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GPT-4o vs Mistral Small 4

Compare OpenAI and Mistral AI AI models

OpenAI
GPT-4o
vs
Mistral AI
Mistral Small 4

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

Mistral Small 4

Per Request:$0.000450
Daily:$0.045
Monthly:$1.35
Yearly:$16.425

Cost Differences

$0.007050
Per Request
$0.705
Daily
$21.15
Monthly
$257.325
Yearly

Mistral Small 4 costs less than GPT-4o

Feature Comparison

FeatureGPT-4oMistral Small 4
ProviderOpenAIMistral AI
Input Price$2.50/1M tokens$0.15/1M tokens
Output Price$10.00/1M tokens$0.60/1M tokens
Context Window128,000 tokens128,000 tokens
Max Output16,384 tokens16,384 tokens
Categoryflagshipefficient
Capabilities
textvisionaudio
textvisioncodereasoning
Release Date5/13/20243/18/2026

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

Choosing between GPT-4o and Mistral Small 4 depends on your priorities: cost efficiency, context length, or raw capability. Mistral Small 4 is the more affordable option at $0.15/1M input tokens94% 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 Mistral Small 4 is efficient. This means they're optimized for different workloads. GPT-4o is built for complex tasks that require deeper reasoning, while Mistral Small 4 offers better value for routine operations.

Output costs matter too. GPT-4o charges $10.00/1M output tokens vs $0.60 for Mistral Small 4. For generation-heavy workloads (content creation, code generation, summarization), output pricing often dominates your bill. Mistral Small 4 has the edge here at $0.60/1M output tokens.

Multimodal capabilities: Both models support vision (image understanding), so you can send images alongside text prompts with either option.

Best Use Cases

Choose GPT-4o when:

  • • You're already using OpenAI's API ecosystem

Choose Mistral Small 4 when:

  • • Budget is a primary concern
  • • You need more capabilities (code, reasoning)
  • • You're already using Mistral AI's API ecosystem
  • • You're running high-volume, latency-sensitive workloads

Try Different Scenarios

Use the calculator below to see how costs change with different usage patterns

GPT-4o (OpenAI)

Mistral Small 4 (Mistral AI)

Start using GPT-4o today

Sign Up for OpenAI

Start using Mistral Small 4 today

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, GPT-4o or Mistral Small 4?
Mistral Small 4 is cheaper for input tokens at $0.15 per million tokens vs $2.50 for GPT-4o — that's 94% savings on input costs.
What is the context window difference between GPT-4o and Mistral Small 4?
GPT-4o supports 128,000 tokens while Mistral Small 4 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, Mistral Small 4 is the lower-cost option, while GPT-4o offers a larger context window (128,000 vs 128,000 tokens). Choose Mistral Small 4 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 Mistral Small 4 costs about $1.35/month. Overall, Mistral Small 4 has lower combined input + output rates ($0.15 in, $0.60 out) vs GPT-4o.

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