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Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite vs DeepSeek V4.1 Flash
A straight cost comparison of Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite (Google Gemini) and DeepSeek V4.1 Flash (DeepSeek), per 1,000,000 tokens, verified October 2026.
Rate-by-rate comparison
| Metric | Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite | DeepSeek V4.1 Flash | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Input / 1M | $0.30 | $0.30 | Tie |
| Cached input / 1M | $0.03 | $0.006 | DeepSeek V4.1 Flash |
| Cache write / 1M | — | — | Tie |
| Output / 1M | $2.50 | $1.20 | DeepSeek V4.1 Flash |
| Context window | 1,000,000 | 1,100,000 | DeepSeek V4.1 Flash |
| Batch API | Yes | No | Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite | $0.925 | +$0.325 |
| DeepSeek V4.1 Flash | $0.60 | Cheaper |
Three workloads, two bills
| Workload | Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite | DeepSeek V4.1 Flash | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Support chat 1,000 requests · 4K input / 600 output | $2.70 | $1.92 | DeepSeek V4.1 Flash |
| RAG with caching 1,000 requests · 50K input (45K cached) / 1K output | $5.36 | $2.98 | DeepSeek V4.1 Flash |
| Nightly batch job 10,000 requests · 10K input / 2K output | $40 | $54 | Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite |
Which one should you pick?
Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite wins on nightly batch job, while DeepSeek V4.1 Flash wins on support chat, cached RAG.
Beyond price, the two differ on output rate ($2.50 vs $1.20); cached-input rate ($0.03 vs $0.006); context window (1,000,000 vs 1,100,000); batch support (yes vs no).
Batch mode is available on Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite, which halves the nightly job. Both publish cached-input discounts, so a stable system prompt is worth caching on either.
FAQ
Is Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite cheaper than DeepSeek V4.1 Flash?
On a blended 1M-input-plus-250K-output workload, DeepSeek V4.1 Flash is cheaper by 35% ($0.60 vs $0.925). The gap changes for cache-heavy prompts and for batch jobs, as the workload table shows.
Which handles longer prompts, Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite or DeepSeek V4.1 Flash?
DeepSeek V4.1 Flash has the larger context window (1,100,000 vs 1,000,000 tokens). Neither model publishes a long-context surcharge.
Do both models support prompt caching?
Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite bills cached reads at $0.03 per 1M; DeepSeek V4.1 Flash at $0.006.