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Model Comparison

R1 vs Nemotron 3.5 LightningWhich Is Better in 2026?

DeepSeek: R1 logoDeepSeek•NVIDIA: Nemotron 3.5 Lightning logoNVIDIA

R1 vs Nemotron 3.5 Lightning: which should you choose in 2026?

R1 (by DeepSeek) and Nemotron 3.5 Lightning (by NVIDIA) are compared below. Here is how they stack up on benchmarks, price, and capabilities, and which one to pick in 2026.

There are not enough shared, protocol-compatible benchmark results to declare a performance leader.

Nemotron 3.5 Lightning is about 8.4× cheaper on a blended 3:1 input/output basis ($0.1375 vs $1.15 per 1M tokens).

Nemotron 3.5 Lightning has the larger context window (262,144 tokens vs 163,840 tokens).

Choose R1 if…

  • • your own prompt tests favor its output; shared comparable evidence does not identify a unique advantage

Choose Nemotron 3.5 Lightning if…

  • • lower blended API cost matters for your workload
  • • you work with longer documents, transcripts, or codebases

The benchmark count includes only results measured with a matching benchmark version and protocol. Arena scores are shown separately. Missing, preliminary, and incompatible data is not treated as a controlled win. Published point-score comparisons are labeled separately when protocol details are incomplete. For text-output models, the verdict also compares token pricing and context windows.

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Performance benchmarks

Every value links to its source. A dash means that no reviewed result is available for that exact model and protocol.

R1 and Nemotron 3.5 Lightning benchmark results
BenchmarkR1Nemotron 3.5 Lightning
AutomationBench-AA

A 657-task benchmark of multi-step work across simulated SaaS applications in six business domains. The Artificial Analysis protocol reports a guardrail-aware score and is distinct from both the public Zapier split and the unrelated dynamic AutoBench framework.

Guardrail-aware score

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BrowseComp

A benchmark of difficult, verifiable information-seeking questions designed to measure an agent's ability to locate hard-to-find facts through web browsing.

Accuracy

——
OSWorld-Verified

A verified computer-use benchmark in which multimodal agents operate desktop applications and are graded from the resulting environment state.

Mean task reward

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SWE-Bench Verified

A human-validated subset of real GitHub issues used to measure whether a coding agent can produce repository patches that resolve the associated tests.

Resolved

——
Terminal-Bench 2.1

Version 2.1 of the benchmark for completing realistic tasks in terminal environments. Harness, resource limits, and attempt count are part of the protocol.

Mean task success

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AutoBench

A dynamic LLM evaluation framework in which models generate questions, answer them, and participate in reciprocal peer assessment. AutoBench is distinct from Zapier's AutomationBench.

Weighted peer-assessment score

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GPQA Diamond

The highest-quality subset of Graduate-Level Google-Proof Q&A, designed to test expert-level scientific reasoning in biology, physics, and chemistry.

Accuracy

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Humanity's Last Exam

A 2,500-question expert-level benchmark spanning dozens of academic fields. Tool-assisted and no-tools results are separate protocols and must not be merged.

Accuracy

——
Arena preference scores
Arena (Text)

Human preference score

1398 ±5
—

Benchmark sources

Reviewed evidence last updated 2026-08-09. Arena data last refreshed Aug 12, 2026.

Pricing, capabilities, and model facts

R1 and Nemotron 3.5 Lightning model facts
FeatureR1Nemotron 3.5 Lightning
Context & model facts
DeveloperDeepSeekNVIDIA
API providerDeepSeekNVIDIA
Input context163,840 tokens262,144 tokens
Maximum output16,000 tokens262,144 tokens
Released——
Added to WritingmateJan 20, 2025Aug 11, 2026
LicenseNot availableNot available
Knowledge cutoff2024-07-31—
Capabilities
InputsTextText
OutputsTextText
Provider endpoint accepts tool parametersYesNo
ReasoningYesYes
VisionNoNo
Image GenerationNoNo
Video GenerationNoNo
API pricing
Input (per 1M tokens)$0.70$0.10
Output (per 1M tokens)$2.50$0.25
Blended 3:1 input/output$1.15$0.1375
API performance
p95 latencyNot measuredNot measured
Output throughputNot measuredNot measured
Writingmate shows API performance only when both models have enough observations from the same measurement window, prompt profile, and provider. Third-party latency values are not copied into this table.

Data sources

  • Writingmate model catalog (pricing, limits, and availability)

Catalog data last updated Aug 11, 2026.

Why Pay for Multiple Subscriptions?

Comparing R1 from DeepSeek with Nemotron 3.5 Lightning from NVIDIA? Instead of managing separate API keys and subscriptions, get both with Writingmate.

Subscription-plan access for R1 and Nemotron 3.5 Lightning
PlanPriceR1Nemotron 3.5 LightningAI ImagesAI Video
Writingmate Pro
Most popular
$20/moIncludedIncludedNano Banana Pro, FLUX.2, DALL-E & moreSora 2, VEO 3.1
Writingmate Ultimate
Power users
$60/moIncludedIncludedNano Banana Pro, FLUX.2, DALL-E & moreSora 2, VEO 3.1
View Plans & Pricing

R1 vs Nemotron 3.5 Lightning FAQ

Which is better, R1 or Nemotron 3.5 Lightning?

There are not enough shared, protocol-compatible benchmark results to declare a performance leader. Nemotron 3.5 Lightning is about 8.4× cheaper on a blended 3:1 input/output basis ($0.1375 vs $1.15 per 1M tokens). Nemotron 3.5 Lightning has the larger context window (262,144 tokens vs 163,840 tokens).

Which model is cheaper to use through an API?

Nemotron 3.5 Lightning is about 8.4× cheaper on a blended 3:1 input/output basis ($0.1375 vs $1.15 per 1M tokens).

Which model supports more context?

Nemotron 3.5 Lightning has the larger context window (262,144 tokens vs 163,840 tokens).

Can I switch between R1 and Nemotron 3.5 Lightning?

Yes. Use the model selector on this page to open any current Writingmate model comparison. You can also run the same prompt with both models in Writingmate.