DeepSeek V3.2 vs GPT-5 mini
Benchmarks, API pricing and specs, head to head. Data updated 2026-06-10.
DeepSeek · Sep 2025
The sparse-attention release that halved DeepSeek's already-lowest-in-class prices while keeping GPT-class quality.
OpenAI · Aug 2025
A fast, cheap distillation of GPT-5 for high-volume workloads — one fifth of the flagship's price with most of its everyday capability.
The verdict
GPT-5 mini wins 3 of the 3 benchmarks these models share, against 0 for DeepSeek V3.2. DeepSeek V3.2 is about 2.2x cheaper per blended million tokens (3:1 input:output mix). GPT-5 mini also takes 400K of context versus 128K for DeepSeek V3.2. And DeepSeek V3.2 is open-weights (MIT), so it can be self-hosted — a structural advantage if data control or vendor independence matters.
Benchmark head-to-head 0–3
Specs & pricing
| DeepSeek V3.2 | GPT-5 mini | |
|---|---|---|
| modhub Index | 68.4 | — |
| Input price / 1M | $0.28 | $0.25 |
| Output price / 1M | $0.42 | $2 |
| Context window | 128K | 400K |
| Max output | 64K | 128K |
| Open weights | yes (MIT) | no |
| Reasoning model | yes | yes |
| Multimodal input | text | text, image |
| Knowledge cutoff | Jul 2025 | May 2024 |
| Released | Sep 2025 | Aug 2025 |
| Example monthly cost* | $3.43 | $5.50 |
* 10M input + 1.5M output tokens per month at list prices, no caching. Green = better value on that row.
Frequently asked questions
- Which is better, DeepSeek V3.2 or GPT-5 mini?
- GPT-5 mini wins 3 of the 3 benchmarks these models share, against 0 for DeepSeek V3.2. DeepSeek V3.2 is about 2.2x cheaper per blended million tokens (3:1 input:output mix). GPT-5 mini also takes 400K of context versus 128K for DeepSeek V3.2. And DeepSeek V3.2 is open-weights (MIT), so it can be self-hosted — a structural advantage if data control or vendor independence matters.
- Which is cheaper, DeepSeek V3.2 or GPT-5 mini?
- DeepSeek V3.2 costs $0.28/$0.42 per million input/output tokens, while GPT-5 mini costs $0.25/$2. For a typical workload of 10M input and 1.5M output tokens per month, that's $3.43 versus $5.50.
- Which model is better for coding, DeepSeek V3.2 or GPT-5 mini?
- On SWE-bench Verified — the standard agentic-coding benchmark — GPT-5 mini scores ~71% versus 67.8% for DeepSeek V3.2, making GPT-5 mini the stronger pick for coding agents.