Model comparison
DeepSeek R1 vs Claude Opus 4.8
DeepSeek
DeepSeek R1
The open-weights reasoning model that reset the cost curve.
Anthropic
Claude Opus 4.8
Anthropic's heavyweight for hard reasoning and agentic work.
Specs
| Metric | DeepSeek R1 | Claude Opus 4.8 |
|---|---|---|
| Context window | 164K tokens | 1M tokens↑ |
| Input $/1M tokens | $0.700↑ | $5.00 |
| Output $/1M tokens | $2.50↑ | $25.00 |
| Modalities | Text | Text · Image |
| Open weights | Yes | No |
| Released | Jan 2025 | May 2026 |
Capability differences
| Capability | DeepSeek R1 | Claude Opus 4.8 |
|---|---|---|
| Tool use | No | Yes |
| Vision | No | Yes |
| Prompt caching | No | Yes |
| Open weights | Yes | No |
Key differences
- -DeepSeek R1 offers 164K context; Claude Opus 4.8 offers 1M.
- -Input pricing: DeepSeek R1 at $0.700/1M vs Claude Opus 4.8 at $5.00/1M.
- -DeepSeek R1 is open weights; Claude Opus 4.8 is proprietary.