Model Comparison

DeepSeek R1 Zero vs Mistral SmallWhich is better in 2026?

Comparing DeepSeek R1 Zero and Mistral Small across benchmarks, pricing, and capabilities.

Verdict: DeepSeek R1 Zero vs Mistral Small — which is better?

DeepSeek R1 Zero (by DeepSeek) and Mistral Small (by Mistral AI) are two of the AI models people compare most. Here is how they stack up on benchmarks, price and capabilities, and which one to pick in 2026.

Choose DeepSeek R1 Zero if…

  • you want the most recent training data — it shipped Jan 2025

Choose Mistral Small if…

  • you want predictable pricing at $0.20/M input and $0.60/M output
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Performance Benchmarks

Comparative analysis across standard metrics

No common benchmarks found

DeepSeek R1 Zero and Mistral Smalldon't have any common benchmark datasets to compare. They may have been evaluated on different testing suites.

Arena Performance

Human preference votes

Model Size

Parameter count comparison

649.0B diff

DeepSeek R1 Zero has 649.0B more parameters than Mistral Small, making it 2950.0% larger.

DeepSeek
DeepSeek R1 Zero
671.0Bparameters
Mistral AI
Mistral Small
22.0Bparameters
671.0B
DeepSeek R1 Zero
22.0B
Mistral Small

Context Window

Maximum input and output token capacity

Only Mistral Small specifies input context (32,768 tokens). Only Mistral Small specifies output context (32,768 tokens).

DeepSeek
DeepSeek R1 Zero
Input- tokens
Output- tokens
Mistral AI
Mistral Small
Input32,768 tokens
Output32,768 tokens
Wed Jun 24 2026 • llm-stats.com

License

Usage and distribution terms

DeepSeek R1 Zero is licensed under MIT, while Mistral Small uses Mistral Research License.

License differences may affect how you can use these models in commercial or open-source projects.

DeepSeek R1 Zero

MIT

Open weights

Mistral Small

Mistral Research License

Open weights

Release Timeline

When each model was launched

DeepSeek R1 Zero was released on 2025-01-20, while Mistral Small was released on 2024-09-17.

DeepSeek R1 Zero is 4 months newer than Mistral Small.

DeepSeek R1 Zero

Jan 20, 2025

1.4 years ago

4mo newer
Mistral Small

Sep 17, 2024

1.8 years ago

Knowledge Cutoff

When training data ends

Neither model specifies a knowledge cutoff date.

Unable to compare the recency of their training data.

No cutoff dates available

Outputs Comparison

Notice missing or incorrect data?Start an Issue discussion→

Key Takeaways

DeepSeek

No standout differentiators in the data we have for this pair.

Mistral AI
Larger context window (32,768 tokens)

Detailed Comparison

AI Model Comparison Table
Feature
DeepSeek
DeepSeek R1 Zero
Mistral AI
Mistral Small

FAQ

Common questions about DeepSeek R1 Zero vs Mistral Small.

Which is better, DeepSeek R1 Zero or Mistral Small?

DeepSeek R1 Zero (DeepSeek) and Mistral Small (Mistral AI) each have strengths in different areas. Compare their benchmark scores, pricing, context windows, and capabilities above to determine which fits your needs.

How does DeepSeek R1 Zero compare to Mistral Small in benchmarks?

DeepSeek R1 Zero scores MATH-500: 95.9%, AIME 2024: 86.7%, GPQA: 73.3%, LiveCodeBench: 50.0%.

What are the context window sizes for DeepSeek R1 Zero and Mistral Small?

DeepSeek R1 Zero supports an unknown number of tokens and Mistral Small supports 33K tokens. A larger context window lets you process longer documents, conversations, or codebases in a single request.

What are the main differences between DeepSeek R1 Zero and Mistral Small?

Key differences include licensing (MIT vs Mistral Research License). See the full comparison above for benchmark-by-benchmark results.

Who makes DeepSeek R1 Zero and Mistral Small?

DeepSeek R1 Zero is developed by DeepSeek and Mistral Small is developed by Mistral AI.

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