AI is developing by leaps and bounds, and two giants running in this race are ChatGPT, which is the o1 series of OpenAI, and DeepSeek, DeepSeek-R1. The battle between these two AI models ultimately benefits working professionals like you to choose your best AI buddy to skyrocket your productivity!
Understanding the Competitors
What is ChatGPT (OpenAI o1)?
ChatGPT has been one of the leading AI conversation tools developed by OpenAI, it provides the user with the best natural language processing, excellent programming, and security. That is why it is able to provide accurate answers and answers that are related to the context based on its reinforcement learning fine-tuning.
What is DeepSeek-R1?
DeepSeek-R1 is a new AI model that is Open-Source, making it even more popular than the license models. It is based on cost-effectiveness, calculation skills, and flexibility achieved with the help of reinforcement training methods.
Learn more about DeepSeek-R1, its capabilities, and how it compares to other AI models in our in-depth blog on DeepSeek-R1.
ChatGPT vs. DeepSeek: Key Differences

Strengths & Weaknesses
ChatGPT (OpenAI o1) Strengths
- Coding proficiency: Slightly superior in coding skills and in competitive coding programs.
- Enterprise readiness: The level of security is high, suitable for extremely protected sectors.
- Reliable: This has been tested and optimized for usage, especially in large solutions.
ChatGPT Weaknesses
- Expensive: Costs significantly more than DeepSeek-R1.
- Less flexible: The program is closed source and doesn’t allow many changes to be made.
DeepSeek-R1 Strengths
- Affordable: More than, 9000% cheaper than ChatGPT in terms of the computational cost.
- Open source: the model can be modified accommodating to the required enhancements of different developers.
- Mathematical aptitude and computation skills: Possesses good mathematical skills to solve different calculations or problems.
DeepSeek Weaknesses
- Threats & Opportunities: AOCs are open-source software, hence making them potentially compromised without protection measures.
- Less tested in the enterprise: OpenAI is comparatively new in the marketplace, in contrast to the OpenAI ecosystem.
Cost Comparison: DeepSeek Is the Budget King
For businesses and developers that need to train and manage large AI models, DeepSeek-R1 would be cheaper in comparison to ChatGPT.
ChatGPT (OpenAI o1):
- Input cost: $15 per 1M tokens
- Output cost: $60 per 1M tokens
DeepSeek-R1:
- Input cost: $0.55 per 1M tokens
- Output cost: $2.19 per 1M tokens
In case budget is an issue, DeepSeek provides the same high-level AI service at a lower price.
Best Use Cases: When to Choose Which?
When to Choose ChatGPT (OpenAI o1):
- Enterprises with high-security needs
- Companies that focus on coding and software development
- Industries with strict compliance requirements
When to Choose DeepSeek-R1:
- Startups and businesses on a budget
- Organizations that need open-source flexibility
- Projects that need fast calculations
ChatGPT vs. DeepSeek: Which One is Right for You?
If you are a privacy-conscious user dealing with personal information or working in banking or a finance company, then ChatGPT would be better for you. It is safer for use in the professional environment because it maintains the standards of Western countries in the processing of personal information and the availability of such data.
However, if you decide to work with technical matters and seek cheap prices, DeepSeek is a useful platform with powerful code and mathematics skills.
It is up to user preferences whether they need the general and private purpose of the model (ChatGPT), or better performance and fewer costs (DeepSeek).

The Future of AI: Who Will Win?
Both models play their role in the AI processes in some way or the other. ChatGPT is more reliable and secure than DeepSeek, and it is a better choice for coding; however, DeepSeek is cheaper and has a strong likelihood of being open source.
Thus, it is clear that in the future there may be a segmented approach to favoring AI models, which will use both, depending on the need.
Final Thoughts
AI is rapidly changing the systems in almost every economic sector, and it is high time to get updated. If you are looking to pursue a career that includes skills such as AI coding, systems design, or software development, Bosscoder Academy has online courses towards making you secure a high paying tech job.
FAQs
Q1. Which is better for coding ChatGPT or DeepSeek?
ChatGPT is marginally superior when it comes to competitive coding, but DeepSeek shines in mathematical computations.
Q2. Which AI model is cheaper?
DeepSeek is, 9000 times cheaper than ChatGPT in terms of computational costs.
Q3. Is ChatGPT more secure than DeepSeek?
Yes, ChatGPT is very secure and also complies with all the enterprise security and privacy standards needed. Due to the fact that DeepSeek is open source, there is a risk it might need additional layers of security.
Q4. Can I use DeepSeek for free?
Yes, DeepSeek-R1 is open-source and therefore does not require one to pay expensive licensing fees before using it.
Q5. Who should use DeepSeek?
Startups, developers, and researchers who want an entry-level but powerful model of an AI system that will allow them to adapt to the process and not limit it, given the fact that big data is its main component.