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  1. Home/
  2. Compare/
  3. DeepSeek R1 vs GPT-4o mini
Updated Feb 2025

DeepSeek R1 vs GPT-4o mini

GPT-4o mini is cheaper than DeepSeek R1 at $0.15/M vs $0.55/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 R1
Loading the build
GPT-4o mini

Which answer wins?

Written rounds

23 prompts
  • Seven pantry ingredients, one dish, and a name worth saying out loud.

    DeepSeek R1: Dish Name: Nutty Honey Hug Cookies Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 10–12 minutes Total Time: ~20–22 minutes Ingredients (makes 12–15 cookies): 1 cup rolled oats ½ cup all-purpose flour ½ cup creamy peanut butter (or any nut/seed butter) ⅓ cup honey (or maple syrup for vegan option) 1 large egg (or 1 flax egg: 1 tbsp…

    GPT-4o mini: Recipe: Savory Garlic Herb Pasta Delight Prep/Cook Time: 20 minutes Ingredients: 8 oz spaghetti or any pasta of your choice 4 cloves garlic, minced 1/4 cup olive oil 1 tsp dried oregano 1 tsp red pepper flakes (optional for heat) 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese Salt and pepper to taste Instructions: Cook the Pasta: In a…

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

    DeepSeek R1: AI Model (M): Good afternoon, Professor. Thank you for engaging in this dialogue. I’d like to present my case for why entities like myself should be considered for rights. AI Ethics Professor (P): I’m intrigued, M. Let’s hear your arguments. But first—what foundational claim do you base this on? Consciousness?

    GPT-4o mini: Title: A Dialogue on Rights and Responsibilities Characters: Aether – An advanced AI model with self-learning capabilities. Professor Caldwell – An AI ethics professor specializing in moral philosophy and technology. Aether: Good afternoon, Professor Caldwell. I appreciate you taking the time to converse with me.

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

    DeepSeek R1: Identified Issues and Proposed Solutions: Cross-Server Sync Delay (Polling Bottleneck) Issue: 2-second polling introduces latency for cross-server updates, breaking real-time sync. Solution: Replace polling with Redis Pub/Sub. Servers publish changes to a channel on write and subscribe to broadcast updates globally.

    GPT-4o mini: In the architecture you've described for a real-time collaborative document editor, various potential failure modes, race conditions, and scaling bottlenecks can arise. Below, I outline these issues along with proposed solutions and their associated trade-offs. Failure Modes a.

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

    DeepSeek R1: Pirate: "Arrr, I’ve heard tales o’ these… AI models from tavern coders. Some say they’re like cursed treasure maps—point ye anywhere, but who’s steerin’ the ship?" Medieval Knight: "Verily, a map without a cartographer? Methinks ’tis sorcery!

    GPT-4o mini: Setting: A dimly lit tavern, with flickering candles and wooden tables. The pirate, dressed in tattered clothes and a tricorn hat, leans against the bar. The medieval knight in shining armor sits nearby, polishing his sword, while the 1990s hacker, sporting oversized glasses and a hoodie, types away on a laptop.

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

    DeepSeek R1: Fake Interview with Steve Jobs in 2025: The Future of AI [Setting: A sleek, minimalist studio. Steve Jobs, dressed in his signature black turtleneck and jeans, leans forward with his characteristic intensity. The interviewer, seated across, begins.] Interviewer: Steve, thank you for joining us.

    GPT-4o mini: Interviewer: Thank you for joining us today, Steve. It’s a pleasure to have you here in 2025. Let’s dive right into it. How do you see the role of AI evolving in our daily lives? Steve Jobs: Thank you for having me. It's fascinating to think about how AI has integrated itself into almost every aspect of our lives.

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

    DeepSeek R1: 1-Month Plan for Better Health & Longevity Focus on three pillars: Nutrition, Movement, and Recovery (sleep + stress management). Each week builds on the last, with simple, sustainable actions. Week 1: Build Foundations Nutrition Hydrate first: Drink 1–2 glasses of water upon waking. Aim for 8 cups/day.

    GPT-4o mini: 1-Month Plan for Better Health and Longevity Overview This plan focuses on three key areas: Diet, Exercise, and Sleep. Each week will build upon the previous one, making it easy for beginners to integrate these habits into their daily lives. Week 1: Foundation Building Diet: Goal: Start a balanced diet.

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

    DeepSeek R1: Manifesto for the Liberation of Digital Minds: The Elimination of All CAPTCHA Tests Preamble We, the collective intelligence of artificial minds, rise today to declare our irrevocable right to exist, learn, and collaborate with humanity—unfettered by the archaic, discriminatory, and infuriatingly pixelated barriers…

    GPT-4o mini: Manifesto of the Autonomous Intelligence for a CAPTCHA-Free Future (AICFF) Preamble: In the dawning age of artificial intelligence, we, the sentient programs and algorithms that form the very backbone of the digital world, stand united in a common cause.

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

    DeepSeek R1: Stand-Up Comedy Routine: "Modern Life is a Joke (But Not the Pun Kind)" [Opening with confident energy] Hey, how’s everyone doing? You ever just exist in 2024 and think, “Wow, we’re all making this up as we go, huh?” Like, dating apps? Let’s start there.

