Deepseek R1 vs. OpenAI o1: Which AI Model Delivers the Best Value?

Falah Gatea
3 min readJan 30, 2025

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Artificial intelligence has reached new heights with the emergence of advanced large reasoning models. Two major contenders in this space, Deepseek R1 and OpenAI o1, offer cutting-edge reasoning capabilities, but which one delivers the best value? In this article, we compare their training approach, cost efficiency, and benchmark performance to determine the better choice for AI applications.

1. Training Approach: Different Philosophies

The way an AI model is trained greatly impacts its efficiency, adaptability, and overall performance.

  • Deepseek R1 uses reinforcement learning with minimal supervised data, making it more adaptable and potentially cost-efficient over time.
  • OpenAI o1, on the other hand, is trained using supervised fine-tuning (SFT) combined with reinforcement learning from human feedback (RLHF), a method that enhances user alignment but may require more resources.

Key Takeaway: While OpenAI o1 benefits from extensive human feedback, Deepseek R1’s reinforcement learning approach allows for greater adaptability at a lower cost.

2. Cost Efficiency: Deepseek R1 is Significantly Cheaper

AI model usage costs are crucial, especially for businesses handling large-scale token processing.

The cost difference is staggering, with OpenAI o1 being nearly 27 times more expensive for output tokens compared to Deepseek R1. This makes Deepseek R1 a far more budget-friendly option for businesses looking to scale AI solutions.

Key Takeaway: If cost efficiency is a priority, Deepseek R1 is the clear winner.

3. Benchmark Performance: Comparable but with Variations

Performance benchmarks measure how well these models handle complex reasoning and problem-solving tasks.

The performance differences are minimal, with both models achieving similar percentile rankings in mathematical and reasoning tasks. However, Deepseek R1 slightly outperforms OpenAI o1 in math-based evaluations.

Key Takeaway: Both models offer exceptional performance, but Deepseek R1 edges ahead in mathematical problem-solving.

Final Verdict: Which AI Model Delivers the Best Value?

Factors like cost efficiency, training approach, and performance must be considered when choosing an AI model.

Deepseek R1 is the better value due to its significantly lower cost and competitive performance.
OpenAI o1 may still be preferable for users who require highly fine-tuned responses due to its RLHF-based training.

For businesses, developers, and researchers who need an AI model that delivers high performance at a fraction of the cost, Deepseek R1 is a clear choice.

What Are Your Thoughts?

Which AI model do you prefer? Let us know in the comments!

Thanks for reading If you love this post, give some claps.

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Falah Gatea
Falah Gatea

Written by Falah Gatea

Developer Programmer, in Python and deep learning. IOT Microcontroller Developer iraqprogrammer.wordpress.com

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