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Grok 4.1 Fast vs Mistral Small 4

Compare xAI and Mistral AI AI models

xAI
Grok 4.1 Fast
vs
Mistral AI
Mistral Small 4

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

Grok 4.1 Fast

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

Mistral Small 4

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

Cost Differences

$0.00
Per Request
$0.00
Daily
$0.00
Monthly
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Yearly

Mistral Small 4 costs less than Grok 4.1 Fast

Feature Comparison

FeatureGrok 4.1 FastMistral Small 4
ProviderxAIMistral AI
Input Price$0.20/1M tokens$0.15/1M tokens
Output Price$0.50/1M tokens$0.60/1M tokens
Context Window2,000,000 tokens128,000 tokens
Max Output131,072 tokens16,384 tokens
Categoryefficientefficient
Capabilities
textreasoningcode
textvisioncodereasoning
Release Date1/15/20263/18/2026

Grok 4.1 Fast vs Mistral Small 4: Which Should You Choose?

Choosing between Grok 4.1 Fast and Mistral Small 4 depends on your priorities: cost efficiency, context length, or raw capability. Grok 4.1 Fast is the more affordable option at $0.20/1M input tokens. Meanwhile, Grok 4.1 Fast offers a significantly larger context window at 2,000,000 tokens vs 128,000 for Mistral Small 4.

These models come from different providers — xAI and Mistral AI — which means different API ecosystems, SDKs, rate limits, and terms of service. If you're already integrated with xAI, switching to Mistral AIinvolves migration effort beyond just pricing. Factor in your existing infrastructure when deciding.

Both models are in the efficient category, making this a direct head-to-head comparison. At scale — say 10,000 requests per day — the cost difference adds up: Grok 4.1 Fast would save you roughly $0.00/month compared to Mistral Small 4. For startups and indie developers, that difference can be significant.

Output costs matter too. Grok 4.1 Fast charges $0.50/1M output tokens vs $0.60 for Mistral Small 4. For generation-heavy workloads (content creation, code generation, summarization), output pricing often dominates your bill. Grok 4.1 Fast has the edge here at $0.50/1M output tokens.

Multimodal capabilities: Mistral Small 4 supports vision (image inputs) while Grok 4.1 Fast is text-only. If your application needs image understanding, this narrows your choice.

Best Use Cases

Choose Grok 4.1 Fast when:

  • • You need a larger context window (2,000,000 tokens)
  • • You need longer outputs (up to 131,072 tokens)
  • • You're already using xAI's API ecosystem
  • • You're running high-volume, latency-sensitive workloads

Choose Mistral Small 4 when:

  • • Budget is a primary concern
  • • You need more capabilities (vision)
  • • 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

Grok 4.1 Fast (xAI)

Mistral Small 4 (Mistral AI)

Start using Grok 4.1 Fast today

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Start using Mistral Small 4 today

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, Grok 4.1 Fast or Mistral Small 4?
Grok 4.1 Fast is cheaper for input tokens at $0.20 per million tokens vs $0.15 for Mistral Small 4.
What is the context window difference between Grok 4.1 Fast and Mistral Small 4?
Grok 4.1 Fast supports 2,000,000 tokens while Mistral Small 4 supports 128,000 tokens — a difference of 1,872,000 tokens in favor of Grok 4.1 Fast.
Which model is better for AI Agent / Agentic Workflows?
Both models support text, code, reasoning. For ai agent / agentic workflows, Grok 4.1 Fast is the lower-cost option, while Grok 4.1 Fast offers a larger context window (2,000,000 vs 128,000 tokens). Choose Grok 4.1 Fast for budget sensitivity or Grok 4.1 Fast 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, Grok 4.1 Fast costs about $1.35/month and Mistral Small 4 costs about $1.35/month. Overall, Grok 4.1 Fast has lower combined input + output rates ($0.20 in, $0.50 out) vs Mistral Small 4.

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