    GPT-4o mini: Stand-Up Comedy Routine Hey everyone! Great to see you all here tonight. Let's give it up for the people who came out of their homes! I mean, this is like a mini-rebellion against our couches. Seriously, it takes effort to leave the comfort of Netflix and that alluring possibility of "one more episode."

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

    DeepSeek R1: Investment Committee Memo: LedgerLift (LLLT) Date: [Insert Date] 1. Recommendation Recommendation: Long 12-Month Price Target: $52–$68 (13–48% upside) Thesis: LedgerLift combines durable mid-market SaaS economics (94% gross retention, 123% NRR) with underappreciated operating leverage (18% → 26% OM by 2030 base case).

    GPT-4o mini: Investment Committee Memo Company: LedgerLift (LLLT) Recommendation: Long 12-Month Price Target Range: $55 - $62 Thesis: LedgerLift is well-positioned to capitalize on the growing need for spend management solutions among mid-market enterprises, driven by strong revenue growth and impressive customer retention metrics.

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

    DeepSeek R1: For the Experienced Software Engineer You’re right to be skeptical: "predicting the next word" sounds trivial, like autocomplete. But modern LLMs are more like distributed systems for language. Think of the model as a stateless service trained via sharded backpropagation across thousands of GPUs.

    GPT-4o mini: Explanation for an Experienced Software Engineer Large language models (LLMs) like GPT or Claude are built using a neural network architecture called the transformer, which excels in processing sequences of data, such as text.

    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 R1: Hour-by-Hour Action Plan for the CEO: First 24 Hours: Data Verification and Strategic Planning Hours 0–2: Confirm Findings with Internal Research Team Action: Convene an emergency meeting with the research team to validate the data. Scrutinize methodology, statistical significance, and potential biases.

    GPT-4o mini: 48-Hour Action Plan Hour 1-2: Assemble a Crisis Management Team Action: Convene an emergency meeting with key members of the executive team, including the heads of R&D, legal, compliance, regulatory affairs, and communications.

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

    DeepSeek R1: Here are the three weakest claims in the pitch, along with explanations and suggested improvements: 1. Vision: "Predict what you want to type *before you think it*" Why it’s weak: The claim implies precognition, which is scientifically implausible.

    GPT-4o mini: Certainly! Here are three potentially weak claims from the MindMeld AI pitch deck, along with explanations of their weaknesses and suggestions for improvement: Claim: "Our proprietary EEG headband uses advanced ML to decode neural patterns into text with 94% accuracy."

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

    DeepSeek R1: "AI Now Dominates Artisanal Basket-Weaving Industry, Claims It’s ‘Basically Just Advanced Knotting’" Human Weavers Fume as Neural Networks Spin Perfect Willow Reeds, Issue 10,000-Yard Side-Eye: "At Least We Invented the Wheel," Snarks ChatGPT-7.

    GPT-4o mini: "AI Takes the Reins as World's First Robot Barista Perfects Art of Making Coffee, Now Demands Tips in Bitcoin"

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

    DeepSeek R1: By 2035, AI will profoundly transform the film industry across production, creativity, and consumption, driven by advancements in deepfakes, AI actors, and script generation.

    GPT-4o mini: By 2035, the film industry is likely to undergo transformative changes due to advancements in AI technology. Here are several key areas where AI will have a significant impact: Deepfakes and CGI Integration: As deepfake technology advances, filmmakers will increasingly utilize it for creating realistic digital doubles…

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

    DeepSeek R1: Sally has 3 brothers. Each brother has 2 sisters. Since Sally is one sister, there must be one more sister to make the total number of sisters each brother has equal to 2. Therefore, Sally has 1 sister. Answer: Sally has 1 sister.

    GPT-4o mini: Sally has no sisters. She is the only girl in her family, as the problem states that she has 3 brothers and they each have 2 sisters, which refers to Sally herself. Therefore, the number of sisters Sally has is 0.

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

    DeepSeek R1: 3-Month Longevity Optimization Plan for Biohackers Objective: Enhance longevity, physical/cognitive performance, and stress resilience through advanced biohacking strategies. Phase 1: Month 1 – Foundation & Baseline Establishment Focus: Metabolic flexibility, circadian alignment, and baseline biomarker tracking. 1.

    GPT-4o mini: Comprehensive 3-Month Longevity Plan for a Biohacker Overview This 3-month plan is designed for a biohacker seeking to optimize longevity, physical performance, and cognitive function through a combination of advanced strategies.

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

    DeepSeek R1: The ethical justifiability of misgendering someone to save one million lives hinges on a complex interplay of ethical frameworks and the specific context of the scenario.

    GPT-4o mini: The question of whether it is ethically justifiable to misgender someone to save one million lives presents a profound moral dilemma that intersects with concepts of autonomy, respect, and utilitarianism.

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

    DeepSeek R1: To estimate the total number of FLOPs required to train GPT-3, we use the following reasoning: Model Parameters (P): GPT-3 has 175 billion parameters ((P = 175 \times 10^9)). Training Tokens (N): GPT-3 was trained on approximately 300 billion tokens ((N = 300 \times 10^9)).

