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Claude Fable 5.1 vs DeepSeek V4 Pro
A straight cost comparison of Claude Fable 5.1 (Anthropic) and DeepSeek V4 Pro (DeepSeek), per 1,000,000 tokens, verified October 2026.
Rate-by-rate comparison
| Metric | Claude Fable 5.1 | DeepSeek V4 Pro | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Input / 1M | $10 | $1.32 | DeepSeek V4 Pro |
| Cached input / 1M | $0.25 | $0.044 | DeepSeek V4 Pro |
| Cache write / 1M | $12.50 | — | DeepSeek V4 Pro |
| Output / 1M | $50 | $3.96 | DeepSeek V4 Pro |
| Context window | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 | Tie |
| Batch API | Yes | No | Claude Fable 5.1 |
| Long-context tier | None | None | — |
For per-token metrics, the lower number wins. For context window and batch support, the higher or broader option wins. A dash means the provider does not publish that rate: a missing cache-write fee means writes are not billed per token, while a missing cached-input rate means cache hits bill at the full input rate.
Blended cost: 1M input + 250K output
| Model | Blended cost | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Claude Fable 5.1 | $22.50 | +$20.19 |
| DeepSeek V4 Pro | $2.31 | Cheaper |
Three workloads, two bills
| Workload | Claude Fable 5.1 | DeepSeek V4 Pro | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Support chat 1,000 requests · 4K input / 600 output | $70 | $7.66 | DeepSeek V4 Pro |
| RAG with caching 1,000 requests · 50K input (45K cached) / 1K output | $112 | $12.60 | DeepSeek V4 Pro |
| Nightly batch job 10,000 requests · 10K input / 2K output | $1000 | $211 | DeepSeek V4 Pro |
Which one should you pick?
Claude Fable 5.1 wins on none of the three workloads above, while DeepSeek V4 Pro wins on support chat, cached RAG, nightly batch job.
Beyond price, the two differ on input rate ($10 vs $1.32); output rate ($50 vs $3.96); cached-input rate ($0.25 vs $0.044); cache-write rate ($12.50 vs —); batch support (yes vs no).
Batch mode is available on Claude Fable 5.1, which halves the nightly job. Both publish cached-input discounts, so a stable system prompt is worth caching on either.
FAQ
Is Claude Fable 5.1 cheaper than DeepSeek V4 Pro?
On a blended 1M-input-plus-250K-output workload, DeepSeek V4 Pro is cheaper by 90% ($2.31 vs $22.50). The gap changes for cache-heavy prompts and for batch jobs, as the workload table shows.
Which handles longer prompts, Claude Fable 5.1 or DeepSeek V4 Pro?
Both models share the same 1,000,000-token context window. Neither model publishes a long-context surcharge.
Do both models support prompt caching?
Claude Fable 5.1 bills cached reads at $0.25 per 1M; DeepSeek V4 Pro at $0.044.