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OpenAI vs DeepSeek
A closed US lab against an MIT-licensed Chinese lab with some of the lowest first-party prices. Data location and the price schedule matter as much as quality.
By The Subconscious Team · Updated
OpenAI vs DeepSeek: key differences
DeepSeek's two API models undercut most of OpenAI's lineup. V4 Pro costs $1.32 in and $3.96 out at peak, and every off-peak hour costs exactly half, a window that covers normal US business hours. V4.1 Flash, at $0.30 in and $1.20 out at peak, sits right next to GPT-5.6 Luna's $0.20 in and $1.20 out, and off-peak it drops below. Both DeepSeek models carry a 1M window with 384K max output, against OpenAI's 1.05M and 128K. The weights ship under an MIT license, so teams can self-host or fine-tune, and most other hosts serve DeepSeek too.
The hard stop for many enterprises is data location, since DeepSeek's hosted API stores data in China. OpenAI sells through its own API, Azure OpenAI and Bedrock, which fits most procurement processes. DeepSeek also retires and reprices models often, and its August 2026 switch to peak billing was a real increase, so cost models need regular checks. OpenAI's 2x input rate past 272K bites on long agent loops, while DeepSeek's very cheap cache hits reward them. Frontier computer use remains OpenAI's ground.
What OpenAI and DeepSeek do
OpenAI
OpenAI runs the most widely adopted closed-model API. Its September 2026 lineup has GPT-6 Astra at the top for computer use, coding and long agentic runs, priced at $10 in and $50 out per million tokens. Below it sits the GPT-5.6 family: Sol for hard professional work, Terra as the balanced default, and Luna for high-volume jobs at $0.20 in and $1.20 out. All of them carry a 1.05M token context window with up to 128K output.
Example models: GPT-6 Astra, GPT-5.6 Terra
Full OpenAI profileDeepSeek
DeepSeek is the Chinese lab whose open-weight models reset price expectations for the whole market. Its API now serves two models, both with 1M context and 384K max output. V4.1 Flash shipped September 10, 2026 with built-in image understanding at $0.30 in and $1.20 out at peak. V4 Pro, generally available since August 13, costs $1.32 in and $3.96 out at peak. Cache hits cost a few cents per million or less, and the weights ship on Hugging Face under an MIT license.
Example models: DeepSeek V4.1 Flash, DeepSeek V4 Pro
Full DeepSeek profileShould you choose OpenAI or DeepSeek?
OpenAI
Choose OpenAI for
- Enterprises that cannot send data to China-hosted APIs
- Frontier computer use and desktop automation
- Teams that want steady pricing and a mature SDK ecosystem
DeepSeek
Choose DeepSeek for
- Cost-sensitive agents scheduled into off-peak windows
- Long-prefix agents that benefit from very cheap cache hits
- Self-hosting or fine-tuning MIT-licensed weights
OpenAI vs DeepSeek at a glance
| Attribute | OpenAI | DeepSeek |
|---|---|---|
| Model access | Closed, plus open gpt-oss | Open weights (MIT) |
| Flagship models | GPT-6 Astra, GPT-5.6 Sol, Terra, Luna | DeepSeek V4.1 Flash, V4 Pro |
| Speed | Fast mode: up to 2.5x at 2x price | ~35 tok/s on V4 Pro |
| Price | $0.20–$10 in, $1.20–$50 out per 1M | Off-peak hours at half price |
| Customization | N/A | Open weights to fine-tune |
| Deployment | API, Azure OpenAI, Bedrock | First-party API, Hugging Face weights |
| Long context | 1.05M; 2x input past 272K | 1M, 384K max output |
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between OpenAI and DeepSeek?
A closed US lab against an MIT-licensed Chinese lab with some of the lowest first-party prices. Data location and the price schedule matter as much as quality.
When should I choose OpenAI over DeepSeek?
Enterprises that cannot send data to China-hosted APIs; Frontier computer use and desktop automation; Teams that want steady pricing and a mature SDK ecosystem.
When should I choose DeepSeek over OpenAI?
Cost-sensitive agents scheduled into off-peak windows; Long-prefix agents that benefit from very cheap cache hits; Self-hosting or fine-tuning MIT-licensed weights.
Is OpenAI or DeepSeek cheaper?
OpenAI: $0.20–$10 in, $1.20–$50 out per 1M. DeepSeek: Off-peak hours at half price. The cheaper choice depends on the model and workload.
Which has more context, OpenAI or DeepSeek?
OpenAI: 1.05M; 2x input past 272K. DeepSeek: 1M, 384K max output.
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If your agents run past 200K tokens, compare both against Subconscious. Our inference stack treats a long-horizon trace as the primary workload, so speed, cost, and accuracy hold up deep into the trace.