DeepSeek V4.1 Flash
- Input / 1M tokens
- $0.30
- Output / 1M tokens
- $1.20
API models · Side by side
DeepSeek V4.1 Flash vs Gemini 3.8 Flash
Two Flash models, with different input support and token budgets. DeepSeek is a candidate for text and image work; Gemini adds direct file, audio and video inputs.
Gemini 3.8 Flash
- Input / 1M tokens
- $0.75
- Output / 1M tokens
- $3.75
The short answer
DeepSeek has lower base input and output rates. Both offer similarly sized context windows, but Gemini accepts more input formats. DeepSeek’s larger output ceiling still has to fit within the shared context budget.
Compare the details
Compare context, supported inputs and usage costs. Highlighted rows show a difference.
| Feature | DeepSeek V4.1 Flash | Gemini 3.8 Flash |
|---|---|---|
| Input formats | image, text | audio, file, image, text, video |
| Output formats | text | text |
| Context / position limit | 1,048,576 | 1,048,576 |
| Maximum output tokens | 943,718 | 65,536 |
| Developer features | frequency penalty, Reasoning output, logit bias, logprobs, Output limit, min p, presence penalty, Reasoning controls, Thinking effort, repetition penalty, Response format, Seed, Stop sequences, Structured output, Temperature, Tool selection, Tool calling, top k, top logprobs, Sampling controls | Reasoning output, Output limit, Reasoning controls, Thinking effort, Response format, Seed, Stop sequences, Structured output, Temperature, Tool selection, Tool calling, Sampling controls |
| Cached input / 1M tokens | $0.006000 | $0.08 |
| Cache write / 1M tokens | Unknown | $0.04 |
| USD input / 1M tokens | $0.30 | $0.75 |
| USD output / 1M tokens | $1.20 | $3.75 |
| Model identifier | deepseek/deepseek-v4.1-flash | google/gemini-3.8-flash |
API pricing
Prices are in USD per million tokens. Input is what you send; output is what the model generates. Claude and ChatGPT subscriptions are billed separately.
Tools, images and additional reasoning can add charges. The examples below cover input and output tokens only.
Compare local modelsWhat those prices mean in practice
Each example uses the same token budget for both models. These are calculations, not measured workloads. Cache discounts, media, tools and extra reasoning are excluded.
| Workload | DeepSeek V4.1 Flash | Gemini 3.8 Flash |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 short requestsPer request: 2,000 input + 500 output tokens | $1.20 | $3.38 |
| 100 document summariesPer request: 20,000 input + 1,000 output tokens | $0.72 | $1.88 |
| 10 long-document requestsPer request: 300,000 input + 2,000 output tokens | $0.92 | $2.33 |
Estimate = requests × (input tokens × input price + output tokens × output price) ÷ 1,000,000. Long-prompt rates are applied where the pricing data provides them. Real requests can use different amounts of output.
Beyond the price tag
The input pipeline can decide the choice
An image-based support feature can send images to either model. A product that receives PDF files, audio or video needs to consider Gemini’s corresponding input support or add preprocessing before DeepSeek. For a PDF, extracted text can lose layout and visual relationships. For a recording, a transcript omits information carried in the sound. Decide which details the answer depends on before treating preprocessing as a harmless format change.
Budget frequent calls
A chatbot sends more than the latest user message: instructions and earlier exchanges contribute to input size. DeepSeek’s lower text rates can reduce the bill at equal input and output counts. A useful budget also counts retries, reasoning and any external services. Limit unnecessary history and request only the detail the feature needs. A low rate does not make an unlimited conversation free to operate.
Context and response limits
The two context windows are close in size, while the maximum output allowances differ substantially. The context window remains a combined budget, so a very large input leaves less room for the reply. A high output ceiling is not a reason to ask for a huge answer. For generated reports or code, define sections and checks so omissions and broken interfaces can be found before the result is used.
Text automation versus mixed media
For tagging, extraction and text generation, compare whether the response fits your schema and whether the lower text budget helps at your volume. For meeting recordings or video review, Gemini’s additional inputs are an immediate practical advantage. Neither Flash label promises the same latency or quality. Keep the serving endpoint, reasoning settings and input preparation explicit when making the decision.
Common questions
Do both models accept uploaded files?
The compared DeepSeek endpoint supports text and images; Gemini also supports file input. A file workflow using DeepSeek needs an appropriate preparation step rather than assuming identical upload support.
Is this a local-hardware comparison?
No. The costs here describe hosted API usage. Local deployment needs a specific downloadable checkpoint, a compatible runtime and a separate hardware assessment.