DeepSeek R1 vs OpenAI o3
Compare DeepSeek R1 by DeepSeek against OpenAI o3 by OpenAI, tested across 53 shared challenges. Updated May 2026.
Which is better, DeepSeek R1 or OpenAI o3?
DeepSeek R1 and OpenAI o3 are both competitive models. DeepSeek R1 costs $0.55/M input tokens vs $10/M for OpenAI o3. Compare their real outputs side by side below.
Key Differences Between DeepSeek R1 and OpenAI o3
DeepSeek R1 is made by deepseek while OpenAI o3 is from openai. On pricing, DeepSeek R1 costs $0.55/M input tokens vs $10/M for OpenAI o3.
API pricing
Per 1M tokens
DeepSeek R1
Input
$0.55
18× cheaper
Output
$2.19
18× cheaper
OpenAI o3
Input
$10.00
Output
$40.00
DeepSeek R1 is cheaper on both — 18× input, 18× output
Our Verdict
OpenAI o3
DeepSeek R1Runner-up
No community votes yet. On paper, OpenAI o3 has the edge — bigger model tier, newer.
DeepSeek R1 is 18x cheaper per token — worth considering if cost matters.
Too close to call
Writing DNA
Style Comparison
Similarity
43%
DeepSeek R1 uses 4.3x more emoji
DeepSeek R1
OpenAI o3
62%Vocabulary68%
15wSentence Length14w
0.52Hedging0.26
8.0Bold0.7
5.7Lists3.0
0.04Emoji0.00
0.62Headings0.38
0.28Transitions0.12
Based on 22 + 16 text responses
FAQ
