Grok 4.20 vs Magistral Small
Grok 4.20 vs Magistral Small: Magistral Small is cheaper for input-heavy usage ($0.50/M vs $1.25/M input tokens), while Grok 4.20 is better for long-context tasks (2,000,000 tokens).
Direct answer: choose Magistral Small for lower token spend and choose Grok 4.20 when your workload needs longer context.
Compare input and output token pricing, context windows, and monthly cost estimates on one page so you can pick the cheaper model fast.
Cost Comparison (1000 input + 500 output tokens, 100 requests/day)
Grok 4.20
Magistral Small
Cost Differences
Magistral Small costs less than Grok 4.20
Quick Recommendation
Winner for direct API pricing: Magistral Small. At the default workload, Magistral Small saves about $3.75/month ($45.625/year) versus Grok 4.20.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Grok 4.20 | Magistral Small |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | xAI | Mistral AI |
| Input Price | $1.25/1M tokens | $0.50/1M tokens |
| Output Price | $2.50/1M tokens | $1.50/1M tokens |
| Context Window | 2,000,000 tokens | 128,000 tokens |
| Max Output | 131,072 tokens | 16,384 tokens |
| Category | reasoning | reasoning |
| Capabilities | textvisionreasoningcode | textreasoning |
| Release Date | 2/17/2026 | 12/15/2025 |
Grok 4.20 vs Magistral Small: Which Should You Choose?
Choosing between Grok 4.20 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 — 60% cheaper than Grok 4.20. Meanwhile, Grok 4.20 offers a significantly larger context window at 2,000,000 tokens vs 128,000 for Magistral Small.
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 reasoning category, making this a direct head-to-head comparison. At scale — say 10,000 requests per day — the cost difference adds up: Magistral Small would save you roughly $375.00/month compared to Grok 4.20. For startups and indie developers, that difference can be significant.
Output costs matter too. Grok 4.20 charges $2.50/1M 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: Grok 4.20 supports vision (image inputs) while Magistral Small is text-only. If your application needs image understanding, this narrows your choice.
Best Use Cases
Choose Grok 4.20 when:
- • You need a larger context window (2,000,000 tokens)
- • You need more capabilities (vision, code)
- • You need longer outputs (up to 131,072 tokens)
- • You're already using xAI'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
Grok 4.20
- • Input pricing: $1.25/M tokens
- • Output pricing: $2.50/M tokens
- • Context window: 2,000,000 tokens
- • Max output: 131,072 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 Grok 4.20
Try Different Scenarios
Use the calculator below to see how costs change with different usage patterns
Grok 4.20 (xAI)
Magistral Small (Mistral AI)
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Which is cheaper, Grok 4.20 or Magistral Small?▼
What is the context window difference between Grok 4.20 and Magistral Small?▼
Which model is better for AI Chatbot?▼
Which model has better overall pricing for heavy usage?▼
Where can I compare xAI and Mistral AI API pricing beyond this model matchup?▼
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