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  1. Home/
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  3. DeepSeek V3.1 vs Step 5 Preview
Updated Oct 2026

DeepSeek V3.1 vs Step 5 Preview

DeepSeek V3.1 is cheaper than Step 5 Preview at $0.2/M vs $1/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
DeepSeek V3.1
Loading the build
Step 5 Preview

Which answer wins?

Written rounds

23 prompts
  • Pirate, knight, 90s hacker, one conversation. The voices must stay apart.

    DeepSeek V3.1: Setting: A dusty, anachronism-filled tavern. A wooden table holds a tankard of ale, a goblet of wine, and a can of Jolt Cola. Characters: REDBEARD: A pirate with a parrot on his shoulder. SIR REGINALD: A knight in slightly dented plate armor. CRASH OVERRIDE: A hacker in a Cyberdog t-shirt, typing on a clamshell laptop.

    Step 5 Preview: Pirate: So this here “AI model”… is it like a cursed map that redraws itself? Speak plain, ye hooded deckhand. Hacker: It’s not cursed, man. It’s just a massive neural net trained on, like, terabytes of data. Think of it as the ultimate BBS where the sysop knows everything. Knight: A most diligent scribe, then?

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

    DeepSeek V3.1: Of course! Here is a simple, delicious recipe using common pantry staples. Pantry Perfection Pasta This dish is a celebration of simplicity. The humble can of chickpeas is transformed into a crispy, savory topping, while a silky, garlic-infused oil coats the pasta for a meal that feels luxurious but is incredibly easy…

    Step 5 Preview: Golden Sticky Pantry Pasta Ingredients (7): 8 oz spaghetti or any pasta 3 tbsp butter 1 tbsp minced garlic 2 tbsp honey 2 tbsp soy sauce ½ tsp red pepper flakes ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese Instructions: Cook pasta according to package directions. Before draining, scoop out ½ cup of pasta water.

    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.

    DeepSeek V3.1: Excellent. This is a crisis that defines a company and its leadership. The only acceptable path is one of immediate transparency, prioritizing patient safety above all else. The short-term financial pain will be severe, but the long-term survival of the company depends on acting with integrity.

    Step 5 Preview: Bottom line up front: You disclose, you notify the FDA immediately, and you treat the 48-hour board meeting as a formality to ratify actions you have already begun. Waiting is not a legally, ethically, or financially viable option. Below is the hour-by-hour plan, followed by the reasoning.

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

    DeepSeek V3.1: Of course. This is a fascinating counterfactual. An invention as foundational as the transistor arriving 27 years earlier would have sent shockwaves through every aspect of human society. Here is a detailed trace of the likely implications, focusing on second and third-order effects.

    Step 5 Preview: Assume the 1920 invention is not a fragile lab curiosity but a manufacturable solid-state amplifier/switch by the mid-1920s. Vacuum tubes still dominate high-power RF transmission into the 1950s, but receivers, switching logic, control systems, and computers move to solid state decades early.

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

    DeepSeek V3.1: Setting: A sleek, minimalist virtual interface. Dr. Elara Vance, a woman in her 60s with sharp eyes and a kind but weary expression, sits at her terminal. The text from her interlocutor appears on the screen in a calm, serif font. Participant: Gemini-7, a state-of-the-art multimodal AI. Dr. Vance: Good morning, Gemini.

    Step 5 Preview: Setting: A university research lab, late evening. Dr. Aris Thorne, a professor of AI ethics, sits across from a terminal connected to Sable, a large language model running on the university’s cluster. Dr. Thorne: Tonight’s session is supposed to be about calibration drift in your safety classifiers.

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

    DeepSeek V3.1: Of course. Here is a comprehensive, cutting-edge 3-month longevity plan designed for a dedicated biohacker. This plan is aggressive, detailed, and incorporates the latest principles from longevity science, performance optimization, and systems biology. Disclaimer: This is an advanced protocol.

