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HomeModelsMistral Small 3.1
MistralBudget

Mistral Small 3.1

Ultra-cheap multimodal model for massive-volume, low-complexity pipelines.

55
Coding
66
Writing
52
Research
65
Images
98
Value
50
Long Context
Use this when

Ultra-high-volume classification, summarisation, and lightweight vision tasks

Skip this if

You need reliable multi-step reasoning or coding quality — it won't hold up.

Pricing
$0.10/1M in
$0.30/1M out
↑251%since May 2026
Context
128k tokens
Speed
Very fast

At $0.10/1M input, the cost question disappears. The only question is whether the task complexity exceeds what Mistral Small can handle.

How to access
API
$0.1/1M input tokens
Subscription = chat interface. API = build with it. Compare all subscription plans
Switch to instead if...
Best overall
Claude Fable 5
Cheaper option
GPT-5.6 Terra
Faster option
Mistral Medium 3.5

Strengths

One of the cheapest models in the directory at $0.10/1M input

Multimodal — handles images alongside text at this price point

Fast and efficient for simple, well-defined tasks

Weaknesses

Weak on complex reasoning, hard coding, and nuanced writing

Not suitable for tasks requiring deep context retention or multi-step logic

Limited to simpler use cases compared to Codestral or DeepSeek V3

Real-world use cases

What people actually use Mistral Small 3.1 for.

Bulk document classification and tagging pipelines at near-zero cost

Image description and OCR-adjacent tasks where full multimodal models are overkill

High-frequency lightweight summarisation in cost-sensitive products

Price History

Mistral Small 3.1 pricing over time

↑251% since May 8

$0.379$0.307$0.236$0.164$0.092May 8May 25Jun 12Jul 3Jul 20Aug 6

86 data points · tracked daily since May 8, 2026

Ready to try it?

Start using Mistral Small 3.1

Ultra-high-volume classification, summarisation, and lightweight vision tasks. Start free — no card required.

Try Mistral Small 3.1 freeCompare alternatives

Recommendations are made independently based on real-world use and public benchmarks. See our disclosures for details.

Compare alternatives

Similar models worth checking before you commit.

All Mistral Small 3.1 alternatives →
MistralBalanced

Mistral Medium 3.5

A 128B dense open-weight multimodal model handling reasoning, coding, and vision in one set of weights — frontier-adjacent coding at mid-tier prices, self-hostable under a modified MIT license.

Verdict
Best self-hostable multimodal model — European, dense, MIT-licensed.
Quality score
84%
Pricing
$1.50/1M in
$7.50/1M out
Speed
Balanced
Best for self-hostable european multimodal coding
Context
256k tokens
Released April 29, 2026 (model ID mistral-medium-3-5-26-04). Pricing verified on docs.mistral.ai. Le Chat Pro $14.99/mo does not include API usage.
Open weightsMultimodalCodingEuropean
Best for
Self-hostable European multimodal coding
View model
OpenAIBalanced

GPT-5.2 Mini

Lower-cost OpenAI model that keeps a solid balance of usefulness, speed, and affordability for everyday tasks.

Verdict
Solid OpenAI budget option, though Gemini Flash offers better value.
Quality score
68%
Pricing
$1.20/1M in
$4.80/1M out
Speed
Fast
Best for budget technical workflows and high-volume product integrations
Context
128k tokens
Best when you specifically need an OpenAI model in your stack.
Budget codingFastOpenAI
Best for
Budget technical workflows and high-volume product integrations
View model
OpenAIBalanced

GPT-4o

Versatile multimodal model that handles image-related workflows and mixed-media prompts well.

Verdict
Best all-around pick for image-heavy and multimodal workflows.
Quality score
65%
Pricing
$5.00/1M in
$15.00/1M out
Speed
Fast
Best for multimodal tasks and image-adjacent workflows
Context
128k tokens
Strong when your work lives between visuals, messaging, and product context.
ImagesMultimodalCreative
Best for
Multimodal tasks and image-adjacent workflows
View model

Mistral Small 3.1 head-to-head

All Mistral Small 3.1 alternatives →GPT-5.2 Mini vs Mistral Small 3.1 →GPT-4o Mini vs Mistral Small 3.1 →Mistral Small 3.1 vs Claude 4 Haiku →Mistral Small 3.1 vs Gemini 3.1 Flash →Mistral Small 3.1 vs DeepSeek V3 →Mistral Small 3.1 vs Llama 4 Scout →View benchmark scores →

FAQ

What is Mistral Small 3.1 best for?

Mistral Small 3.1 is best for ultra-high-volume classification, summarisation, and lightweight vision tasks. It is a strong fit when that workflow matters more than the tradeoffs around budget pricing and very fast speed.

When should I avoid Mistral Small 3.1?

You need reliable multi-step reasoning or coding quality — it won't hold up.

What is a cheaper alternative to Mistral Small 3.1?

GPT-5.6 Terra is the lower-cost option to compare first when you want a similar workflow fit with less token spend.

What is a faster alternative to Mistral Small 3.1?

Mistral Medium 3.5 is the better pick when response time matters more than maximum depth or premium quality.

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