OpenAI compatible API · Attested · Public status

DeepSeek: DeepSeek V4 Flash 0731 vs Inception: Mercury 2

DeepSeek V4 Flash 0731 has the lower published input-plus-output rate, more Credits provider routes, the larger context window and the lower measured p50 time to first token. Compare price, speed, context, and privacy.

Verify gateway

Onebase URL to migrate

100sof models and routes

0prompt or output logs. Always.

Compare routesProviders, price, context, and policy posture in one view.

Use auto when uptime mattersKeep a primary model and let fallback handle provider failures.

Same API shapeUse the OpenAI client and set the model you want.

Practical read

Monthly evidence

DeepSeek V4 Flash 0731 has the lower published input-plus-output rate, more Credits provider routes, the larger context window and the lower measured p50 time to first token.

$0.142425/1MDeepSeek: DeepSeek V4 Flash 0731 cheapest route

$1.055/1MInception: Mercury 2 cheapest route

654 msDeepSeek: DeepSeek V4 Flash 0731 fastest measured p50 TTFT via mancer

1439 msInception: Mercury 2 fastest measured p50 TTFT via inception

The price comparison adds each route's rate for one million input tokens and one million output tokens; your cost depends on your input/output mix. Prices and live route measurements can change. Use the monthly reports when you need a stable evidence window, then run a small task-specific eval before choosing a production default.

DeepSeek: DeepSeek V4 Flash 0731Inception: Mercury 2

Model iddeepseek/deepseek-v4-flash-0731inception/mercury-2

Publisher DeepSeek Inception Labs

AI IQ — IQ 93#145

Context1,048,576 tokens128,000 tokens

Credits provider routes271

Cheapest route$0.142425/1M$1.055/1M

Cached input$0.01/1M to $0.118793/1M$0.026375/1M

Privacy posturehas Confidential route (E2EE + ZDR)provider posture varies

Fastest measured p50 TTFT654 ms via mancer1439 ms via inception

Highest measured throughput178 tok/s via confidential-ai198 tok/s via inception

Recent route uptime range0.00% to 100.00%100.00%

Modes chat chat decide

DeepSeek: DeepSeek V4 Flash 0731 routes

Overview27 Credits routes
PricingInput, cached input, and output rates
ProvidersAll serving providers

Inception: Mercury 2 routes

Overview1 Credits routes

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Production choice

Pick a default model. Keep fallback enabled.

TrustedRouter is useful when you know the model you want, but still need provider rollover, budget limits, usage records, and a prompt path you can verify.

OpenAI clientPython

client = OpenAI(
    base_url="https://api.trustedrouter.com/v1",
    api_key="sk-tr-v1-..."
)

response = client.chat.completions.create(
    model="deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash-0731",
    messages=messages,
)

Questions

Which should I use, DeepSeek: DeepSeek V4 Flash 0731 or Inception: Mercury 2?

DeepSeek V4 Flash 0731 has the lower published input-plus-output rate, more Credits provider routes, the larger context window and the lower measured p50 time to first token.

Is DeepSeek: DeepSeek V4 Flash 0731 or Inception: Mercury 2 cheaper?

The current cheapest TrustedRouter route is $0.142425/1M for DeepSeek: DeepSeek V4 Flash 0731 and $1.055/1M for Inception: Mercury 2. The comparison uses current catalog prices and updates as provider pricing changes.

Is DeepSeek: DeepSeek V4 Flash 0731 or Inception: Mercury 2 faster?

Current measured p50 time to first token is 654 ms for DeepSeek: DeepSeek V4 Flash 0731 and 1439 ms for Inception: Mercury 2. These are routed probe measurements, not vendor-advertised speeds, and update as new samples arrive.

Can I test DeepSeek: DeepSeek V4 Flash 0731 and Inception: Mercury 2 with the same API?

Yes. Use the same OpenAI-compatible TrustedRouter base URL and API key, then change only the model id between deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash-0731 and inception/mercury-2. This makes side-by-side evals possible without maintaining two provider integrations.