QUICK VERDICT — JULY 23, 2026
● Cheapest input: DeepSeek V4 Pro — $0.44/M vs 3.6 Flash $1.50/M (3x cheaper)
● Fastest output: Gemini 3.6 Flash — 304 tok/s
● Computer Use: Gemini 3.6 Flash only
● US data residency: Gemini 3.6 Flash — Google infrastructure
● Thinking mode: V4 Pro defaults ON — set OFF for fast tasks
● Deadline note: deepseek-chat and deepseek-reasoner aliases break July 24 at 15:59 UTC
| Model | Input /1M | Output /1M | Speed | Computer Use | Data |
|---|
| DeepSeek V4 Pro | $0.44 | $0.87 | N/A | No | China NI Law ⚠ |
| Gemini 3.6 Flash | $1.50 | $7.50 | 304 tok/s | Built in | US ✓ |
DeepSeek V4 Pro: Maximum cost efficiency for text generation, reasoning, and coding where data residency is not a constraint. 3x cheaper than Flash. Strong on complex reasoning tasks (thinking ON by default). Best for non-regulated high-volume workloads with no browser automation needs.
Gemini 3.6 Flash: Agentic pipelines needing Computer Use, regulated workloads requiring US data residency, high-speed outputs (304 tok/s), and teams in the Google ecosystem. Worth the 3x price premium if any of these apply.
Last updated July 23, 2026. Related: DeepSeek V4 migration guide → · Gemini 3.6 Flash vs GPT-5.6 Terra →
⚖ Our Verdict
DeepSeek V4 Pro wins on price (3x cheaper — $0.44/$0.87/M vs $1.50/$7.50/M). Gemini 3.6 Flash wins on Computer Use (built in), US data residency, and speed (304 tok/s). Use V4 Pro for maximum cost efficiency on non-regulated text/reasoning workloads. Use 3.6 Flash for agentic automation, regulated workloads, or speed-sensitive pipelines.