DeepSeek R1 0528 vs Grok 2

Side-by-side benchmark comparison across coding, math, reasoning, speed, and pricing.

DeepSeek R1 0528 by DeepSeek wins on 10 of 14 benchmarks against Grok 2 by xAI, which leads on 2. This head-to-head comparison covers coding, math, reasoning, speed, and pricing metrics from the AI Value Index.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

General Intelligence: In general intelligence, DeepSeek R1 0528 scores 1375 on Chatbot Arena ELO compared to Grok 2's 1250, while DeepSeek R1 0528 scores 84.0% on MMLU-Pro compared to Grok 2's 68.0%.

Coding: In coding, DeepSeek R1 0528 scores 88.0% on HumanEval+ compared to Grok 2's 78.0%, while DeepSeek R1 0528 scores 55.0% on SWE-bench Verified compared to Grok 2's 28.0%, while DeepSeek R1 0528 scores 58.0% on LiveCodeBench compared to Grok 2's 32.0%.

Math: In math, DeepSeek R1 0528 scores 96.0% on MATH compared to Grok 2's 70.0%, while DeepSeek R1 0528 scores 97.5% on GSM8K compared to Grok 2's 88.0%.

Reasoning: In reasoning, DeepSeek R1 0528 scores 81.0% on GPQA Diamond compared to Grok 2's 45.0%, while both score 15.0% on ARC-AGI.

Context: In context, both score 131K on Context Length.

Pricing Comparison

DeepSeek R1 0528 costs $0.55/1M input tokens and $2.2/1M output tokens, while Grok 2 costs $2.0/1M input and $10.0/1M output. DeepSeek R1 0528 is the more affordable option for API usage.

Speed Comparison

DeepSeek R1 0528 generates output at 40 tok/s compared to Grok 2's 80 tok/s, and the time to first token is 900 ms for DeepSeek R1 0528 versus 350 ms for Grok 2. Grok 2 delivers faster throughput.

Verdict

For developers prioritizing coding and general intelligence and math and affordability, DeepSeek R1 0528 has the edge. For those who value speed, Grok 2 is the stronger choice.

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DeepSeek R1 0528 vs Grok 2 — FAQ

Which is better, DeepSeek R1 0528 or Grok 2?

DeepSeek R1 0528 wins on more benchmarks overall (10 vs 2). However, the best choice depends on your specific needs — each model excels in different areas.

How does DeepSeek R1 0528 compare to Grok 2 for coding?

DeepSeek R1 0528 is better for coding, scoring 55.0% on SWE-bench Verified compared to 28.0%. SWE-bench tests real-world software engineering by resolving actual GitHub issues.

Is DeepSeek R1 0528 cheaper than Grok 2?

Yes, DeepSeek R1 0528 is cheaper. DeepSeek R1 0528 costs $0.55/1M input and $2.2/1M output tokens. Grok 2 costs $2.0/1M input and $10.0/1M output tokens.

Which is faster, DeepSeek R1 0528 or Grok 2?

Grok 2 is faster, generating output at 80 tok/s compared to 40 tok/s. Faster output speed means shorter wait times for API responses.

What benchmarks does the DeepSeek R1 0528 vs Grok 2 comparison cover?

This comparison covers 14 benchmarks including Chatbot Arena ELO, MMLU-Pro, HumanEval+, MATH, SWE-bench Verified, GPQA Diamond, Output Speed, Time to First Token, and more. Metrics span general intelligence, coding, math, reasoning, speed, and cost categories.