Grok 4.1 Fast vs Mixtral 8x7B
Grok 4.1 Fast (2025) and Mixtral 8x7B (2023) are frontier reasoning models from xAI and MistralAI. Grok 4.1 Fast ships a 2m-token context window, while Mixtral 8x7B ships a 32k-token context window. On pricing, Mixtral 8x7B costs $0.15/1M input tokens versus $0.20/1M for the alternative. This comparison covers specs, pricing, API access, capabilities, benchmarks, input and output token costs, and production fit for coding and agent workloads.
Grok 4.1 Fast fits 63x more tokens; pick it for long-context work and Mixtral 8x7B for tighter calls.
Decision scorecard
Local evidence first| Signal | Grok 4.1 Fast | Mixtral 8x7B |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | reasoning-heavy apps, multimodal apps, and tool-calling agents | provider-routed production |
| Decision fit | RAG, Agents, and Long context | Coding and Classification |
| Context window | 2m | 32k |
| Cheapest output | $0.50/1M tokens | $0.45/1M tokens |
| Provider routes | 2 tracked | 18 tracked |
| Shared benchmarks | 0 rows | 0 rows |
Decision tradeoffs
- Grok 4.1 Fast has the larger context window for long prompts, retrieval packs, or transcript analysis.
- Grok 4.1 Fast uniquely exposes Vision, Multimodal, and Reasoning in local model data.
- Local decision data tags Grok 4.1 Fast for RAG, Agents, and Long context.
- Mixtral 8x7B has the lower cheapest tracked output price at $0.45/1M tokens.
- Mixtral 8x7B has broader tracked provider coverage for fallback and procurement flexibility.
- Local decision data tags Mixtral 8x7B for Coding and Classification.
Monthly cost at traffic
Estimate token spend from the cheapest tracked input and output route or tier on this page.
Grok 4.1 Fast
$285
Cheapest tracked route/tier: OpenRouter
Mixtral 8x7B
$233
Cheapest tracked route/tier: Mistral AI Studio
Estimated monthly gap: $52.50. Batch, cache, alternate speed tiers, and negotiated pricing are excluded from this local estimate.
Switch friction
- No overlapping tracked provider route is sourced for Grok 4.1 Fast and Mixtral 8x7B; plan for SDK, billing, or endpoint changes.
- Mixtral 8x7B is $0.05/1M tokens lower on cheapest tracked output pricing before cache, batch, or negotiated discounts.
- Check replacement coverage for Vision, Multimodal, and Reasoning before moving production traffic.
- No overlapping tracked provider route is sourced for Mixtral 8x7B and Grok 4.1 Fast; plan for SDK, billing, or endpoint changes.
- Grok 4.1 Fast is $0.05/1M tokens higher on cheapest tracked output pricing, so quality gains need to justify the spend.
- Grok 4.1 Fast adds Vision, Multimodal, and Reasoning in local capability data.
Specs
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2025-11-19 | 2023-12-11 |
| Context window | 2m | 32k |
| Parameters | — | 8x7B |
| Architecture | - | mixture of experts |
| License | Proprietary | Apache 2.0(OSI) |
| Openness | Proprietary | Open source |
| Commercial use | Commercial use with conditions | Commercial use allowed |
| Knowledge cutoff | - | 2023-12 |
Pricing and availability
| Pricing attribute | Grok 4.1 Fast | Mixtral 8x7B |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | $0.20/1M tokens | $0.15/1M tokens |
| Output price | $0.50/1M tokens | $0.45/1M tokens |
| Providers |
Capabilities
| Capability | Grok 4.1 Fast | Mixtral 8x7B |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | Yes | No |
| Multimodal | Yes | No |
| Reasoning | Yes | No |
| Function calling | Yes | No |
| Tool use | Yes | No |
| Structured outputs | Yes | No |
| Code execution | No | No |
| IDE integration | No | No |
| Computer use | No | No |
| Parallel agents | No | No |
Benchmarks
No shared benchmark rows are currently sourced for this pair.
Deep dive
The capability footprint differs most on vision: Grok 4.1 Fast, multimodal input: Grok 4.1 Fast, reasoning mode: Grok 4.1 Fast, function calling: Grok 4.1 Fast, tool use: Grok 4.1 Fast, and structured outputs: Grok 4.1 Fast. Both models share the core language-model surface, so the practical split is not just feature count. Use those differences to decide whether the page is about raw model quality, agentic coding support, multimodal ingestion, or predictable structured API behavior.
For cost, Grok 4.1 Fast lists $0.20/1M input and $0.50/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider, while Mixtral 8x7B lists $0.15/1M input and $0.45/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider. A 70/30 input-output blend puts Mixtral 8x7B lower by about $0.05 per million blended tokens. Availability is 2 providers versus 18, so concentration risk also matters.
Choose Grok 4.1 Fast when reasoning depth and larger context windows are central to the workload. Choose Mixtral 8x7B when provider fit, lower input-token cost, and broader provider choice 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, Grok 4.1 Fast or Mixtral 8x7B?
Grok 4.1 Fast supports 2m tokens, while Mixtral 8x7B 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, Grok 4.1 Fast or Mixtral 8x7B?
Mixtral 8x7B is cheaper on tracked token pricing. Grok 4.1 Fast costs $0.20/1M input and $0.50/1M output tokens. Mixtral 8x7B costs $0.15/1M input and $0.45/1M output tokens. Provider discounts or batch pricing can still change the final bill.
Is Grok 4.1 Fast or Mixtral 8x7B open source?
Grok 4.1 Fast is listed under Proprietary. Mixtral 8x7B 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 vision, Grok 4.1 Fast or Mixtral 8x7B?
Grok 4.1 Fast has the clearer documented vision signal in this comparison. If vision is mission-critical, validate it against the provider endpoint because model-level support and API-level exposure can differ.
Which is better for multimodal input, Grok 4.1 Fast or Mixtral 8x7B?
Grok 4.1 Fast has the clearer documented multimodal input signal in this comparison. If multimodal input is mission-critical, validate it against the provider endpoint because model-level support and API-level exposure can differ.
Where can I run Grok 4.1 Fast and Mixtral 8x7B?
Grok 4.1 Fast is available on OpenRouter and xAI Console. Mixtral 8x7B is available on Databricks Foundation Model Serving, NVIDIA NIM, GCP Vertex AI, AWS Bedrock, and OctoAI API (Deprecated). Provider coverage can affect latency, region availability, compliance posture, and fallback options.
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Last reviewed: 2026-05-20. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.