Model comparison
DeepSeek V4.1 Flash vs Gemini 3.6 Flash
- Input
- $0.15
- Output
- $0.60
- Context
- 1M tokens
- Released
- 2026-09-10
- Input
- $1.50
- Output
- $7.50
- Context
- 1M
- Released
- 2026-07-21
DeepSeek V4.1 Flash scores higher on 2 of the 2 benchmarks both models report; DeepSeek V4.1 Flash is cheaper on input tokens ($0.2 vs $1.5 per 1M, 10×); DeepSeek V4.1 Flash ships open weights while Gemini 3.6 Flash is API-only.
Specs and pricing side by side
| Spec | DeepSeek V4.1 Flash | Gemini 3.6 Flash |
|---|---|---|
| Maker | DeepSeek | |
| Released | 2026-09-10 | 2026-07-21 |
| Context window | 1M tokens | 1M |
| Max output | not published | 64K |
| Input price | $0.15 | $1.50 |
| Output price | $0.60 | $7.50 |
| Parameters | 552B backbone + 196B Engram · 8B active on prefill, 16B on decode | Not disclosed |
| License | MIT | Proprietary |
| Weights | Open weights | API only |
| Modalities | Text, Vision | Text, Vision, Audio, Video, PDF |
| Knowledge cutoff | not published | March 2026 |
Benchmarks both models report
| Benchmark | DeepSeek V4.1 Flash | Gemini 3.6 Flash |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal-Bench 2.1 | 90.6% | 78% |
| DeepSWE v1.1 | 74.2% | 49% |
Scores are as published by each maker or its cited source; harness, reasoning effort and date can differ between rows, so treat small gaps as ties. Sources are listed on each model page.
Which one should you pick?
Pick DeepSeek V4.1 Flash if…
- You care about Terminal-Bench 2.1, DeepSWE v1.1 (it scores higher on 2 shared benchmarks).
- Cost matters: input tokens cost 10× less ($0.2 vs $1.5 per 1M).
- You want to self-host or fine-tune (open weights, MIT).
- Your use case is: agentic coding and terminal work where the published Terminal-Bench and DeepSWE scores matter.
Pick Gemini 3.6 Flash if…
- You need Audio / Video / PDF input, which DeepSeek V4.1 Flash lacks.
- Your use case is: reach for it as the default Flash-tier workhorse for agentic coding, computer use, and multi-step tool workflows.
FAQ
Which is better, DeepSeek V4.1 Flash or Gemini 3.6 Flash?
DeepSeek V4.1 Flash scores higher on 2 of the 2 benchmarks both models report; DeepSeek V4.1 Flash is cheaper on input tokens ($0.2 vs $1.5 per 1M, 10×); DeepSeek V4.1 Flash ships open weights while Gemini 3.6 Flash is API-only. The better pick depends on whether you value benchmark scores, price per token, context length or openness for your workload.
How much cheaper is DeepSeek V4.1 Flash?
DeepSeek V4.1 Flash: $0.15 input, $0.60 output. Gemini 3.6 Flash: $1.50 input, $7.50 output (list API prices as published by each maker).
What are the context windows of DeepSeek V4.1 Flash and Gemini 3.6 Flash?
DeepSeek V4.1 Flash offers 1M tokens; Gemini 3.6 Flash offers 1M with up to 64K output.
Is DeepSeek V4.1 Flash newer than Gemini 3.6 Flash?
DeepSeek V4.1 Flash was released 2026-09-10; Gemini 3.6 Flash was released 2026-07-21.
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