DeepSeek: DeepSeek V3.2 API Price, Cost Calculator & Specs

DeepSeek V3.2 positions itself as an "efficient reasoning mid-range flagship" and "agent-first" model, offering architecture-level innovation rather than simple quantization. With input pricing at $0.28/1M tokens and output at $0.40/1M tokens (a 43% output premium), it delivers tool-use accuracy above 85%—approaching Claude 3.5 levels at only 60% of the cost. The model's DeepSeek Sparse Attention (DSA) mechanism provides 20-30% cost savings in long-text scenarios, while the configurable reasoning parameter enables dynamic cost control with 40-60% potential savings. Directly competitive with GPT-4o mini and Claude 3.5 Sonnet, V3.2 represents a strategic choice for applications requiring balanced performance and cost efficiency.

Cost Reality Check: While output tokens carry a 43% premium over input, the DSA mechanism and reasoning controls provide substantial optimization opportunities. Long-context applications benefit most from DSA's 20-30% savings, and disabling reasoning for simpler tasks can reduce costs by 40-60%. This makes V3.2 particularly attractive for variable workloads where cost can be tuned based on task complexity.

Best For:

Long document processing in legal and research fields—leveraging DSA plus 163K context window for efficient analysis of contracts, papers, and case files Agentic workflows and tool integration—utilizing the built-in task synthesis pipeline for complex multi-step operations with 85%+ accuracy Cost-sensitive reasoning tasks—ideal for educational tutoring and technical interview simulations where reasoning can be selectively enabled Code generation scenarios—deploying IOI gold-medal level code reasoning for development assistance and algorithmic problem solving

Not Recommended For: Simple Q&A and short text generation where the output premium makes it cost-inefficient compared to lighter models Real-time conversational applications where the 43% output price premium quickly accumulates with rapid response requirements