GPT-5.1 vs Mistral Small 4
Compare OpenAI and Mistral AI AI models
Cost Comparison (1000 input + 500 output tokens, 100 requests/day)
GPT-5.1
Mistral Small 4
Cost Differences
Mistral Small 4 costs less than GPT-5.1
Feature Comparison
| Feature | GPT-5.1 | Mistral Small 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | OpenAI | Mistral AI |
| Input Price | $1.25/1M tokens | $0.15/1M tokens |
| Output Price | $10.00/1M tokens | $0.60/1M tokens |
| Context Window | 1,000,000 tokens | 128,000 tokens |
| Max Output | 131,072 tokens | 16,384 tokens |
| Category | flagship | efficient |
| Capabilities | textvisionaudiocodereasoning | textvisioncodereasoning |
| Release Date | 11/12/2025 | 3/18/2026 |
GPT-5.1 vs Mistral Small 4: Which Should You Choose?
Choosing between GPT-5.1 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 tokens — 88% cheaper than GPT-5.1. Meanwhile, GPT-5.1 offers a significantly larger context window at 1,000,000 tokens vs 128,000 for Mistral Small 4.
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-5.1 is a flagship model while Mistral Small 4 is efficient. This means they're optimized for different workloads. GPT-5.1 is built for complex tasks that require deeper reasoning, while Mistral Small 4 offers better value for routine operations.
Output costs matter too. GPT-5.1 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-5.1 when:
- • You need a larger context window (1,000,000 tokens)
- • You need more capabilities (audio)
- • You need longer outputs (up to 131,072 tokens)
- • You're already using OpenAI's API ecosystem
Choose Mistral Small 4 when:
- • Budget is a primary concern
- • 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-5.1 (OpenAI)
Mistral Small 4 (Mistral AI)
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