DeepSeek's new multimodal Flash against the older text-only bargain.
DeepSeek shipped two Flash models a generation apart, and both remain in the catalog. V4.1 Flash is the newer design: 763B parameters, image input and a $0.42 price. V4 Flash is the older text-only value pick at $0.18.
Both hold a million tokens, support tools and offer zero retention. The real question is whether the newer architecture and vision are worth roughly 2.3 times the price for your work.
At a glance
| Spec | DeepSeek V4.1 Flash | DeepSeek V4 Flash |
|---|---|---|
| Maker | DeepSeek | DeepSeek |
| Parameters | 763B | 284B |
| Active per token | — | 13B |
| Context window | 1M (750,000 words) | 1M (750,000 words) |
| Upstream price / MTok | $0.42 | $0.18 |
| Image and video input | Yes | No |
| Tool use | Yes | Yes |
| Zero data retention | Yes | Yes |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Good at | Fast, cheap work on long inputs | Coding and agents |
Where DeepSeek V4.1 Flash pulls ahead
- Image input: V4.1 Flash reads pictures, so screenshots, diagrams and scanned pages are in scope.
- A newer architecture and a much larger 763B-parameter model, positioned as DeepSeek's current quick model.
- Cheap multimodal work on long inputs — it keeps the million-token window while adding sight.
Where DeepSeek V4 Flash pulls ahead
- Price: $0.18 versus $0.42 per million tokens, about 2.3x cheaper.
- Pure text and code at volume, where the vision of V4.1 would never be used.
- The proven value option: 284B parameters with 13B active and the same million-token window.
The price difference
DeepSeek V4.1 Flash costs $0.42 per million tokens against $0.18 for DeepSeek V4 Flash — about 2.3x more. On UsingOpen you can chat with both for free inside the daily limit, so the rate is a fair proxy for how expensive each model is to run rather than a bill you pay here. Multiply it by your monthly token volume if you are comparing API access elsewhere.
Which should you choose?
If your prompts ever include an image, DeepSeek V4.1 Flash is the right model. It is the newer design, it can see, and it still holds a million tokens at a low price.
If your work is text and code, stay with V4 Flash. It is 2.3x cheaper and has the same context length, tool support and retention terms. The newer model buys sight, not a longer window.
Chat with DeepSeek V4.1 Flash free · Chat with DeepSeek V4 Flash free
Frequently asked questions
Do DeepSeek V4.1 Flash and DeepSeek V4 Flash have the same context window?
Yes — both are listed with a 1M context window, roughly 750,000 words. The practical limit is therefore similar, and the decision comes down to price, modalities and behaviour.
Which of DeepSeek V4.1 Flash and DeepSeek V4 Flash can read images?
DeepSeek V4.1 Flash accepts image input; DeepSeek V4 Flash is text-only. If a screenshot, diagram or video frame is part of the task, only DeepSeek V4.1 Flash can handle it.
Is DeepSeek V4 Flash or DeepSeek V4.1 Flash better for coding?
DeepSeek V4 Flash is the closer fit for code here — the catalog tunes it for coding and agents — while DeepSeek V4.1 Flash is aimed at fast, cheap work on long inputs. For project-scale coding, start with DeepSeek V4 Flash; if the task leans toward the other model's strengths, it may still win.
Which is cheaper, DeepSeek V4.1 Flash or DeepSeek V4 Flash?
DeepSeek V4 Flash is listed at $0.18 per million tokens against $0.42 for DeepSeek V4.1 Flash — about 2.3x cheaper. Both are free to chat with on UsingOpen inside the daily limit when live; the rates matter if you are comparing what API access would cost.
Can I chat with DeepSeek V4.1 Flash and DeepSeek V4 Flash for free?
Yes. Both are selectable on UsingOpen without an account when they are live, and each user gets 10 free prompts per day. A model paused for capacity is unavailable until it returns; the picker shows live status. History stays on your device, and Compare mode can send one prompt to both models side by side.
What changed in DeepSeek V4.1 Flash?
It is a newer design with 763B parameters, image input and a $0.42 upstream price. V4 Flash remains the smaller text-only model at $0.18. Both keep the million-token window, tool use and zero-retention terms.
Can DeepSeek V4 Flash read images?
No. V4 Flash is text-only. If you need DeepSeek with vision, choose V4.1 Flash, which adds image input. The rest of the family, including V4 Pro, is text-only as well.
Related comparisons
- DeepSeek V4 Flash vs Qwen3.8 Flash — The cheapest serious coder against Alibaba's fast multimodal all-rounder.
- GPT-OSS 120B vs DeepSeek V4 Flash — OpenAI's open-weight reasoner against DeepSeek's long-context bargain.
- Kimi K3 vs DeepSeek V4 Pro — Two flagships: Moonshot's multimodal giant against DeepSeek's full-strength V4.