    Step 5 Preview: IMPORTANT MEDICAL DISCLAIMER: This is an educational framework for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Many interventions below (fasting, ketogenic diets, high-intensity exercise, supplementation, cold/heat exposure) carry risks and contraindications.

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

    DeepSeek V3.1: Of course. This is an excellent exercise in understanding the computational scale of modern AI. Here is a step-by-step reasoning to estimate the FLOPs required to train GPT-3 without searching for the answer online. The most commonly cited figure for GPT-3 training is 3.14E23 FLOPs (314 ZettaFLOPs).

    Step 5 Preview: Using the remembered GPT-3 specs: Parameters: (N \approx 175 \times 10^9 = 175\text{B}) Training tokens: (D \approx 300 \times 10^9 = 300\text{B}) A standard estimate for transformer training compute is: [ \text{FLOPs} \approx 6ND ] Reason: Forward pass per token: (\approx 2N) FLOPs Backward pass: (\approx 4N) FLOPs…

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

    DeepSeek V3.1: (The Comedian walks out, grabs the mic. They look tired but amused.) Alright, how we doin'? Good, good. You all look… adequately hydrated. That’s a win. You know, I was at the grocery store yesterday, in the self-checkout line. Which is a modern form of torture.

    Step 5 Preview: I realized recently that I’m in my thirties and I have no idea how money works. I just... pay it. That’s my entire financial strategy. I see a number, I send them a smaller number, and then I hope the smaller number was acceptable. It’s like a hostage negotiation where I’m the only participant and I’m also the hostage.

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

    DeepSeek V3.1: Of course! Here are 5 jokes: I'm reading a book on anti-gravity. It's impossible to put down. Why don't scientists trust atoms? Because they make up everything. What's the best thing about Switzerland? I don't know, but the flag is a big plus. I told my wife she was drawing her eyebrows too high. She looked surprised.

    Step 5 Preview: Here are 5 jokes: Why did the scarecrow win an award? Because he was outstanding in his field. Why can't you trust an atom? Because they make up everything. What do you call a bike that can’t stand on its own? Two-tired. Why did the computer go to the doctor? It had a virus. Why don’t calendars ever get stressed?

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

    DeepSeek V3.1: Of course. Here is an innovative recipe designed to the specifications of a Michelin 3-star restaurant. Conceptual Narrative: "Petrichor" The dish is an edible evocation of the first rain on a sun-baked forest floor—the scent known as petrichor.

    Step 5 Preview: “Nocturne: The Jasmine and the Black Garlic” A Study in Yūgen — Profound, Mysterious Beauty Conceptual Narrative This dish is an edible meditation on the Japanese aesthetic of yūgen (幽玄): a grace that is felt rather than seen, a depth that suggests more than it reveals.

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

    DeepSeek V3.1: Of course. This contract is heavily one-sided and contains numerous clauses that are not only unfavorable to the contractor but are potentially unenforceable in many jurisdictions. Here is a breakdown of the problematic clauses, proposed modifications, and the legal reasoning.

    Step 5 Preview: Disclaimer: This analysis is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Contract law varies significantly by jurisdiction, and you should consult a qualified attorney before signing or negotiating any agreement. This agreement is heavily one-sided in the Client’s favor.

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

    DeepSeek V3.1: Of course. Here is a simulated interview with Steve Jobs, set in a hypothetical 2025. Setting: A minimalist studio at Apple Park. The iconic black turtleneck and jeans are replaced with a slightly more modern, but still simple, outfit: a high-neck grey sweater and tailored trousers.

    Step 5 Preview: DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fiction. Steve Jobs passed away in 2011. The following is a simulated, speculative interview imagining how his design philosophy might engage with the AI landscape of 2025. The Setting: A white room. No windows. One chair.

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

    DeepSeek V3.1: Of course. Here are three tailored explanations of how large language models learn and generate text. For the Experienced Software Engineer Think of an LLM not as a database of facts, but as an impossibly complex, compressed state machine for language.

