Model comparison
Compare Qwen3.8 Max and DeepSeek-V4-Flash using the same provider-sourced text & reasoning rubric. No mystery score and no invented benchmark ranking.
Facts checked September 4, 2026
Set your usage. Your estimate updates as you type.
Example: 6,000 input tokens for 10 pages, plus a 500-token summary. Page lengths vary; adjust the numbers below.
One run sends your input to the model once and receives an answer. Tokens are pieces of text: input is what you send, output is the answer you receive.
Estimates exclude taxes, tools, cache storage/writes, free allowances and custom discounts. Image estimates cover output only, not prompt or reference-image charges. Quality modes differ by model. Unlisted settings are not treated as free.
| Model | Access | Estimated total (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| DeepSeek-V4-FlashDeepSeek | DeepSeek | No reviewed rate |
| Qwen3.8 MaxQwen | Qwen | No reviewed rate |
Quick take
Alibaba's frontier Qwen model for long-context reasoning, coding, tools, and understanding text, images, and video.
The moving alias and dated snapshots may not point to the same checkpoint on every provider. Pin a version where reproducibility matters and verify the live price for very long prompts.
DeepSeek's lower-cost V4 model for high-volume reasoning, coding, agents, and million-token text workloads.
Flash's knowledge cutoff and universal latency are not published. Do not confuse it with Flash-Vision-Exp, and verify peak pricing, cache behavior, output budgets, jurisdiction, and data handling.
Compare the published facts
Values use each provider's own published units and limits. A blank means the provider did not publish a directly comparable value in the sources reviewed.
| Text & reasoning | Qwen3.8 Max | DeepSeek-V4-Flash |
|---|---|---|
| Context windowMaximum combined prompt and working context documented by the provider. | 1M tokens | 1M tokens |
| Maximum outputProvider-published response limit, where available. | Up to 131,072 tokens on OpenRouter | Up to 384K tokens |
| Knowledge cutoffLatest reliable knowledge date explicitly published by the model provider. Search and connected tools can retrieve newer information but do not change the model's built-in cutoff. | Not published | Not published |
| Input priceCurrent standard list price per million input tokens unless noted. | $2 / 1M on OpenRouter | $0.44 / 1M peak uncached; $0.22 off-peak |
| Output priceCurrent standard list price per million output tokens unless noted. | $6 / 1M on OpenRouter | $1.32 / 1M peak; $0.66 off-peak |
| InputsMedia types accepted by the listed model endpoint. | Text, image, video | Text; separate Flash-Vision-Exp accepts images |
| Tools & agentsSelected native tools and agent-building capabilities, not an exhaustive list. | Tools, structured output, reasoning controls | Tools, JSON output, Responses API, thinking effort, FIM beta |
How to choose
Start with the job you need to complete, then validate cost, access, and policy details on your exact provider route.
QwenCloud says it does not retain API inputs or outputs for training and processes them in memory; conversation storage can be disabled. OpenRouter and its underlying provider routes have separate settings and terms.
Provider and API links
DeepSeek documents its Responses API as stateless and says responses and conversations are not stored by that endpoint. This is not a complete account-wide retention or training-use promise; review current platform terms and automatic cache behavior for sensitive data.
Provider and API links
Frequently asked questions
Qwen3.8 Max: Alibaba's frontier Qwen model for long-context reasoning, coding, tools, and understanding text, images, and video. DeepSeek-V4-Flash: DeepSeek's lower-cost V4 model for high-volume reasoning, coding, agents, and million-token text workloads.
Consider Qwen3.8 Max when your priority is Long coding and agent workflows. Consider DeepSeek-V4-Flash when your priority is Cost-efficient coding and agent workloads. Test both with your own data and provider route before committing.
No. This comparison aligns provider-published facts for the Text & reasoning category. It does not claim a universal winner or combine incompatible third-party benchmark scores.
