# DeepSeek-V4 Flash Max ![Organization](https://img.shields.io/badge/Org-DeepSeek-3b82f6) ![License](https://img.shields.io/badge/License-Proprietary-d29922) ![Released](https://img.shields.io/badge/Released-Feb%202026-555) > **Quick answer:** DeepSeek-V4 Flash Max is DeepSeek's February 2026 cost-efficient frontier model, scoring 91.6% on LiveCodeBench, 86.2% on MMLU-Pro, 45.1% on HLE, and 79% on SWE-Bench Verified. It offers near-V4 Pro Max performance at lower cost. ## At a Glance **Where DeepSeek-V4 Flash Max leads** - 91.6% LiveCodeBench — near-ceiling coding performance - 79% SWE-Bench Verified — excellent real-world software engineering - 86.2% MMLU-Pro — strong academic knowledge - Lower cost than V4 Pro Max (Flash tier) - 45.1% Humanity's Last Exam **Where it lags** - Proprietary: closed weights - Slightly below V4 Pro Max on all benchmarks - Text-only **Best for:** Cost-optimised frontier coding at DeepSeek V4 generation; SWE-Bench-class software engineering tasks; production API with cost efficiency. ## What DeepSeek-V4 Flash Max Is DeepSeek-V4 Flash Max is the cost-efficient tier in the V4 generation — offering near-Pro Max performance at lower cost. The "Flash" naming convention (matching DeepSeek's faster/cheaper tier) indicates optimised inference with some benchmark trade-offs vs Pro Max. Its 79% SWE-Bench Verified score is particularly strong — placing it among the top models for real-world software engineering task completion. Combined with 91.6% LiveCodeBench, it is a premier choice for coding-intensive API workloads where cost matters. ## Specifications | Field | Value | |---|---| | Organization | DeepSeek | | License | Proprietary (API only) | | Release date | February 2026 | | Knowledge cutoff | September 2025 | | Modality | Text only | ## Pricing Available via DeepSeek API. Flash tier pricing is lower than Pro Max — refer to DeepSeek pricing page for current rates. ## Public Benchmark Scores | Benchmark | Score | Source | Date | |---|---|---|---| | [LiveCodeBench](/benchmarks/livecodebench) | 91.6% | Benchgen evaluation | 2026-02 | | [MMLU-Pro](/benchmarks/mmlu-pro) | 86.2% | Benchgen evaluation | 2026-02 | | [Humanity's Last Exam](/benchmarks/humanitys-last-exam) | 45.1% | Benchgen evaluation | 2026-02 | | [SWE-Bench Verified](/benchmarks/swe-bench-verified) | 79% | Benchgen evaluation | 2026-02 | ## DeepSeek-V4 Flash Max vs Alternatives | Model | LiveCodeBench | SWE-Bench | MMLU-Pro | License | |---|---|---|---|---| | **DeepSeek-V4 Flash Max** | 91.6% | 79% | 86.2% | Proprietary | | [DeepSeek-V4 Pro Max](/models/deepseek/deepseek-v4-pro-max) | 93.5% | — | 87.5% | Proprietary | | [DeepSeek-V3.2 Experimental](/models/deepseek/deepseek-v3-2-exp) | 74.1% | — | 85% | MIT | Flash Max vs Pro Max: -1.9pp LiveCodeBench, -1.3pp MMLU-Pro, lower cost. For budget-sensitive V4 API use: Flash Max. For maximum performance: Pro Max. For open weights: V3.2 Experimental. ## Related Models & Benchmarks - Compare: [DeepSeek-V4 Pro Max](/models/deepseek/deepseek-v4-pro-max) · [DeepSeek-V3.2 Experimental](/models/deepseek/deepseek-v3-2-exp) - Benchmarks: [LiveCodeBench](/benchmarks/livecodebench) · [SWE-Bench Verified](/benchmarks/swe-bench-verified) · [MMLU-Pro](/benchmarks/mmlu-pro) ## Frequently Asked Questions

What is DeepSeek-V4 Flash Max?

DeepSeek's February 2026 cost-efficient frontier model scoring 91.6% LiveCodeBench, 86.2% MMLU-Pro, 45.1% HLE, and 79% SWE-Bench Verified. Lower cost alternative to V4 Pro Max.

Should I use V4 Flash Max or V4 Pro Max?

Flash Max for cost-optimised coding tasks — near-Pro Max performance at lower API cost. Pro Max for maximum benchmark performance regardless of cost.

--- *Specs from DeepSeek's V4 release (February 2026) and Benchgen evaluations. Last updated 2026-07-24.*

DeepSeek-V4-Flash-Max — Files