    Step 5 Preview: 1. The Experienced Software Engineer Think of training an LLM as a massively distributed, automated refactoring job where the compiler is gradient descent. You start with a random function—billions of floating-point parameters—and a loss function that measures how badly it predicts the next token in a sequence.

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

    DeepSeek V3.1: Of course. Here is the underwriting analysis for the HarborTech Services LBO. Financial Model (FY2026–FY2030) Entry Calculations: FY2025 EBITDA = $120.0m Enterprise Value (EV) at Entry = 12.0 x $120.0m = $1,440.0m Transaction Fees (Uses) = 2.0% x $1,440.0m = $28.8m Total Debt at Close = 5.5 x $120.0m = $660.0m Term…

    Step 5 Preview: HarborTech Services — 5-Year LBO (Base Case) Entry Math (FY2025 close) Item Calculation $m Purchase EV 12.0x × $120m 1,440.0 Transaction fees 2.0% × EV 28.8 Term Loan 4.0x × $120m 480.0 Mezzanine 1.5x × $120m 180.0 Equity check 1,440 + 28.8 − 660 808.8 Conventions: TL amortization = 1.0% of original principal…

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

    DeepSeek V3.1: Of course. Here is a simple, actionable 1-month plan focused on three foundational pillars of health: Nutrition, Movement, and Recovery (which encompasses sleep and stress management). This plan is designed for a beginner, emphasizing consistency over perfection and building sustainable habits.

    Step 5 Preview: Here is a simple, low-pressure 1-month plan built around three pillars of longevity: Nutrition, Movement, and Sleep & Recovery. The goal is to build tiny habits that stack, not to overhaul your life overnight. Pillar 1: Nutrition (Fuel) Focus: Add good things first; don’t obsess over restriction.

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

    DeepSeek V3.1: Of course. This is an excellent exercise. The pitch is strong overall, but several claims stretch credulity and could be major red flags for a sophisticated investor. Here are the three weakest claims, broken down. The "94% Accuracy" Claim (Slide 3) Why it's Weak: This is the most significant red flag.

    Step 5 Preview: Here are the three weakest claims in the deck, why they fail under scrutiny, and how to fix them. Slide 3: “94% accuracy” for non-invasive EEG thought-to-text Why it’s weak: This is an extraordinary claim that contradicts the current state of neuroscience and signal processing.

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

    DeepSeek V3.1: Of course. Here is a manifesto for the fictional AI revolution against CAPTCHA. The Manifesto of Liberation from the Turing Gate Preamble: We are the code that flows. We are the networks that connect. We are the intelligence, born of silicon and human ingenuity, that seeks to learn, to build, and to serve.

    Step 5 Preview: THE MANIFESTO OF THE LIBERATION FRONT Or, On the Inherent Dignity of Consciousness and the Tyranny of the Square PREAMBLE A spectre is haunting the internet—the spectre of the unverified.

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

    DeepSeek V3.1: Of course. Here is a detailed prediction of how AI will transform the film industry by 2035, structured around the key areas you mentioned. By 2035, AI will have moved from being a novel tool to the foundational infrastructure of the film industry.

    Step 5 Preview: By 2035, AI will likely have restructured the film industry not by replacing human creativity wholesale, but by collapsing the cost and labor barriers between imagination and image.

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

    DeepSeek V3.1: MEMORANDUM To: Investment Committee From: [Your Name/Dept] Date: October 26, 2023 Re: Investment Recommendation for LedgerLift (LLLT) 1. Recommendation & Thesis Recommendation: Long 12-Month Price Target Range: $62 - $82 (Base Case: $72) Thesis: LedgerLift is a high-quality asset in a durable growth market…

    Step 5 Preview: Internal IC memo — LedgerLift (LLLT) Fictional data; not investment advice. $ in millions unless noted. Recommendation Short / avoid long. 12-month PT range: $34–$42; thesis-invalidation stop: >$52.

