Magistral Small vs Mistral Large 3
Pricing verdict: Magistral Small vs Mistral Large 3: pricing is a tie at $0.50/M input and $1.50/M output. The real choice is context: Mistral Large 3 is better for long-context tasks (256,000 tokens vs 128,000).
Direct answer: pricing is a tie. Choose Mistral Large 3 for the larger 256K context window, or pick Magistral Small if 128K is already enough for your workload.
Compare API pricing, input and output token costs, context windows, and monthly estimates on one page so you can pick the right model fast.
Cost Comparison (1000 input + 500 output tokens, 100 requests/day)
Magistral Small
Mistral Large 3
Cost Differences
Both models cost the same at the default workload.
Quick Recommendation
Direct API pricing is a tie at the default workload: both land around $3.75/month. Pick Mistral Large 3 if you need the larger 256K context window; otherwise choose the model that better fits your workflow.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Magistral Small | Mistral Large 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | Mistral AI | Mistral AI |
| Input Price | $0.50/1M tokens | $0.50/1M tokens |
| Output Price | $1.50/1M tokens | $1.50/1M tokens |
| Context Window | 128,000 tokens | 256,000 tokens |
| Max Output | 16,384 tokens | 32,768 tokens |
| Category | reasoning | flagship |
| Capabilities | textreasoning | textcodereasoning |
| Release Date | 12/15/2025 | 12/2/2025 |
Magistral Small vs Mistral Large 3: Which Should You Choose?
Choosing between Magistral Small and Mistral Large 3 depends on your priorities: cost efficiency, context length, or raw capability. Both models cost the same on input and output tokens, so raw price is a tie. Meanwhile, Mistral Large 3 offers a significantly larger context window at 256,000 tokens vs 128,000 for Magistral Small.
These models target different tiers: Magistral Small is a reasoning model while Mistral Large 3 is flagship. This means they're optimized for different workloads. Magistral Small is built for complex tasks that require deeper reasoning, while Mistral Large 3 offers better value for routine operations.
Output costs matter too. Magistral Small charges $1.50/1M output tokens vs $1.50 for Mistral Large 3.
Best Use Cases
Choose Magistral Small when:
- • You're already using Mistral AI's API ecosystem
Choose Mistral Large 3 when:
- • You need a larger context window (256,000 tokens)
- • You need more capabilities (code)
- • You need longer outputs (up to 32,768 tokens)
- • You're already using Mistral AI's API ecosystem
Pros and Caveats at a Glance
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 Mistral Large 3
Mistral Large 3
- • Input pricing: $0.50/M tokens
- • Output pricing: $1.50/M tokens
- • Context window: 256,000 tokens
- • Max output: 32,768 tokens
Watch out for
- • Trade-offs are minor in this matchup.
Try Different Scenarios
Use the calculator below to see how costs change with different usage patterns
Magistral Small (Mistral AI)
Mistral Large 3 (Mistral AI)
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Sign Up for Mistral AI →Frequently Asked Questions
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