Comparisons › Qwen vs DeepSeek: open-weight models compared

Qwen vs DeepSeek: open-weight models compared

Two of the biggest open-weight families on the market. Qwen 3.8 is the newcomer with strong design; DeepSeek is the established value champion.

Value verdict: on intelligence per $1, DeepSeek currently comes out ahead — 218,182 vs 90,000. Prices move often, so recheck the calculator regularly.

At a glance

Model compared

Qwen	DeepSeek	DeepSeek
Flagship model	Qwen3.8 Max	DeepSeek V4 Pro
Input / 1M	$2	$0.66
Output / 1M	$6	$1.98
Intelligence index	45	36
Tokens / $1	200.0k	606.1k
Intelligence / $1	90,000	218,182
Cheapest plan	—	—

API pricing

Qwen3.8 Max costs $2 / $6 per 1M tokens; DeepSeek V4 Pro costs $0.66 / $1.98 (off-peak). DeepSeek is cheaper on both axes.

Capabilities

Qwen3.8 — including the open-weight 2.4T A95B — earns B tier for front-end design, genuinely strong UI work for an open-weight family. DeepSeek V4 Pro is the value king with a mature API, though both are slower than the proprietary flagships.

The verdict

For raw cost per token, DeepSeek wins. For open-weight design work, Qwen 3.8 is the more capable pick — if you can tolerate its heavy subscription usage burn.

Bottom line: DeepSeek wins on cost per token and reliability; Qwen 3.8 is the more capable open-weight design model but burns usage fast. Pick by whether you prioritize price or design output.