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GPT-4.1 mini vs Mistral Medium 3.1

Compare OpenAI and Mistral AI AI models

OpenAI
GPT-4.1 mini
vs
Mistral AI
Mistral Medium 3.1

Cost Comparison (1000 input + 500 output tokens, 100 requests/day)

GPT-4.1 mini

Per Request:$0.001200
Daily:$0.12
Monthly:$3.60
Yearly:$43.80

Mistral Medium 3.1

Per Request:$0.001400
Daily:$0.14
Monthly:$4.20
Yearly:$51.10

Cost Differences

+$0.000200
Per Request
+$0.02
Daily
+$0.60
Monthly
+$7.30
Yearly

Mistral Medium 3.1 costs more than GPT-4.1 mini

Feature Comparison

FeatureGPT-4.1 miniMistral Medium 3.1
ProviderOpenAIMistral AI
Input Price$0.40/1M tokens$0.40/1M tokens
Output Price$1.60/1M tokens$2.00/1M tokens
Context Window200,000 tokens131,072 tokens
Max Output16,384 tokens16,384 tokens
Categoryefficientbalanced
Capabilities
textvisioncode
textcodereasoning
Release Date4/14/20258/1/2025

GPT-4.1 mini vs Mistral Medium 3.1: Which Should You Choose?

Choosing between GPT-4.1 mini and Mistral Medium 3.1 depends on your priorities: cost efficiency, context length, or raw capability. GPT-4.1 mini is the more affordable option at $0.40/1M input tokens. Meanwhile, GPT-4.1 mini offers a significantly larger context window at 200,000 tokens vs 131,072 for Mistral Medium 3.1.

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 Mistral Medium 3.1 is balanced. This means they're optimized for different workloads. Mistral Medium 3.1 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 $2.00 for Mistral Medium 3.1. For generation-heavy workloads (content creation, code generation, summarization), output pricing often dominates your bill. GPT-4.1 mini has the edge here at $1.60/1M output tokens.

Multimodal capabilities: GPT-4.1 mini supports vision (image inputs) while Mistral Medium 3.1 is text-only. If your application needs image understanding, this narrows your choice.

Best Use Cases

Choose GPT-4.1 mini when:

  • • You need a larger context window (200,000 tokens)
  • • You're already using OpenAI's API ecosystem
  • • You're running high-volume, latency-sensitive workloads

Choose Mistral Medium 3.1 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)

Mistral Medium 3.1 (Mistral AI)

Start using GPT-4.1 mini today

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Start using Mistral Medium 3.1 today

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, GPT-4.1 mini or Mistral Medium 3.1?
GPT-4.1 mini is cheaper for input tokens at $0.40 per million tokens vs $0.40 for Mistral Medium 3.1.
What is the context window difference between GPT-4.1 mini and Mistral Medium 3.1?
GPT-4.1 mini supports 200,000 tokens while Mistral Medium 3.1 supports 131,072 tokens — a difference of 68,928 tokens in favor of GPT-4.1 mini.
Which model is better for AI Chatbot?
Both models support text. For ai chatbot, GPT-4.1 mini is the lower-cost option, while GPT-4.1 mini offers a larger context window (200,000 vs 131,072 tokens). Choose GPT-4.1 mini for budget sensitivity or GPT-4.1 mini for longer context tasks.
Which model has better overall pricing for heavy usage?
At 100 requests/day with 1,000 input and 500 output tokens each, GPT-4.1 mini costs about $3.60/month and Mistral Medium 3.1 costs about $4.20/month. Overall, GPT-4.1 mini has lower combined input + output rates ($0.40 in, $1.60 out) vs Mistral Medium 3.1.

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