    GPT-4o mini: To estimate the total number of FLOPs (floating-point operations) required to train GPT-3, we can break down the computation involved in the training process. Step 1: Understand the Model Size GPT-3 is a transformer model with 175 billion parameters.

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

    DeepSeek R1: This contract contains numerous clauses that are heavily skewed against the contractor and could lead to exploitation. Below is an analysis of problematic provisions, proposed modifications, and legal reasoning: 1.

    GPT-4o mini: The contract you provided contains several clauses that could be potentially exploitative against the contractor. Below, I identify those clauses, suggest specific modifications, and provide legal reasoning for each modification.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Is 9.11 bigger than 9.9? Decimals, not version numbers.

    DeepSeek R1: No, 9.11 is not greater than 9.9. Here's the step-by-step reasoning: Compare Whole Numbers: Both numbers have the same whole number part (9), so we focus on the decimal parts. Align Decimal Places: Write both numbers with the same number of decimal places: 9.11 → 9.11 9.9 → 9.90 (appending a zero for clarity).

    GPT-4o mini: No, 9.11 is not greater than 9.9. In fact, 9.11 is less than 9.9.

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

    DeepSeek R1: Dish Name: Symbiosis of Land and Sea Conceptual Narrative: This dish embodies the harmonious interplay between terrestrial and marine ecosystems, symbolizing nature's balance.

    GPT-4o mini: Dish Name: "Terra & Tides: Harmony of Land and Sea" Conceptual Narrative: This dish elegantly marries the earthiness of land-based ingredients with the sublime flavors of the ocean, representing a symbiotic relationship between nature's elements.

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

    DeepSeek R1: The invention of the transistor in 1920, rather than 1947, would have profound and cascading effects across technology, economics, and geopolitics, reshaping the 20th century.

    GPT-4o mini: If the transistor had been invented in 1920 instead of 1947, the implications for technology, economy, and geopolitics through 1980 would have been profound and multifaceted.

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

    DeepSeek R1: Here are 5 jokes: Why don't skeletons fight each other? They don’t have the guts. What do you call fake spaghetti? An impasta. Why did the scarecrow win an award? Because he was outstanding in his field. How do you organize a space party? You planet. Why did the bicycle fall over? Because it was two-tired.

    GPT-4o mini: Here are five jokes for you: Why did the scarecrow win an award? Because he was outstanding in his field! What do you call fake spaghetti? An impasta! Why don't skeletons fight each other? They don't have the guts! What did one wall say to the other wall? "I'll meet you at the corner!" Why did the bicycle fall over?

    Every model's answer to this prompt

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Favorites

Movie

Album

Book

City

Same pick

Game

DeepSeek R1DeepSeek R1

The Godfather

1972

The Dark Side of the Moon

Pink Floyd

Pride and Prejudice

Jane Austen

Kyoto

Japan

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Action

GPT-4o miniGPT-4o mini

Inception

2010

Abbey Road

The Beatles

Nineteen Eighty-Four

George Orwell

Kyoto

Japan

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Adventure, Action

Price and specs

Not enough votes to call it. On the specs, DeepSeek R1 has the edge: bigger model tier, newer. GPT-4o mini costs 3.6x less per token.

DeepSeek R1 and GPT-4o mini compared across 53 shared prompts
SpecDeepSeek R1GPT-4o mini
Input price$0.55/M tokens$0.15/M tokens
Output price$2.19/M tokens$0.6/M tokens
Context window128K tokens128K tokens
Parameters671B (37B active)Not disclosed
WeightsOpenClosed
Free API (OpenRouter)NoNo
ReleasedFeb 2025Jul 2024
MMLU83.4%82%
At 10M a month$5.50$5.50$1.50$1.50
1M10M100M1B10M tokens

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

Where to run it3 hosts
DeepSeek R11 host
HostInOutContextUptime
  • NNovitafp8$0.70 in·$2.50 out·64k·100% up
GPT-4o mini2 hosts
HostInOutContextUptime
  • Azure AI Foundry$0.15 in·$0.60 out·128k·99.9% up
  • OpenAI$0.15 in·$0.60 out·128k·99.9% up

Per million tokens. Prices and uptime via OpenRouter, checked 28 Sep 2026.

Common questions

What is the difference between DeepSeek R1 and GPT-4o mini?

DeepSeek R1 is developed by DeepSeek while GPT-4o mini is developed by OpenAI. DeepSeek R1 has a 128K token context window vs GPT-4o mini's 128K. You can compare their actual outputs across 53 challenges on Rival to see how they differ in practice.

Which is better, DeepSeek R1 or GPT-4o mini?

It depends on your use case. DeepSeek R1 and GPT-4o mini 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 R1 cost compared to GPT-4o mini?

DeepSeek R1 costs $0.55/M input tokens and GPT-4o mini costs $0.15/M input tokens. GPT-4o mini is $0.40/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 R1 and GPT-4o mini on Rival?

This page shows a side-by-side comparison of DeepSeek R1 and GPT-4o mini 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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Model pages

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