MiniMax M3 (free) is free for input tokens while DeepSeek V4 Flash 0731 costs $0.14 per 1M tokens.
API cost decision in 10 seconds
🔥DeepSeek V4 Flash 0731 vs MiniMax M3 (free)
Pick MiniMax M3 (free) for lower cost; pick DeepSeek V4 Flash 0731 only if the larger context window matters more.
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Data confirmed:
Prices normalized to USD per 1M tokens
Sample workload: 1M input + 500K output
Budget verdict
Pick MiniMax M3 (free) for lower cost; pick DeepSeek V4 Flash 0731 only if the larger context window matters more.
On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, MiniMax M3 (free) is estimated at $0 vs $0.28 for DeepSeek V4 Flash 0731, saving $0.28 (100% lower).
Cost-first pickMiniMax M3 (free)
Context-first pickDeepSeek V4 Flash 0731
Sample savings$0.28100%
10x traffic gap$2.8
DeepSeek V4 Flash 0731 has more context, but MiniMax M3 (free) saves $0.28 on the standard workload. At 10x that traffic, the same price gap is about $2.8. Use the calculator below to replace the sample workload with your own token volume.
Cost sensitivity
Workload Sensitivity
MiniMax M3 (free) stays cheaper across input-heavy, balanced, and output-heavy sample workloads.
| Workload shape | Token mix | Better pick | DeepSeek V4 Flash 0731 | MiniMax M3 (free) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Input-heavy / RAG | 5M input + 500K output | MiniMax M3 (free) | $0.84 | $0 |
| Balanced workload | 1M input + 1M output | MiniMax M3 (free) | $0.42 | $0 |
| Output-heavy chatbot | 1M input + 5M output | MiniMax M3 (free) | $1.54 | $0 |
MiniMax M3 (free) is free for output tokens while DeepSeek V4 Flash 0731 costs $0.28 per 1M tokens.
DeepSeek V4 Flash 0731 has 262.14K more context (1.25x larger).
MiniMax M3 (free) is free for the standard workload while the other model is estimated at $0.28.
Estimate your workload cost
Your Workload Cost
This estimate uses normalized public API pricing per 1M tokens. It is a planning aid, not a billing quote. Verify provider pricing, limits, and terms before production use.
Quick Decision
MiniMax M3 (free) has the lower input price; MiniMax M3 (free) has the lower output price; DeepSeek V4 Flash 0731 offers the larger context window. For the 1M input plus 500K output sample, MiniMax M3 (free) is cheaper for the standard workload.
For a 1M input token plus 500K output token workload, the estimated API cost is $0.28 for DeepSeek V4 Flash 0731 and $0 for MiniMax M3 (free).
Choose DeepSeek V4 Flash 0731 when you care most about larger context window.
Choose MiniMax M3 (free) when you care most about lower input-token price, and lower output-token price.
- On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, MiniMax M3 (free) is estimated at $0 vs $0.28 for DeepSeek V4 Flash 0731, saving $0.28 (100% lower).
- MiniMax M3 (free) is free for the standard workload while the other model is estimated at $0.28.
- MiniMax M3 (free) is free for input tokens while DeepSeek V4 Flash 0731 costs $0.14 per 1M tokens.
- MiniMax M3 (free) is free for output tokens while DeepSeek V4 Flash 0731 costs $0.28 per 1M tokens.
- DeepSeek V4 Flash 0731 has 262.14K more context (1.25x larger).
| Feature | 🔥DeepSeek V4 Flash 0731 (DeepSeek) | MiniMax M3 (free) (MiniMax) |
|---|---|---|
| Input Price prompt tokens per 1M | $0.14 | $0 |
| Completion Price per 1M tokens | $0.28 | $0 |
| Sample Workload Cost 1M input + 500K output | $0.28 | $0 |
| Context Window | 1.31M | 1.05M |
| Release Date | ||
| Popularity | #2 |
Use-Case Decision Matrix
| Use case | Better pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Budget-constrained production | MiniMax M3 (free) | On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, MiniMax M3 (free) is estimated at $0 vs $0.28 for DeepSeek V4 Flash 0731, saving $0.28 (100% lower). |
| High-volume input processing | MiniMax M3 (free) | Lower prompt-token price matters most when prompts, retrieved passages, or documents dominate the bill. |
| Long responses and chatbots | MiniMax M3 (free) | Lower output-token price matters most when assistants generate many completion tokens. |
| RAG or long-document work | DeepSeek V4 Flash 0731 | A larger context window leaves more room for retrieved passages, conversation history, or source files. |
Related Alternatives
- DeepSeek V4 Flash (free) can replace DeepSeek V4 Flash 0731 when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.
- DeepSeek V4 Flash 0423 can replace DeepSeek V4 Flash 0731 when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.18.
- No larger-context model is currently tracked within a close sample-cost band.
- Ox Alpha · stealth · #1
- MiMo-V2.5 · Xiaomi · #3
- Hy3 · Tencent · #4
- DeepSeek V4 Flash 0423 · DeepSeek · #5
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