text model comparison
DeepSeek-R1 vs GPT-4.1
DeepSeek-R1 and GPT-4.1 are both current text models, from DeepSeek and OpenAI. On Arena Text, DeepSeek-R1 scores 1398 Elo and GPT-4.1 1415 Elo (Arena, measured October 8, 2026). GPT-4.1 has the larger context window, 1,047,576 vs 128,000 tokens.
Data verified October 12, 2026 · Dataset 2026-10-12
Side by side
Standard-tier prices in effect today. The better value in each row is highlighted.
| Fact | DeepSeek-R1 | GPT-4.1 |
|---|---|---|
| Price per 1M input tokens | Not reported | $2 |
| Price per 1M output tokens | Not reported | $8 |
| Arena Text | 1398 Elo (#37 of 39) | 1415 Elo (#36 of 39) (better) |
| GPQA Diamond | 71.7% (#34 of 37) (better) | 66.9% (#35 of 37) |
| LiveBench Web of Lies V2 | 100 % correct | Not measured |
| FrontierMath Tiers 1-3 (v2) | Not measured | 6% (#37 of 37) |
| SimpleQA Verified | Not measured | 31.1% (#29 of 34) |
| Provider | DeepSeek | OpenAI |
| Release date | January 20, 2025 | April 14, 2025 |
| Access | API and open weights | API only |
| Context window | 128,000 tokens | 1,047,576 tokens |
| Max output | Not reported | 32,768 tokens |
| Input | text | text, image |
| Output | text | text |
Scores:Arena · 2026-10-12Epoch AI · 2026-10-12LiveBench · 2024-11-25
When to choose each
DeepSeek-R1
Best for
- Reasoning trials requiring API or open-weight deployment options
Watch out for
- Hosted token price and infrastructure cost are not represented; measure deployment and operating cost directly
GPT-4.1
Best for
- Long-context API trials using text and image inputs
Watch out for
- Not in the pinned LiveBench snapshot; its independent scores here come from Epoch AI's own GPQA Diamond, FrontierMath and SimpleQA Verified runs
DeepSeek-R1 vs GPT-4.1 FAQ
Which scores higher on independent benchmarks, DeepSeek-R1 or GPT-4.1?
GPT-4.1 leads on Arena Text, 1415 Elo to 1398 Elo; DeepSeek-R1 leads on GPQA Diamond, 71.7% to 66.9%. Scores are independent evaluations, not either vendor's launch figures.
Which has the larger context window, DeepSeek-R1 or GPT-4.1?
GPT-4.1 has the larger context window, 1,047,576 vs 128,000 tokens.
Can I run DeepSeek-R1 or GPT-4.1 myself?
DeepSeek-R1 is released as open weights you can run yourself; GPT-4.1 is available through its provider's API only.
Related comparisons
Production evaluation
Choosing between DeepSeek-R1 and GPT-4.1?
Public benchmarks narrow the shortlist. We run both on your own tasks, data and cost limits, then build the routing and review controls to run the winner in production.
- A head-to-head evaluation on your real workload
- Routing between models by cost and difficulty