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 32K-token context window. On LMArena Text Arena - Creative Writing, DeepSeek V3 leads by 135 pts. This comparison covers specs, pricing, API access, capabilities, benchmarks, input and output token costs, and production fit for coding and agent workloads.
Pick DeepSeek V3 for general evaluation; token pricing is tied, so keep Mistral Small 3 only for already-validated prompts or route constraints.
Decision scorecard
Local evidence first| Signal | DeepSeek V3 | Mistral Small 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | tool-calling agents and provider-routed production | tool-calling agents and provider-routed production |
| Decision fit | Coding, Agents, and Classification | Agents, Classification, and JSON / Tool use |
| Context window | 64K | 32K |
| Cheapest output | $0.30/1M tokens | $0.30/1M tokens |
| Provider routes | 13 tracked | 3 tracked |
| Shared benchmarks | LMArena Text Arena - Creative Writing leader | 1 shared |
Decision tradeoffs
- DeepSeek V3 holds a shared-benchmark lead on LMArena Text Arena - Creative Writing, ahead by 135 points.
- 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 route 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 route or tier on this page.
DeepSeek V3
$155
Cheapest tracked route/tier: Bitdeer AI
Mistral Small 3
$155
Cheapest tracked route/tier: Together AI
Estimated monthly gap: $0.00. Batch, cache, alternate speed tiers, and negotiated pricing are excluded from this local estimate.
Switch friction
- Provider overlap exists on Together AI, OpenRouter, and Vercel AI Gateway; 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 OpenRouter, Together AI, and Vercel AI Gateway; 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 | 2025-01-30 |
| Context window | 64K | 32K |
| Parameters | 671B | 24B |
| Architecture | Mixture of Experts | Decoder Only |
| License | MITOSI-approved | Apache 2.0OSI-approved |
| Openness | Open source | Open source |
| Weights | Available | Unknown |
| Code | Unknown | Unknown |
| Commercial use | Permitted | Permitted |
| Knowledge cutoff | 2024-04 | 2023-10 |
Pricing and availability
| Pricing attribute | DeepSeek V3 | Mistral Small 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | $0.10/1M tokens | $0.10/1M tokens |
| Output price | $0.30/1M tokens | $0.30/1M tokens |
| Providers |
Capabilities
| Capability | DeepSeek V3 | Mistral Small 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | No | No |
| Multimodal | No | No |
| Reasoning | No | No |
| JSON / Tool use | Yes | Yes |
| Structured outputs | Yes | Yes |
| Code execution | No | No |
| IDE integration | No | No |
| Computer use | No | No |
| Parallel agents | No | No |
Benchmarks
| Benchmark | DeepSeek V3 | Mistral Small 3 |
|---|---|---|
| LMArena Text Arena - Creative Writing | 1329.0 | 1194.0 |
Deep dive
On shared benchmark coverage, LMArena Text Arena - Creative Writing has DeepSeek V3 at 1329 and Mistral Small 3 at 1194, with DeepSeek V3 ahead by 135 points. The largest visible gap is 135 points on LMArena Text Arena - Creative Writing, which matters most when that benchmark mirrors your workload. Treat isolated benchmark wins as directional, because provider routing, prompt style, and tool access can move real application results.
The capability footprint is close: both models cover JSON / 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 $0.10/1M input and $0.30/1M output tokens on the cheapest listed provider, while Mistral Small 3 lists $0.10/1M input and $0.30/1M output tokens on the cheapest listed provider. A 70/30 input-output blend is tied on the cheapest listed routes. Availability is 13 providers versus 3, 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.
FAQ
Which has a larger context window, DeepSeek V3 or Mistral Small 3?
DeepSeek V3 supports 64K tokens, while Mistral Small 3 supports 32K 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?
Neither is cheaper on listed token pricing. Both list $0.10/1M input and $0.30/1M output tokens on the cheapest listed route. Provider discounts, batch pricing, or route-specific tiers can still change the final bill.
Is DeepSeek V3 or Mistral Small 3 open source?
DeepSeek V3 is listed under MIT. Mistral Small 3 is listed under Apache 2.0. 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 JSON / Tool use, DeepSeek V3 or Mistral Small 3?
Both DeepSeek V3 and Mistral Small 3 expose JSON / Tool use. The better choice depends on benchmark fit, context budget, pricing, and whether your provider route exposes the same capability surface.
Which is better for JSON / Tool use, DeepSeek V3 or Mistral Small 3?
Both DeepSeek V3 and Mistral Small 3 expose JSON / 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, OpenRouter, and Vercel AI Gateway. Provider coverage can affect latency, region availability, compliance posture, and fallback options.
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Last reviewed: 2026-10-17. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.