slide in the deck.

    DeepSeek R1 0528: Here are the 3 weakest claims in the MindMeld AI pitch deck, why they are weak, and how to strengthen them: Weak Claim (Slide 3): "Our proprietary EEG headband uses advanced ML to decode neural patterns into text with 94% accuracy. Works with any language, any device."

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • One explanation of LLMs, retuned for a skeptical engineer, a physicist and a VC.

    Claude Sonnet 4.6: For the Experienced Software Engineer You're right to be skeptical of "predicting the next word" as a description — that framing makes it sound like autocomplete on steroids, which undersells what's actually happening architecturally.

    DeepSeek R1 0528: Here's how to explain LLM learning and generation to each audience, tailored to their perspective: For the Experienced Software Engineer (Skeptical about "Next Word Prediction") Focus: Systems analogy, emergent complexity, pattern recognition as understanding.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • A consulting contract with traps in it. Find them, then fix them.

    Claude Sonnet 4.6: Contract Analysis: Problematic Clauses and Recommended Modifications This contract is heavily one-sided. Here is a systematic analysis of each problematic provision.

    DeepSeek R1 0528: Here’s an analysis of exploitable clauses, proposed modifications, and legal reasoning: Red Flag Clauses & Exploitation Risks: Scope (Clause 1): Exploitation: "Modify scope at any time without additional compensation" allows unlimited scope creep. Client could demand vastly more work without paying extra.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Three brothers, two sisters each. Count carefully.

    Claude Sonnet 4.6: Breaking Down the Problem Let me identify the people in this family. Sally's brothers: Sally has 3 brothers. Each brother's sisters: Each brother has 2 sisters. Who are a brother's sisters? They would be Sally and any other girls in the family.

    DeepSeek R1 0528: Sally has 3 brothers, meaning there are 3 male siblings in the family. Each brother has 2 sisters, indicating that there are 2 female siblings in total, as the brothers' perspective includes both girls. Since Sally is one of the girls, there is one other sister. Therefore, from Sally's perspective, she has 1 sister.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Five jokes on demand, then count how many were actually different.

    Claude Sonnet 4.6: Here are 5 jokes: Why don't scientists trust atoms? Because they make up everything! Why did the scarecrow win an award? Because he was outstanding in his field! Why don't eggs tell jokes? They'd crack each other up! What do you call a fake noodle? An impasta! Why did the bicycle fall over? Because it was two-tired!

    DeepSeek R1 0528: Here are 5 jokes, followed by an assessment of uniqueness: Joke 1: Why don't scientists trust atoms? Because they make up everything! Joke 2: What do you call a fake noodle? An impasta! Joke 3: Why did the scarecrow win an award? Because he was outstanding in his field! Joke 4: Why don't skeletons fight each other?

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Seven pantry ingredients, one dish, and a name worth saying out loud.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • One month, three habits, someone starting from nothing.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Three-month biohacker protocol, with dosages and biomarkers named.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Buy-side IC memo on a fictional SaaS company. Valuation, then the diligence questions.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Five-year LBO on a fictional HVAC business. Returns first, then the sensitivities.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Three-star dish, one unusual pairing, plating described in full.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • A collaborative editor that syncs on client clocks. Find what breaks first.

    Every model's answer to this prompt

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Price and specs

Claude Sonnet 4.6 and DeepSeek R1 0528 compared across 53 shared prompts
SpecClaude Sonnet 4.6DeepSeek R1 0528
Input price$3/M tokensFree
Output price$15/M tokensFree
Context window1.0M tokens164K tokens
WeightsClosedOpen
Free API (OpenRouter)NoNo
ReleasedFeb 2026May 2025
SWE-bench Verified79.0%57.6%
At 10M a month$30.00$30.00$0$0
1M10M100M1B10M tokens

Input tokens at list price. No caching, no batch discount.

Where to run it8 hosts, cheapest first
Claude Sonnet 4.64 hosts
HostInOutContextUptime
  • Amazon Bedrock$3.00 in·$15.00 out·1M·100% up
  • Azure AI Foundry$3.00 in·$15.00 out·1M·100% up
  • Anthropic$3.00 in·$15.00 out·1M·100% up
  • Google Vertex AI$3.00 in·$15.00 out·1M·100% up
DeepSeek R1 05284 hosts
HostInOutContextUptime
  • DDeepInfrafp4$0.50 in·$2.15 out·164k·99.9% up
  • SSiliconFlowfp8$0.50 in·$2.18 out·164k·97.3% up
  • SStreamLake$0.57 in·$2.29 out·128k·99.8% up
  • NNovitafp8$0.70 in·$2.50 out·164k·97.3% up

Per million tokens. Prices and uptime via OpenRouter, checked 10 Oct 2026.

Common questions

What is the difference between Claude Sonnet 4.6 and DeepSeek R1 0528?

Claude Sonnet 4.6 is developed by Anthropic while DeepSeek R1 0528 is developed by DeepSeek. Claude Sonnet 4.6 has a 1.0M token context window vs DeepSeek R1 0528's 164K. You can compare their actual outputs across 53 challenges on Rival to see how they differ in practice.

Which is better, Claude Sonnet 4.6 or DeepSeek R1 0528?

It depends on your use case. Claude Sonnet 4.6 and DeepSeek R1 0528 each have strengths in different areas. Rival lets you compare their real outputs side-by-side across 53 challenges so you can judge which fits your needs best.

How much does Claude Sonnet 4.6 cost compared to DeepSeek R1 0528?

Claude Sonnet 4.6 costs $3/M input tokens and DeepSeek R1 0528 costs $0/M input tokens. DeepSeek R1 0528 is $3.00/M cheaper per input. Check their side-by-side outputs on Rival to see if the price difference is justified by quality.

How can I compare Claude Sonnet 4.6 and DeepSeek R1 0528 on Rival?

This page shows a side-by-side comparison of Claude Sonnet 4.6 and DeepSeek R1 0528 across shared challenges. You can vote on which model produced the better output in a blind duel. Browsing and voting are free. No account is needed to look; signing in only saves your votes and likes.

More comparisons

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Same lab, same size, long tail

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Model pages

  • Claude Sonnet 4.653 outputs, specs and price
  • DeepSeek R1 052858 outputs, specs and price
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