OpenAI vs DeepSeek API Pricing
Compare current OpenAI and DeepSeek API pricing to benchmark cost-sensitive workloads against broad general-purpose model options.
Quick overview
The cheaper option depends on selected models, your input/output token mix, and context-window requirements.
Cheapest current OpenAI model
GPT-5 nano
Largest context window
1.05M
Cheapest current DeepSeek model
DeepSeek V4 Flash
Largest context window
1M
OpenAI
- Current models: 25
- Cheapest current model: GPT-5 nano
- Lowest input / 1M: $0.0500
- Lowest output / 1M: $0.4000
- Largest context window: 1.05M
DeepSeek
- Current models: 2
- Cheapest current model: DeepSeek V4 Flash
- Lowest input / 1M: $0.1400
- Lowest output / 1M: $0.2800
- Largest context window: 1M
Current model pricing
| Provider | Model | Input / 1M | Output / 1M | Context window | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAI | GPT-5 nano | $0.0500 | $0.4000 | 400,000 | CURRENT | Source |
| OpenAI | GPT-4.1 nano | $0.1000 | $0.4000 | 1,047,576 | CURRENT | Source |
| DeepSeek | DeepSeek V4 Flash | $0.1400 | $0.2800 | 1,000,000 | CURRENT | Source |
| OpenAI | GPT-4o mini | $0.1500 | $0.6000 | 128,000 | CURRENT | Source |
| OpenAI | GPT-5.4 nano | $0.2000 | $1.2500 | 400,000 | CURRENT | Source |
| OpenAI | GPT-5 mini | $0.2500 | $2.0000 | 400,000 | CURRENT | Source |
| OpenAI | GPT-4.1 mini | $0.4000 | $1.6000 | 1,047,576 | CURRENT | Source |
| OpenAI | GPT-5.4 mini | $0.7500 | $4.5000 | 400,000 | CURRENT | Source |
| OpenAI | o1-mini | $1.1000 | $4.4000 | 128,000 | CURRENT | Source |
| OpenAI | o3-mini | $1.1000 | $4.4000 | 200,000 | CURRENT | Source |
| OpenAI | o4-mini | $1.1000 | $4.4000 | 200,000 | CURRENT | Source |
| OpenAI | GPT-5 | $1.2500 | $10.0000 | 400,000 | CURRENT | Source |
| OpenAI | GPT-5.1 | $1.2500 | $10.0000 | 400,000 | CURRENT | Source |
| DeepSeek | DeepSeek V4 Pro | $1.7400 | $3.4800 | 1,000,000 | CURRENT | Source |
| OpenAI | GPT-5.2 | $1.7500 | $14.0000 | 400,000 | CURRENT | Source |
| OpenAI | GPT-4.1 | $2.0000 | $8.0000 | 1,047,576 | CURRENT | Source |
| OpenAI | o3 | $2.0000 | $8.0000 | 200,000 | CURRENT | Source |
| OpenAI | GPT-4o | $2.5000 | $10.0000 | 128,000 | CURRENT | Source |
| OpenAI | GPT-5.4 | $2.5000 | $15.0000 | 1,050,000 | CURRENT | Source |
| OpenAI | GPT-5.5 | $5.0000 | $30.0000 | 1,050,000 | CURRENT | Source |
| OpenAI | GPT-5 pro | $15.0000 | $120.0000 | 400,000 | CURRENT | Source |
| OpenAI | o1 | $15.0000 | $60.0000 | 200,000 | CURRENT | Source |
| OpenAI | o3-pro | $20.0000 | $80.0000 | 200,000 | CURRENT | Source |
| OpenAI | GPT-5.2 pro | $21.0000 | $168.0000 | 400,000 | CURRENT | Source |
| OpenAI | GPT-5.4 pro | $30.0000 | $180.0000 | 1,050,000 | CURRENT | Source |
| OpenAI | GPT-5.5 pro | $30.0000 | $180.0000 | 1,050,000 | CURRENT | Source |
| OpenAI | o1-pro | $150.0000 | $600.0000 | 200,000 | CURRENT | Source |
Example cost comparison
| Scenario | Provider | Reference model | Estimated cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1K input + 1K output | OpenAI | GPT-5 nano | $0.0005 |
| 1K input + 1K output | DeepSeek | DeepSeek V4 Flash | $0.0004 |
| 10K input + 1K output | OpenAI | GPT-5 nano | $0.0009 |
| 10K input + 1K output | DeepSeek | DeepSeek V4 Flash | $0.0017 |
| 100K input + 5K output | OpenAI | GPT-5 nano | $0.0070 |
| 100K input + 5K output | DeepSeek | DeepSeek V4 Flash | $0.0154 |
| 1M input + 1M output | OpenAI | GPT-5 nano | $0.4500 |
| 1M input + 1M output | DeepSeek | DeepSeek V4 Flash | $0.4200 |
Input price comparison
- OpenAI: lowest $0.0500, highest $150.0000
- DeepSeek: lowest $0.1400, highest $1.7400
Output price comparison
- OpenAI: lowest $0.4000, highest $600.0000
- DeepSeek: lowest $0.2800, highest $3.4800
Context window comparison
OpenAI largest context: 1.05M
Cheapest current model ≥100K: GPT-5 nano
Cheapest current model ≥1M: GPT-4.1 nano
DeepSeek largest context: 1M
Cheapest current model ≥100K: DeepSeek V4 Flash
Cheapest current model ≥1M: DeepSeek V4 Flash
Which provider should you consider?
Consider DeepSeek for budget-focused comparisons. Consider OpenAI when broad model coverage and tooling flexibility are important.
Compare with your own token usage
Open the calculator with these providers selected, then enter your expected input and output tokens.
Open calculatorFAQ
Is OpenAI or DeepSeek cheaper?
It depends on the specific model pair and your input/output token mix.
Why do input and output token prices differ?
Providers often price generated tokens differently from prompt tokens per model.
Which provider has the larger context window?
Use the context window comparison section to check current largest windows.
Can I compare these providers with other LLM APIs?
Yes. Open the full calculator and enable additional providers.
How do I calculate cost for my own token usage?
Open the calculator CTA and enter your projected input and output token totals.
Hosting your AI app?
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