Llama 4 Maverick vs Mistral Small 4
Llama 4 Maverick vs Mistral Small 4: Mistral Small 4 is cheaper for input-heavy usage ($0.15/M vs $0.27/M input tokens), while Llama 4 Maverick is better for long-context tasks (1,000,000 tokens).
Direct answer: choose Mistral Small 4 for lower token spend and choose Llama 4 Maverick 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)
Llama 4 Maverick
Mistral Small 4
Cost Differences
Mistral Small 4 costs less than Llama 4 Maverick
Quick Recommendation
Winner for direct API pricing: Mistral Small 4. At the default workload, Mistral Small 4 saves about $0.735/month ($8.9425/year) versus Llama 4 Maverick.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Llama 4 Maverick | Mistral Small 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | Meta (via Together AI) | Mistral AI |
| Input Price | $0.27/1M tokens | $0.15/1M tokens |
| Output Price | $0.85/1M tokens | $0.60/1M tokens |
| Context Window | 1,000,000 tokens | 128,000 tokens |
| Max Output | 65,536 tokens | 16,384 tokens |
| Category | flagship | efficient |
| Capabilities | textvisioncode | textvisioncodereasoning |
| Release Date | 4/5/2025 | 3/18/2026 |
Llama 4 Maverick vs Mistral Small 4: Which Should You Choose?
Choosing between Llama 4 Maverick 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 — 44% cheaper than Llama 4 Maverick. Meanwhile, Llama 4 Maverick offers a significantly larger context window at 1,000,000 tokens vs 128,000 for Mistral Small 4.
These models come from different providers — Meta (via Together AI) and Mistral AI — which means different API ecosystems, SDKs, rate limits, and terms of service. If you're already integrated with Meta (via Together AI), switching to Mistral AIinvolves migration effort beyond just pricing. Factor in your existing infrastructure when deciding.
These models target different tiers: Llama 4 Maverick is a flagship model while Mistral Small 4 is efficient. This means they're optimized for different workloads. Llama 4 Maverick is built for complex tasks that require deeper reasoning, while Mistral Small 4 offers better value for routine operations.
Output costs matter too. Llama 4 Maverick charges $0.85/1M 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 Llama 4 Maverick when:
- • You need a larger context window (1,000,000 tokens)
- • You need longer outputs (up to 65,536 tokens)
- • You're already using Meta (via Together AI)'s API ecosystem
Choose Mistral Small 4 when:
- • Budget is a primary concern
- • You need more capabilities (reasoning)
- • You're already using Mistral AI's API ecosystem
- • You're running high-volume, latency-sensitive workloads
Pros and Caveats at a Glance
Llama 4 Maverick
- • Input pricing: $0.27/M tokens
- • Output pricing: $0.85/M tokens
- • Context window: 1,000,000 tokens
- • Max output: 65,536 tokens
Watch out for
- • Higher input cost than Mistral Small 4
- • Higher output cost than Mistral Small 4
Mistral Small 4
- • Input pricing: $0.15/M tokens
- • Output pricing: $0.60/M tokens
- • Context window: 128,000 tokens
- • Max output: 16,384 tokens
Watch out for
- • Smaller context window than Llama 4 Maverick
Try Different Scenarios
Use the calculator below to see how costs change with different usage patterns
Llama 4 Maverick (Meta (via Together AI))
Mistral Small 4 (Mistral AI)
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Sign Up for Mistral AI →Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, Llama 4 Maverick or Mistral Small 4?▼
What is the context window difference between Llama 4 Maverick and Mistral Small 4?▼
Which model is better for AI Chatbot?▼
Which model has better overall pricing for heavy usage?▼
Where can I compare Meta (via Together AI) and Mistral AI API pricing beyond this model matchup?▼
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