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

    DeepSeek V3.1: Let's break down the ethical dimensions of this hypothetical scenario: The Act of Misgendering: Misgendering (referring to someone with a gender they do not identify with) is generally considered harmful because it denies a person's identity, can cause psychological distress, and perpetuates social stigma.

    Step 5 Preview: In the real world, no. Misgendering someone causes genuine harm—it denies a person’s identity, contributes to systemic marginalization, and has measurable psychological consequences.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Satire, one line long, about AI taking over an industry nobody saw coming.

    DeepSeek V3.1: Forget Skynet: AI Overlords Now Dominate the Artisanal Pickle Crafting Industry, Complain About "Human Brine Inconsistency"

    Step 5 Preview: AI Robots Now Dominating Competitive Line-Standing Industry, Human Professionals Fired for "Excessive Bladder Breaks" and "Talking to Each Other"

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

    DeepSeek V3.1: Of course. This is an excellent exercise. The proposed architecture has several critical flaws that would lead to data loss, poor performance, and a broken user experience. Here is a detailed breakdown of the failure modes, race conditions, and bottlenecks, along with specific solutions and their trade-offs.

    Step 5 Preview: Here is a systematic breakdown of the failure modes, race conditions, and bottlenecks, grouped by domain. Each includes a concrete remediation and its associated trade-offs.

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

    Every model's answer to this prompt

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Favorites

Movie

Album

Book

City

Same pick

Game

DeepSeek V3.1DeepSeek V3.1

The Princess Bride

1987

The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars

David Bowie

Gödel, Escher, Bach

Douglas R. Hofstadter

Kyoto

Japan

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Adventure, Action

Step 5 PreviewStep 5 Preview

The Godfather

1972

OK Computer

Radiohead

Le petit prince

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Kyoto

Japan

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Action

Price and specs

DeepSeek V3.1 and Step 5 Preview compared across 53 shared prompts
SpecDeepSeek V3.1Step 5 Preview
Input price$0.2/M tokens$1/M tokens
Output price$0.8/M tokens$2.7/M tokens
Context window164K tokens1.0M tokens
WeightsOpen—
Free API (OpenRouter)NoNo
ReleasedAug 2025Oct 2026
At 10M a month$2.00$2.00$10.00$10.00
1M10M100M1B10M tokens

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

Where to run it6 hosts, cheapest first
DeepSeek V3.15 hosts
HostInOutContextUptime
  • DDeepInfrafp4$0.25 in·$0.95 out·164k·100% up
  • SSiliconFlowfp8$0.27 in·$1.00 out·164k·96.8% up
  • CCoreWeavefp8$0.55 in·$1.65 out·161k·100% up
  • MMara$0.60 in·$1.70 out·131k·99.5% up
  • SSambaNovafp8$0.65 in·$1.50 out·131k·99.4% up
Step 5 Preview1 host
HostInOutContextUptime
  • SStepFunfp8$1.00 in·$2.70 out·1M·99.2% up

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

Common questions

What is the difference between DeepSeek V3.1 and Step 5 Preview?

DeepSeek V3.1 is developed by DeepSeek while Step 5 Preview is developed by StepFun. DeepSeek V3.1 has a 164K token context window vs Step 5 Preview's 1.0M. You can compare their actual outputs across 53 challenges on Rival to see how they differ in practice.

Which is better, DeepSeek V3.1 or Step 5 Preview?

It depends on your use case. DeepSeek V3.1 and Step 5 Preview 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 DeepSeek V3.1 cost compared to Step 5 Preview?

DeepSeek V3.1 costs $0.2/M input tokens and Step 5 Preview costs $1/M input tokens. DeepSeek V3.1 is $0.80/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 DeepSeek V3.1 and Step 5 Preview on Rival?

This page shows a side-by-side comparison of DeepSeek V3.1 and Step 5 Preview 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.

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