DeepSeek V4 Pro vs Llama 4 405B for coding: which is better in 2026?

A head-to-head look at DeepSeek V4 Pro and Llama 4 405B for coding. Benchmarks via artificialanalysis.ai, pricing as of May 2026. Compare AI models like these inside Admix.

Quick verdict

For coding in May 2026, DeepSeek V4 Pro edges out Llama 4 405B on the codingIndex metric. Cheapest serious coding model, very strong on algorithmic tasks.

Side-by-side specs

Spec	DeepSeek	Llama
Intelligence index	72.8	71.5
Coding index	74.5	69.0
Context window	256K tokens	256K tokens
Speed (tok/s)	120	95
Input $/M	$0.27	$0.90
Output $/M	$1.10	$2.70
Released	Mar 4, 2026	Nov 5, 2025

How they handle coding

DeepSeek V4 Pro: Cheapest serious coding model, very strong on algorithmic tasks.

Llama 4 405B: Best fully open-weights model. The main caveat is trails closed flagships on coding.

Cost per 1,000 queries

Assuming 1,500 input and 800 output tokens per query:

DeepSeek V4 Pro: $1.29 per 1,000 queries
Llama 4 405B: $3.51 per 1,000 queries

Verdict by sub-task

Best raw quality on coding:
Best price: DeepSeek V4 Pro
Longest context: DeepSeek V4 Pro
Fastest: DeepSeek V4 Pro

FAQ

Is DeepSeek V4 Pro better than Llama 4 405B for coding?

On May 2026 benchmarks (artificialanalysis.ai), DeepSeek V4 Pro ranks higher than Llama 4 405B for coding on the codingIndex metric. The gap is small enough that the choice often comes down to price, context length, and tone.

Which is cheaper, DeepSeek V4 Pro or Llama 4 405B?

DeepSeek V4 Pro costs $0.27 input and $1.10 output per million tokens. Llama 4 405B costs $0.90 input and $2.70 output per million tokens.

Can I use both DeepSeek and Llama in one app?

Yes. Admix is a multi model AI chat aggregator that lets you run DeepSeek V4 Pro and Llama 4 405B side by side under one subscription.

Sources

Benchmarks from artificialanalysis.ai (May 2026).

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