DeepSeek R1 vs GPT-5.1
Side-by-side benchmark comparison across coding, math, reasoning, speed, and pricing.
GPT-5.1 by OpenAI wins on 14 of 17 benchmarks against DeepSeek R1 by DeepSeek, which leads on 3. This head-to-head comparison covers coding, math, reasoning, speed, and pricing metrics from our benchmark data.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
General Intelligence: In general intelligence, GPT-5.1 scores 1464 on Chatbot Arena ELO compared to DeepSeek R1's 1355, while GPT-5.1 scores 86.0% on MMLU-Pro compared to DeepSeek R1's 84.0%, while GPT-5.1 scores 91.0% on IFEval compared to DeepSeek R1's 87.8%.
Coding: In coding, GPT-5.1 scores 93.0% on HumanEval+ compared to DeepSeek R1's 86.0%, while GPT-5.1 scores 76.3% on SWE-bench Verified compared to DeepSeek R1's 49.2%, while GPT-5.1 scores 82.0% on LiveCodeBench compared to DeepSeek R1's 50.0%, while GPT-5.1 scores 49.4 on AA Coding Index compared to DeepSeek R1's 24.6.
Math: In math, DeepSeek R1 scores 97.3% on MATH compared to GPT-5.1's 95.0%, while GPT-5.1 scores 98.5% on GSM8K compared to DeepSeek R1's 97.0%, while GPT-5.1 scores 94.0% on AIME 2025 compared to DeepSeek R1's 79.8%.
Reasoning: In reasoning, GPT-5.1 scores 88.1% on GPQA Diamond compared to DeepSeek R1's 71.5%, while GPT-5.1 scores 50.0% on ARC-AGI compared to DeepSeek R1's 14.0%.
Context: In context, GPT-5.1 scores 400K on Context Length compared to DeepSeek R1's 64K.
Pricing Comparison
DeepSeek R1 costs $0.70/1M input tokens and $2.5/1M output tokens, while GPT-5.1 costs $1.3/1M input and $10.0/1M output. DeepSeek R1 is the more affordable option for API usage.
Speed Comparison
DeepSeek R1 generates output at 35 tok/s compared to GPT-5.1's 95 tok/s, and the time to first token is 950 ms for DeepSeek R1 versus 350 ms for GPT-5.1. GPT-5.1 delivers faster throughput.
Verdict
For developers prioritizing math and affordability, DeepSeek R1 has the edge. For those who value coding and general intelligence and speed, GPT-5.1 is the stronger choice.
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DeepSeek R1 vs GPT-5.1 — FAQ
Which is better, DeepSeek R1 or GPT-5.1?
GPT-5.1 wins on more benchmarks overall (14 vs 3). However, the best choice depends on your specific needs — each model excels in different areas.
How does DeepSeek R1 compare to GPT-5.1 for coding?
GPT-5.1 is better for coding, scoring 76.3% on SWE-bench Verified compared to 49.2%. SWE-bench tests real-world software engineering by resolving actual GitHub issues.
Is DeepSeek R1 cheaper than GPT-5.1?
Yes, DeepSeek R1 is cheaper. DeepSeek R1 costs $0.70/1M input and $2.5/1M output tokens. GPT-5.1 costs $1.3/1M input and $10.0/1M output tokens.
Which is faster, DeepSeek R1 or GPT-5.1?
GPT-5.1 is faster, generating output at 95 tok/s compared to 35 tok/s. Faster output speed means shorter wait times for API responses.
What benchmarks does the DeepSeek R1 vs GPT-5.1 comparison cover?
This comparison covers 17 benchmarks including Chatbot Arena ELO, MMLU-Pro, HumanEval+, IFEval, MATH, GPQA Diamond, SWE-bench Verified, Output Speed, and more. Metrics span general intelligence, coding, math, reasoning, speed, and cost categories.