OpenAI API vs Mistral API pricing
OpenAI API is cheaper to start: $0.1 per million input tokens, $0.5 per million output against $0.15 per million input tokens, $0.6 per million output for Mistral API. OpenAI API has changed its listed prices 4 times since 2021. Mistral API has not changed its listed prices since 2026.
OpenAI API vs Mistral API at a glance
Current list prices as last read from each pricing page.
OpenAI API
- Starts at
- $0.1 per million input tokens, $0.5 per million outputgpt-6-luna, USD per million tokens, standard processing
- Top listed plan
- $10 per million input tokens, $50 per million outputgpt-6-astra
- Priced by
- Usage based
- Free plan
- Not recorded
- Price history
- since 2021
- Price changes
- 4
Mistral API
- Starts at
- $0.15 per million input tokens, $0.6 per million outputMistral Small 4, USD per million tokens
- Top listed plan
- $1.5 per million input tokens, $7.5 per million outputMistral Medium 3.5
- Priced by
- Usage based
- Free plan
- Not recorded
- Price history
- since 2026
- Price changes
- none
OpenAI API vs Mistral API price history
Both histories on one chart. The default line is each product's cheapest paid plan.
Show the data as a table
| Observed | OpenAI API Cheapest model, input | Mistral API Mistral Small 4, input |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 20, 2021 | $0.80 | |
| Nov 3, 2022 | $0.40 | |
| May 2, 2024 | $0.50 | |
| Nov 12, 2024 | $0.15 | |
| Nov 11, 2025 | $0.05 | |
| Sep 21, 2026 | $0.20 | $0.15 |
| Oct 3, 2026 | $0.10 | $0.15 |
Plans side by side
Every plan currently listed, with the price it started at where we have it.
OpenAI APIUSD per million tokens, standard processing
| Plan | Price | Listed since |
|---|---|---|
| Flagship model, input | $10was $60 in 2021 | Nov 2021 |
| Flagship model, output | $50was $60 in 2021 | Nov 2021 |
| Cheapest model, input | $0.10was $0.80 in 2021 | Nov 2021 |
| Cheapest model, output | $0.50was $0.80 in 2021 | Nov 2021 |
Mistral APIUSD per million tokens
| Plan | Price | Listed since |
|---|---|---|
| Mistral Large 3, input | $0.50 | Sep 2026 |
| Mistral Large 3, output | $1.50 | Sep 2026 |
| Mistral Medium 3.5, input | $1.50 | Sep 2026 |
| Mistral Medium 3.5, output | $7.50 | Sep 2026 |
| Mistral Small 4, input | $0.15 | Sep 2026 |
| Mistral Small 4, output | $0.60 | Sep 2026 |
What changed, and when
Every dated price move we have on record for either product, newest first.
- Oct 2026OpenAI API cut the Cheapest model input and output prices. Cheapest model, input went from $0.20 to $0.10 (-50%). Cheapest model, output went from $1.20 to $0.50 (-58%).
- Sep 2026OpenAI API raised the Flagship model input and output and Cheapest model input and output prices. Flagship model, input went from $5 to $10 (+100%). Flagship model, output went from $30 to $50 (+67%). Cheapest model, input went from $0.05 to $0.20 (+300%). Cheapest model, output went from $0.40 to $1.20 (+200%).
- May 2026OpenAI API raised the Flagship model input and output prices. Flagship model, input went from $1.25 to $5 (+300%). Flagship model, output went from $10 to $30 (+200%).
- Nov 2025OpenAI API cut the Flagship model input and Cheapest model input and output prices. Flagship model, input went from $2.50 to $1.25 (-50%). Cheapest model, input went from $0.15 to $0.05 (-67%). Cheapest model, output went from $0.60 to $0.40 (-33%).
- Nov 2024OpenAI API cut the Flagship model input and output and Cheapest model input and output prices. Flagship model, input went from $10 to $2.50 (-75%). Flagship model, output went from $30 to $10 (-67%). Cheapest model, input went from $0.50 to $0.15 (-70%). Cheapest model, output went from $1.50 to $0.60 (-60%).
- May 2024OpenAI API changed its plans and prices. Flagship model, input went from $20 to $10 (-50%). Flagship model, output went from $20 to $30 (+50%). Cheapest model, input went from $0.40 to $0.50 (+25%). Cheapest model, output went from $0.40 to $1.50 (+275%).
- Nov 2022OpenAI API cut the Flagship model input and output and Cheapest model input and output prices. Flagship model, input went from $60 to $20 (-67%). Flagship model, output went from $60 to $20 (-67%). Cheapest model, input went from $0.80 to $0.40 (-50%). Cheapest model, output went from $0.80 to $0.40 (-50%).
OpenAI API vs Mistral API pricing questions
- Is OpenAI API or Mistral API cheaper?
- OpenAI API starts lower at $0.1 per million input tokens, $0.5 per million output, Mistral API at $0.15 per million input tokens, $0.6 per million output. Prices are as shown on each pricing page when it was last read.
- Has OpenAI API or Mistral API raised prices?
- OpenAI API: Flagship model, input has been listed since Nov 2021, starting at $60. It came down to $20 by Nov 2022 (-67%), then came down to $10 by May 2024 (-50%), then came down to $2.50 by Nov 2024 (-75%), then came down to $1.25 by Nov 2025 (-50%), then went up to $5 by May 2026 (+300%), and finally went up to $10 by Sep 2026 (+100%). Flagship model, output has been listed since Nov 2021, starting at $60. It came down to $20 by Nov 2022 (-67%), then went up to $30 by May 2024 (+50%), then came down to $10 by Nov 2024 (-67%), then went up to $30 by May 2026 (+200%), and finally went up to $50 by Sep 2026 (+67%). Cheapest model, input has been listed since Nov 2021, starting at $0.80. It came down to $0.40 by Nov 2022 (-50%), then went up to $0.50 by May 2024 (+25%), then came down to $0.15 by Nov 2024 (-70%), then came down to $0.05 by Nov 2025 (-67%), then went up to $0.20 by Sep 2026 (+300%), and finally came down to $0.10 by Oct 2026 (-50%). Cheapest model, output has been listed since Nov 2021, starting at $0.80. It came down to $0.40 by Nov 2022 (-50%), then went up to $1.50 by May 2024 (+275%), then came down to $0.60 by Nov 2024 (-60%), then came down to $0.40 by Nov 2025 (-33%), then went up to $1.20 by Sep 2026 (+200%), and finally came down to $0.50 by Oct 2026 (-58%). Mistral API has not changed its listed prices since 2026.
- How are OpenAI API and Mistral API priced?
- OpenAI API: usage based, USD per million tokens, standard processing. Mistral API: usage based, USD per million tokens.
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