GPT-4.1 mini vs Magistral Small
Compare OpenAI and Mistral AI AI models
Cost Comparison (1000 input + 500 output tokens, 100 requests/day)
GPT-4.1 mini
Magistral Small
Cost Differences
Magistral Small costs more than GPT-4.1 mini
Feature Comparison
| Feature | GPT-4.1 mini | Magistral Small |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | OpenAI | Mistral AI |
| Input Price | $0.40/1M tokens | $0.50/1M tokens |
| Output Price | $1.60/1M tokens | $1.50/1M tokens |
| Context Window | 200,000 tokens | 128,000 tokens |
| Max Output | 16,384 tokens | 16,384 tokens |
| Category | efficient | reasoning |
| Capabilities | textvisioncode | textreasoning |
| Release Date | 4/14/2025 | 12/15/2025 |
GPT-4.1 mini vs Magistral Small: Which Should You Choose?
Choosing between GPT-4.1 mini and Magistral Small depends on your priorities: cost efficiency, context length, or raw capability. Magistral Small is the more affordable option at $0.50/1M input tokens. Meanwhile, GPT-4.1 mini offers a significantly larger context window at 200,000 tokens vs 128,000 for Magistral Small.
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: GPT-4.1 mini is a efficient model while Magistral Small is reasoning. This means they're optimized for different workloads. Magistral Small targets more demanding workloads, while GPT-4.1 mini provides a cost-effective option for everyday tasks.
Output costs matter too. GPT-4.1 mini charges $1.60/1M output tokens vs $1.50 for Magistral Small. For generation-heavy workloads (content creation, code generation, summarization), output pricing often dominates your bill. Magistral Small has the edge here at $1.50/1M output tokens.
Multimodal capabilities: GPT-4.1 mini supports vision (image inputs) while Magistral Small is text-only. If your application needs image understanding, this narrows your choice.
Best Use Cases
Choose GPT-4.1 mini when:
- • Budget is a primary concern
- • You need a larger context window (200,000 tokens)
- • You need more capabilities (vision, code)
- • You're already using OpenAI's API ecosystem
- • You're running high-volume, latency-sensitive workloads
Choose Magistral Small when:
- • You're already using Mistral AI's API ecosystem
Try Different Scenarios
Use the calculator below to see how costs change with different usage patterns
GPT-4.1 mini (OpenAI)
Magistral Small (Mistral AI)
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