Grok Code Fast 1 vs Mistral Large 2
Grok Code Fast 1 (2025) and Mistral Large 2 (2025) compare a coding-specialized model against a standalone API model. Grok Code Fast 1 ships a 262k-token context window, while Mistral Large 2 ships a 128k-token context window. On pricing, Grok Code Fast 1 costs $0.20/1M input tokens versus $0.48/1M for the alternative. This page treats the result as workflow and deployment fit, not a universal model winner.
Treat this as a product-type comparison: Grok Code Fast 1 is coding-specialized model, while Mistral Large 2 is standalone API model. Choose based on workflow fit before reading any benchmark or price row as decisive.
Decision scorecard
Local evidence first| Signal | Grok Code Fast 1 | Mistral Large 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Product type | Coding-specialized model | Standalone API model |
| Best for | custom coding agents, code generation, and tool loops | multimodal apps, tool-calling agents, and provider-routed production |
| Decision fit | Coding, RAG, and Agents | Coding, RAG, and Agents |
| Context window | 262k | 128k |
| Cheapest output | $1.50/1M tokens | $2.40/1M tokens |
| Provider routes | 3 tracked | 4 tracked |
| Shared benchmarks | 0 rows | 0 rows |
Decision tradeoffs
- Grok Code Fast 1 has the larger context window for long prompts, retrieval packs, or transcript analysis.
- Grok Code Fast 1 has the lower cheapest tracked output price at $1.50/1M tokens.
- Local decision data tags Grok Code Fast 1 for Coding, RAG, and Agents.
- Mistral Large 2 has broader tracked provider coverage for fallback and procurement flexibility.
- Mistral Large 2 uniquely exposes Vision and Multimodal in local model data.
- Local decision data tags Mistral Large 2 for Coding, RAG, and Agents.
Monthly cost at traffic
Estimate token spend from the cheapest tracked input and output route or tier on this page.
Grok Code Fast 1
$535
Cheapest tracked route/tier: OpenRouter
Mistral Large 2
$984
Cheapest tracked route/tier: AWS Bedrock
Estimated monthly gap: $449. Batch, cache, alternate speed tiers, and negotiated pricing are excluded from this local estimate.
Switch friction
- Provider overlap exists on OpenRouter; start route-level A/B tests there.
- Mistral Large 2 is $0.90/1M tokens higher on cheapest tracked output pricing, so quality gains need to justify the spend.
- Mistral Large 2 adds Vision and Multimodal in local capability data.
- Provider overlap exists on OpenRouter; start route-level A/B tests there.
- Grok Code Fast 1 is $0.90/1M tokens lower on cheapest tracked output pricing before cache, batch, or negotiated discounts.
- Check replacement coverage for Vision and Multimodal before moving production traffic.
Specs
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2025-08-27 | 2025-11-25 |
| Context window | 262k | 128k |
| Parameters | 314B | 123B |
| Architecture | mixture of experts | decoder only |
| License | Proprietary | Mistral License |
| Openness | Proprietary | Open weights |
| Commercial use | Commercial use with conditions | Non-commercial only |
| Knowledge cutoff | - | 2025-07 |
Pricing and availability
| Pricing attribute | Grok Code Fast 1 | Mistral Large 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | $0.20/1M tokens | $0.48/1M tokens |
| Output price | $1.50/1M tokens | $2.40/1M tokens |
| Providers |
Capabilities
| Capability | Grok Code Fast 1 | Mistral Large 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | No | Yes |
| Multimodal | No | Yes |
| Reasoning | No | No |
| Function calling | Yes | Yes |
| 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
No shared benchmark rows are currently sourced for this pair.
Deep dive
The capability footprint differs most on vision: Mistral Large 2 and multimodal input: Mistral Large 2. Both models share function calling, tool use, and structured outputs, 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 Code Fast 1 lists $0.20/1M input and $1.50/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider, while Mistral Large 2 lists $0.48/1M input and $2.40/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider. A 70/30 input-output blend puts Grok Code Fast 1 lower by about $0.47 per million blended tokens. Availability is 3 providers versus 4, so concentration risk also matters.
Choose Grok Code Fast 1 when coding workflow support, larger context windows, and lower input-token cost are central to the workload. Choose Mistral Large 2 when vision-heavy evaluation 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. This keeps the decision grounded in measurable tradeoffs instead of brand-level assumptions.
FAQ
Which has a larger context window, Grok Code Fast 1 or Mistral Large 2?
Grok Code Fast 1 supports 262k tokens, while Mistral Large 2 supports 128k 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 Code Fast 1 or Mistral Large 2?
Grok Code Fast 1 is cheaper on tracked token pricing. Grok Code Fast 1 costs $0.20/1M input and $1.50/1M output tokens. Mistral Large 2 costs $0.48/1M input and $2.40/1M output tokens. Provider discounts or batch pricing can still change the final bill.
Is Grok Code Fast 1 or Mistral Large 2 open source?
Grok Code Fast 1 is listed under Proprietary. Mistral Large 2 is listed under Mistral License. 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 Code Fast 1 or Mistral Large 2?
Mistral Large 2 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 Code Fast 1 or Mistral Large 2?
Mistral Large 2 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 Code Fast 1 and Mistral Large 2?
Grok Code Fast 1 is available on OpenRouter, Microsoft Foundry, and xAI Console. Mistral Large 2 is available on OpenRouter, IBM watsonx, AWS Bedrock, and Mistral AI Studio. Provider coverage can affect latency, region availability, compliance posture, and fallback options.
Continue comparing
Last reviewed: 2026-05-20. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.