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Model Comparison

MiniMax M3.1 Flash vs Mistral Small 3Which Is Better in 2026?

MiniMax: MiniMax M3.1 Flash logoMiniMax•Mistral: Mistral Small 3 logoMistral AI

MiniMax M3.1 Flash vs Mistral Small 3: which should you choose in 2026?

MiniMax M3.1 Flash (by MiniMax) and Mistral Small 3 (by Mistral AI) are compared below. Here is how they stack up on benchmarks, price, and capabilities, and which one to pick in 2026.

There are not enough shared, protocol-compatible benchmark results to declare a performance leader.

Mistral Small 3 is about 4.6× cheaper on a blended 3:1 input/output basis ($0.0575 vs $0.2625 per 1M tokens).

MiniMax M3.1 Flash has the larger context window (1,048,576 tokens vs 32,768 tokens).

Choose MiniMax M3.1 Flash if…

  • • you work with longer documents, transcripts, or codebases
  • • you need a model with explicit reasoning support
  • • you need image inputs

Choose Mistral Small 3 if…

  • • lower blended API cost matters for your workload

The benchmark count includes only results measured with a matching benchmark version and protocol. Arena scores are shown separately. Missing, preliminary, and incompatible data is not treated as a controlled win. Published point-score comparisons are labeled separately when protocol details are incomplete. For text-output models, the verdict also compares token pricing and context windows.

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Performance benchmarks

Every value links to its source. A dash means that no reviewed result is available for that exact model and protocol.

MiniMax M3.1 Flash and Mistral Small 3 benchmark results
BenchmarkMiniMax M3.1 FlashMistral Small 3
AutomationBench-AA

A 657-task benchmark of multi-step work across simulated SaaS applications in six business domains. The Artificial Analysis protocol reports a guardrail-aware score and is distinct from both the public Zapier split and the unrelated dynamic AutoBench framework.

Guardrail-aware score

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BrowseComp

A benchmark of difficult, verifiable information-seeking questions designed to measure an agent's ability to locate hard-to-find facts through web browsing.

Accuracy

——
OSWorld-Verified

A verified computer-use benchmark in which multimodal agents operate desktop applications and are graded from the resulting environment state.

Mean task reward

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SWE-Bench Verified

A human-validated subset of real GitHub issues used to measure whether a coding agent can produce repository patches that resolve the associated tests.

Resolved

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Terminal-Bench 2.1

Version 2.1 of the benchmark for completing realistic tasks in terminal environments. Harness, resource limits, and attempt count are part of the protocol.

Mean task success

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AutoBench

A dynamic LLM evaluation framework in which models generate questions, answer them, and participate in reciprocal peer assessment. AutoBench is distinct from Zapier's AutomationBench.

Weighted peer-assessment score

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GPQA Diamond

The highest-quality subset of Graduate-Level Google-Proof Q&A, designed to test expert-level scientific reasoning in biology, physics, and chemistry.

Accuracy

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Humanity's Last Exam

A 2,500-question expert-level benchmark spanning dozens of academic fields. Tool-assisted and no-tools results are separate protocols and must not be merged.

Accuracy

——
Arena preference scores
Arena (Text)

Human preference score

—
1274 ±6

Benchmark sources

Reviewed evidence last updated 2026-08-09. Arena data last refreshed Oct 5, 2026.

Pricing, capabilities, and model facts

MiniMax M3.1 Flash and Mistral Small 3 model facts
FeatureMiniMax M3.1 FlashMistral Small 3
Context & model facts
DeveloperMiniMaxMistral AI
API providerMiniMaxMistral
Input context1,048,576 tokens32,768 tokens
Maximum output524,288 tokens16,384 tokens
Released——
Added to WritingmateOct 19, 2026Jan 30, 2025
LicenseNot availableNot available
Knowledge cutoff—2023-10-31
Capabilities
InputsText, Image, VideoText
OutputsTextText
Provider endpoint accepts tool parametersYesNo
ReasoningYesNo
VisionYesNo
Image GenerationNoNo
Video GenerationNoNo
API pricing
Input (per 1M tokens)$0.15$0.05
Output (per 1M tokens)$0.60$0.08
Blended 3:1 input/output$0.2625$0.0575
API performance
p95 latencyNot measuredNot measured
Output throughputNot measuredNot measured
Writingmate shows API performance only when both models have enough observations from the same measurement window, prompt profile, and provider. Third-party latency values are not copied into this table.

Data sources

  • Writingmate model catalog (pricing, limits, and availability)

Catalog data last updated Oct 19, 2026.

Why Pay for Multiple Subscriptions?

Comparing MiniMax M3.1 Flash from MiniMax with Mistral Small 3 from Mistral AI? Instead of managing separate API keys and subscriptions, get both with Writingmate.

Subscription-plan access for MiniMax M3.1 Flash and Mistral Small 3
PlanPriceMiniMax M3.1 FlashMistral Small 3AI ImagesAI Video
Writingmate Pro
Most popular
$20/moIncludedIncludedNano Banana Pro, FLUX.2, DALL-E & moreVEO 3.1, Kling 3.0
Writingmate Ultimate
Power users
$60/moIncludedIncludedNano Banana Pro, FLUX.2, DALL-E & moreVEO 3.1, Kling 3.0
View Plans & Pricing

MiniMax M3.1 Flash vs Mistral Small 3 FAQ

Which is better, MiniMax M3.1 Flash or Mistral Small 3?

There are not enough shared, protocol-compatible benchmark results to declare a performance leader. Mistral Small 3 is about 4.6× cheaper on a blended 3:1 input/output basis ($0.0575 vs $0.2625 per 1M tokens). MiniMax M3.1 Flash has the larger context window (1,048,576 tokens vs 32,768 tokens).

Which model is cheaper to use through an API?

Mistral Small 3 is about 4.6× cheaper on a blended 3:1 input/output basis ($0.0575 vs $0.2625 per 1M tokens).

Which model supports more context?

MiniMax M3.1 Flash has the larger context window (1,048,576 tokens vs 32,768 tokens).

Can I switch between MiniMax M3.1 Flash and Mistral Small 3?

Yes. Use the model selector on this page to open any current Writingmate model comparison. You can also run the same prompt with both models in Writingmate.