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GPT-4o vs Magistral Small

Compare OpenAI and Mistral AI AI models

OpenAI
GPT-4o
vs
Mistral AI
Magistral Small

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

GPT-4o

Per Request:$0.007500
Daily:$0.75
Monthly:$22.50
Yearly:$273.75

Magistral Small

Per Request:$0.001250
Daily:$0.125
Monthly:$3.75
Yearly:$45.625

Cost Differences

$0.006250
Per Request
$0.625
Daily
$18.75
Monthly
$228.125
Yearly

Magistral Small costs less than GPT-4o

Feature Comparison

FeatureGPT-4oMagistral Small
ProviderOpenAIMistral AI
Input Price$2.50/1M tokens$0.50/1M tokens
Output Price$10.00/1M tokens$1.50/1M tokens
Context Window128,000 tokens128,000 tokens
Max Output16,384 tokens16,384 tokens
Categoryflagshipreasoning
Capabilities
textvisionaudio
textreasoning
Release Date5/13/202412/15/2025

GPT-4o vs Magistral Small: Which Should You Choose?

Choosing between GPT-4o 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 tokens80% cheaper than GPT-4o.

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-4o is a flagship model while Magistral Small is reasoning. This means they're optimized for different workloads. GPT-4o is built for complex tasks that require deeper reasoning, while Magistral Small offers better value for routine operations.

Output costs matter too. GPT-4o charges $10.00/1M 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-4o 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-4o when:

  • • You need more capabilities (vision, audio)
  • • You're already using OpenAI's API ecosystem

Choose Magistral Small when:

  • • Budget is a primary concern
  • • 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-4o (OpenAI)

Magistral Small (Mistral AI)

Start using GPT-4o today

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Start using Magistral Small today

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, GPT-4o or Magistral Small?
Magistral Small is cheaper for input tokens at $0.50 per million tokens vs $2.50 for GPT-4o — that's 80% savings on input costs.
What is the context window difference between GPT-4o and Magistral Small?
GPT-4o supports 128,000 tokens while Magistral Small supports 128,000 tokens — a difference of 0 tokens in favor of GPT-4o.
Which model is better for AI Chatbot?
Both models support text. For ai chatbot, Magistral Small is the lower-cost option, while GPT-4o offers a larger context window (128,000 vs 128,000 tokens). Choose Magistral Small for budget sensitivity or GPT-4o 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-4o costs about $22.50/month and Magistral Small costs about $3.75/month. Overall, Magistral Small has lower combined input + output rates ($0.50 in, $1.50 out) vs GPT-4o.

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