GPT-5.5 vs Magistral Small
GPT-5.5 vs Magistral Small: Magistral Small is cheaper for input-heavy usage ($0.50/M vs $5.00/M input tokens), while GPT-5.5 is better for long-context tasks (1,050,000 tokens).
Direct answer: choose Magistral Small for lower token spend and choose GPT-5.5 when your workload needs longer context.
Common pricing searches covered on this page: GPT-5.5 vs Magistral Small • GPT-5.5 vs Magistral Small pricing • GPT-5.5 vs Magistral Small API pricing and 5 5 vs magistral small pricing.
Cost Comparison (1000 input + 500 output tokens, 100 requests/day)
GPT-5.5
Magistral Small
Cost Differences
Magistral Small costs less than GPT-5.5
Quick Recommendation
Winner for direct API pricing: Magistral Small. At the default workload, Magistral Small saves about $56.25/month ($684.375/year) versus GPT-5.5.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | GPT-5.5 | Magistral Small |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | OpenAI | Mistral AI |
| Input Price | $5.00/1M tokens | $0.50/1M tokens |
| Output Price | $30.00/1M tokens | $1.50/1M tokens |
| Context Window | 1,050,000 tokens | 128,000 tokens |
| Max Output | 128,000 tokens | 16,384 tokens |
| Category | flagship | reasoning |
| Capabilities | textvisioncodereasoning | textreasoning |
| Release Date | 4/24/2026 | 12/15/2025 |
GPT-5.5 vs Magistral Small: Which Should You Choose?
Choosing between GPT-5.5 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 — 90% cheaper than GPT-5.5. Meanwhile, GPT-5.5 offers a significantly larger context window at 1,050,000 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-5.5 is a flagship model while Magistral Small is reasoning. This means they're optimized for different workloads. GPT-5.5 is built for complex tasks that require deeper reasoning, while Magistral Small offers better value for routine operations.
Output costs matter too. GPT-5.5 charges $30.00/1M 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-5.5 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-5.5 when:
- • You need a larger context window (1,050,000 tokens)
- • You need more capabilities (vision, code)
- • You need longer outputs (up to 128,000 tokens)
- • 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
Pros and Caveats at a Glance
GPT-5.5
- • Input pricing: $5.00/M tokens
- • Output pricing: $30.00/M tokens
- • Context window: 1,050,000 tokens
- • Max output: 128,000 tokens
Watch out for
- • Higher input cost than Magistral Small
- • Higher output cost than Magistral Small
Magistral Small
- • Input pricing: $0.50/M tokens
- • Output pricing: $1.50/M tokens
- • Context window: 128,000 tokens
- • Max output: 16,384 tokens
Watch out for
- • Smaller context window than GPT-5.5
Try Different Scenarios
Use the calculator below to see how costs change with different usage patterns
GPT-5.5 (OpenAI)
Magistral Small (Mistral AI)
Start using GPT-5.5 today
Sign Up for OpenAI →Start using Magistral Small today
Sign Up for Mistral AI →Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, GPT-5.5 or Magistral Small?▼
What is the context window difference between GPT-5.5 and Magistral Small?▼
Which model is better for AI Chatbot?▼
Which model has better overall pricing for heavy usage?▼
Where can I compare OpenAI and Mistral AI API pricing beyond this model matchup?▼
Related Comparisons
Related Articles
Learn when to pick each model, then compare live pricing scenarios.