DeepSeek V3 vs Mistral Small 3
DeepSeek V3 (2024) and Mistral Small 3 (2025) are compact production models from DeepSeek and MistralAI. DeepSeek V3 ships a 64k-token context window, while Mistral Small 3 ships a 33K-token context window. On pricing, DeepSeek V3 costs $0.1/1M input tokens versus $0.1/1M for the alternative. This comparison covers specs, pricing, capabilities, benchmarks, provider availability, and production fit. It focuses on practical selection signals rather than broad model-family marketing.
Mistral Small 3 is safer overall; choose DeepSeek V3 when long-context analysis matters.
Decision scorecard
Local evidence first| Signal | DeepSeek V3 | Mistral Small 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Decision fit | Coding, Agents, and Classification | Agents, Classification, and JSON / Tool use |
| Context window | 64k | 33K |
| Cheapest output | $0.3/1M tokens | $0.3/1M tokens |
| Provider routes | 12 tracked | 1 tracked |
| Shared benchmarks | 0 rows | 0 rows |
Decision tradeoffs
- DeepSeek V3 has the larger context window for long prompts, retrieval packs, or transcript analysis.
- DeepSeek V3 has broader tracked provider coverage for fallback and procurement flexibility.
- Local decision data tags DeepSeek V3 for Coding, Agents, and Classification.
- Local decision data tags Mistral Small 3 for Agents, Classification, and JSON / Tool use.
Monthly cost at traffic
Estimate token spend from the cheapest tracked input and output prices on this page.
DeepSeek V3
$155
Cheapest tracked route: Bitdeer AI
Mistral Small 3
$155
Cheapest tracked route: Together AI
Estimated monthly gap: $0.00. Batch, cache, and negotiated pricing are excluded from this local estimate.
Switch friction
- Provider overlap exists on Together AI; start route-level A/B tests there.
- Cheapest tracked output pricing is tied, so migration risk shifts to quality, latency, and provider packaging.
- Provider overlap exists on Together AI; start route-level A/B tests there.
- Cheapest tracked output pricing is tied, so migration risk shifts to quality, latency, and provider packaging.
Specs
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2024-12-26 | 2025-01-01 |
| Context window | 64k | 33K |
| Parameters | 671B | — |
| Architecture | mixture of experts | decoder only |
| License | Open Source | Open Source |
| Knowledge cutoff | 2024-04 | - |
Pricing and availability
| Pricing attribute | DeepSeek V3 | Mistral Small 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | $0.1/1M tokens | $0.1/1M tokens |
| Output price | $0.3/1M tokens | $0.3/1M tokens |
| Providers |
Capabilities
| Capability | DeepSeek V3 | Mistral Small 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | No | No |
| Multimodal | No | No |
| Reasoning | No | No |
| Function calling | Yes | Yes |
| Tool use | Yes | Yes |
| Structured outputs | Yes | Yes |
| Code execution | No | No |
Benchmarks
No shared benchmark rows are currently sourced for this pair.
Deep dive
The capability footprint is close: both models cover function calling, tool use, and structured outputs. That makes context budget, benchmark fit, and provider maturity more important than a simple checklist. If your application depends on one integration detail, verify it against the provider route you plan to use, not just the base model listing.
For cost, DeepSeek V3 lists $0.1/1M input and $0.3/1M output tokens, while Mistral Small 3 lists $0.1/1M input and $0.3/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider. A 70/30 input-output blend puts DeepSeek V3 lower by about $0 per million blended tokens. Availability is 12 providers versus 1, so concentration risk also matters.
Choose DeepSeek V3 when long-context analysis, larger context windows, and broader provider choice are central to the workload. Choose Mistral Small 3 when provider fit are more important. For production, rerun your own prompts through the exact provider, region, and tool stack you plan to ship. This keeps the decision grounded in measurable tradeoffs instead of brand-level assumptions. It also helps separate model capability from provider packaging, which can change cost and latency.
FAQ
Which has a larger context window, DeepSeek V3 or Mistral Small 3?
DeepSeek V3 supports 64k tokens, while Mistral Small 3 supports 33K tokens. That gap matters most for long documents, large codebases, retrieval-heavy agents, and conversations where earlier context must remain visible.
Which is cheaper, DeepSeek V3 or Mistral Small 3?
DeepSeek V3 is cheaper on tracked token pricing. DeepSeek V3 costs $0.1/1M input and $0.3/1M output tokens. Mistral Small 3 costs $0.1/1M input and $0.3/1M output tokens. Provider discounts or batch pricing can still change the final bill.
Is DeepSeek V3 or Mistral Small 3 open source?
DeepSeek V3 is listed under Open Source. Mistral Small 3 is listed under Open Source. License labels affect whether you can self-host, redistribute weights, or rely only on hosted APIs, so confirm the upstream license before deployment.
Which is better for function calling, DeepSeek V3 or Mistral Small 3?
Both DeepSeek V3 and Mistral Small 3 expose function calling. The better choice depends on benchmark fit, context budget, pricing, and whether your provider route exposes the same capability surface.
Which is better for tool use, DeepSeek V3 or Mistral Small 3?
Both DeepSeek V3 and Mistral Small 3 expose tool use. The better choice depends on benchmark fit, context budget, pricing, and whether your provider route exposes the same capability surface.
Where can I run DeepSeek V3 and Mistral Small 3?
DeepSeek V3 is available on DeepInfra, Fireworks AI, DeepSeek Platform, Microsoft Foundry, and OpenRouter. Mistral Small 3 is available on Together AI. Provider coverage can affect latency, region availability, compliance posture, and fallback options.
Continue comparing
Last reviewed: 2026-05-14. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.