DeepSeek V4.1 Flash (1017) vs OpenAI GPT-4.1 — API Pricing, 150K Cache & Latency Benchmark
Side-by-side unit economics audit comparing DeepSeek V4.1 Flash (1017) (deepseek/deepseek-v4.1-flash-1017: Input $0.15/1M, Output $0.6/1M, Warm Cache Read $0.015/1M) against OpenAI GPT-4.1 (openai/gpt-4.1: Input $2/1M, Output $8/1M, Warm Cache Read $0.5/1M).
Activate 4-breakpoint prefix caching on DeepSeek V4.1 Flash (1017) to cut input token costs from $0.15/1M down to $0.015/1M, or route async workloads via Batch API for 50% off.
Lock static system prompt prefixes on OpenAI GPT-4.1 to pay $0.5/1M warm cache rates instead of $2/1M uncached input, plus eligible startup cloud credits.
In Etuki FinOps telemetry comparing DeepSeek V4.1 Flash (1017) (API ID: deepseek/deepseek-v4.1-flash-1017) vs OpenAI GPT-4.1 (API ID: openai/gpt-4.1), DeepSeek V4.1 Flash (1017) offers lower standard uncached input pricing at $0.15/1M tokens, while DeepSeek V4.1 Flash (1017) leads in 10-turn 150K cache-pinned coding economics at $0.0547 per 10 turns (saving $1.0803 over OpenAI GPT-4.1). For latency-sensitive interactive agents, DeepSeek V4.1 Flash (1017) delivers 185ms faster P90 time-to-first-token (225ms vs 410ms).
| Specification / FinOps Dimension | DeepSeek V4.1 Flash (1017) (deepseek/deepseek-v4.1-flash-1017) | OpenAI GPT-4.1 (openai/gpt-4.1) | Verified Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official Vendor API ID | deepseek/deepseek-v4.1-flash-1017 | openai/gpt-4.1 | UMCE 563-Registry Locked |
| 563-Registry & Routing Eligibility | is_known: true | routable: true | is_known: true | routable: true | Both Merkle Verified |
| Standard Uncached Input (/1M tokens) | $0.15 / 1M | $2 / 1M | DeepSeek V4.1 Flash (1017) |
| Warm Prefix Cache Read (/1M tokens) | $0.015 / 1M | $0.5 / 1M | DeepSeek V4.1 Flash (1017) |
| Standard Output (/1M tokens) | $0.6 / 1M | $8 / 1M | DeepSeek V4.1 Flash (1017) |
| Context Window Capacity | 200K Tokens | 200K Tokens | DeepSeek V4.1 Flash (1017) |
| 150K Prompt × 10 Turns (Unpinned Cold + 2K Out) | $0.2370 | $3.1600 | DeepSeek V4.1 Flash (1017) |
| 150K × 10 Turns Case A (100% Static Pinned) | $0.0547 (saves $0.1823) | $1.1350 (saves $2.0250) | DeepSeek V4.1 Flash (1017) (-$1.0803) |
| 150K × 10 Turns Case B (90% Static + 10% Tail) | $0.0730 (saves $0.1640) | $1.3375 (saves $1.8225) | DeepSeek V4.1 Flash (1017) |
| P50 / P90 First-Token Latency | 153ms / 225ms (145 tok/s) | 279ms / 410ms (98 tok/s) | DeepSeek V4.1 Flash (1017) (-185ms) |
1. Full-Turn Rate-Card Substitution for DeepSeek V4.1 Flash (1017): At an uncached input rate of $0.15/1M, output rate of $0.6/1M, and warm cache read rate of $0.015/1M, running 10 consecutive 150,000-token coding agent turns (with 2,000 output tokens/turn) without prefix pinning costs $0.2370. Locking 100% static prefixes (Case A: 1 cold turn + 9 warm cached turns + 20K total output) reduces 10-turn spend to $0.0547 (saving $0.1823); under a 90% static prefix + 10% dynamic tail workload (Case B), 10-turn spend is $0.0730.
2. Full-Turn Rate-Card Substitution for OpenAI GPT-4.1 & Winner Verdict: On OpenAI GPT-4.1 ($2/1M input, $8/1M output, $0.5/1M warm cache), 10 unpinned 150K turns cost $3.1600, dropping to $1.1350 in Case A and $1.3375 in Case B. Across every 10-turn 150K coding loop (including output tokens), DeepSeek V4.1 Flash (1017) delivers an additional $1.0803 Case-A cost advantage.
Production Workload TCO: 25,000 MAU • 50M Tokens/Mo (50% Cache Hit) • 2,000 GB Egress
💡 Optimal FinOps Verdict: Deploying DeepSeek V4.1 Flash (1017) saves $120.70/month ($1448/year) at 25,000 MAU & 50M monthly tokens (80% input / 20% output split with 50% prefix cache hit rate).