Codex Mini vs Mistral Medium 3.5
Codex Mini vs Mistral Medium 3.5: Codex Mini is cheaper for input-heavy usage ($1.50/M vs $1.50/M input tokens), while Mistral Medium 3.5 is better for long-context tasks (256,000 tokens).
Direct answer: choose Codex Mini for lower token spend and choose Mistral Medium 3.5 when your workload needs longer context.
Compare input and output token pricing, context windows, and monthly cost estimates on one page so you can pick the cheaper model fast.
Cost Comparison (1000 input + 500 output tokens, 100 requests/day)
Codex Mini
Mistral Medium 3.5
Cost Differences
Mistral Medium 3.5 costs more than Codex Mini
Quick Recommendation
Winner for direct API pricing: Codex Mini. At the default workload, Codex Mini saves about $2.25/month ($27.375/year) versus Mistral Medium 3.5.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Codex Mini | Mistral Medium 3.5 |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | OpenAI | Mistral AI |
| Input Price | $1.50/1M tokens | $1.50/1M tokens |
| Output Price | $6.00/1M tokens | $7.50/1M tokens |
| Context Window | 200,000 tokens | 256,000 tokens |
| Max Output | 32,768 tokens | 32,768 tokens |
| Category | efficient | flagship |
| Capabilities | textcodereasoning | textvisioncodereasoning |
| Release Date | 2/2/2026 | 4/29/2026 |
Codex Mini vs Mistral Medium 3.5: Which Should You Choose?
Choosing between Codex Mini and Mistral Medium 3.5 depends on your priorities: cost efficiency, context length, or raw capability. Codex Mini is the more affordable option at $1.50/1M input tokens. Meanwhile, Mistral Medium 3.5 offers a significantly larger context window at 256,000 tokens vs 200,000 for Codex Mini.
These models come from different providers — OpenAI and Mistral AI — which means different API ecosystems, SDKs, rate limits, and terms of service. If you're already integrated with OpenAI, switching to Mistral AIinvolves migration effort beyond just pricing. Factor in your existing infrastructure when deciding.
These models target different tiers: Codex Mini is a efficient model while Mistral Medium 3.5 is flagship. This means they're optimized for different workloads. Mistral Medium 3.5 targets more demanding workloads, while Codex Mini provides a cost-effective option for everyday tasks.
Output costs matter too. Codex Mini charges $6.00/1M output tokens vs $7.50 for Mistral Medium 3.5. For generation-heavy workloads (content creation, code generation, summarization), output pricing often dominates your bill. Codex Mini has the edge here at $6.00/1M output tokens.
Multimodal capabilities: Mistral Medium 3.5 supports vision (image inputs) while Codex Mini is text-only. If your application needs image understanding, this narrows your choice.
Best Use Cases
Choose Codex Mini when:
- • You're already using OpenAI's API ecosystem
- • You're running high-volume, latency-sensitive workloads
Choose Mistral Medium 3.5 when:
- • You need a larger context window (256,000 tokens)
- • You need more capabilities (vision)
- • You're already using Mistral AI's API ecosystem
Pros and Caveats at a Glance
Codex Mini
- • Input pricing: $1.50/M tokens
- • Output pricing: $6.00/M tokens
- • Context window: 200,000 tokens
- • Max output: 32,768 tokens
Watch out for
- • Smaller context window than Mistral Medium 3.5
Mistral Medium 3.5
- • Input pricing: $1.50/M tokens
- • Output pricing: $7.50/M tokens
- • Context window: 256,000 tokens
- • Max output: 32,768 tokens
Watch out for
- • Higher output cost than Codex Mini
Try Different Scenarios
Use the calculator below to see how costs change with different usage patterns
Codex Mini (OpenAI)
Mistral Medium 3.5 (Mistral AI)
Start using Codex Mini today
Sign Up for OpenAI →Start using Mistral Medium 3.5 today
Sign Up for Mistral AI →Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, Codex Mini or Mistral Medium 3.5?▼
What is the context window difference between Codex Mini and Mistral Medium 3.5?▼
Which model is better for AI Agent / Agentic Workflows?▼
Which model has better overall pricing for heavy usage?▼
Where can I compare OpenAI and Mistral AI API pricing beyond this model matchup?▼
Related Comparisons
Related Articles
Learn when to pick each model, then compare live pricing scenarios.