Model Comparison

DeepSeek-V2.5 vs Mistral SmallWhich is better in 2026?

Comparing DeepSeek-V2.5 and Mistral Small across benchmarks, pricing, and capabilities.

Verdict: DeepSeek-V2.5 vs Mistral Small — which is better?

DeepSeek-V2.5 (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.

On price, DeepSeek-V2.5 is roughly 1.7x cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 input/output basis, which adds up quickly at production volume.

Mistral Small also accepts a larger context window (32,768 input tokens), making it the stronger choice for long documents and large codebases.

Choose DeepSeek-V2.5 if…

  • cost matters — it's about 1.7x cheaper per token

Choose Mistral Small if…

  • you process long inputs — it offers a 32,768 token context window
  • you want the most recent training data — it shipped Sep 2024
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Performance Benchmarks

Comparative analysis across standard metrics

No common benchmarks found

DeepSeek-V2.5 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

Pricing Analysis

Price comparison per million tokens

DeepSeek-V2.5 costs less

For input processing, DeepSeek-V2.5 ($0.14/1M tokens) is 1.4x cheaper than Mistral Small ($0.20/1M tokens).

For output processing, DeepSeek-V2.5 ($0.28/1M tokens) is 2.1x cheaper than Mistral Small ($0.60/1M tokens).

In conclusion, Mistral Small is more expensive than DeepSeek-V2.5.*

* Using a 3:1 ratio of input to output tokens

Lowest available price from all providers
Wed Jun 17 2026 • llm-stats.com
DeepSeek
DeepSeek-V2.5
Input tokens$0.14
Output tokens$0.28
Best providerDeepSeek
Mistral AI
Mistral Small
Input tokens$0.20
Output tokens$0.60
Best providerMistral
Notice missing or incorrect data?Start an Issue→

Model Size

Parameter count comparison

214.0B diff

DeepSeek-V2.5 has 214.0B more parameters than Mistral Small, making it 972.7% larger.

DeepSeek
DeepSeek-V2.5
236.0Bparameters
Mistral AI
Mistral Small
22.0Bparameters
236.0B
DeepSeek-V2.5
22.0B
Mistral Small

Context Window

Maximum input and output token capacity

Mistral Small accepts 32,768 input tokens compared to DeepSeek-V2.5's 8,192 tokens. Mistral Small can generate longer responses up to 32,768 tokens, while DeepSeek-V2.5 is limited to 8,192 tokens.

DeepSeek
DeepSeek-V2.5
Input8,192 tokens
Output8,192 tokens
Mistral AI
Mistral Small
Input32,768 tokens
Output32,768 tokens
Wed Jun 17 2026 • llm-stats.com

License

Usage and distribution terms

DeepSeek-V2.5 is licensed under deepseek, while Mistral Small uses Mistral Research License.

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

DeepSeek-V2.5

deepseek

Open weights

Mistral Small

Mistral Research License

Open weights

Release Timeline

When each model was launched

DeepSeek-V2.5 was released on 2024-05-08, while Mistral Small was released on 2024-09-17.

Mistral Small is 4 months newer than DeepSeek-V2.5.

DeepSeek-V2.5

May 8, 2024

2.1 years ago

Mistral Small

Sep 17, 2024

1.7 years ago

4mo newer

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

Provider Availability

DeepSeek-V2.5 is available from DeepSeek, DeepInfra, Hyperbolic. Mistral Small is available from Mistral AI.

DeepSeek-V2.5

deepseek logo
DeepSeek
Input Price:Input: $0.14/1MOutput Price:Output: $0.28/1M
deepinfra logo
Deepinfra
Input Price:Input: $0.70/1MOutput Price:Output: $1.40/1M
hyperbolic logo
Hyperbolic
Input Price:Input: $2.00/1MOutput Price:Output: $2.00/1M

Mistral Small

mistral logo
Mistral
Input Price:Input: $0.20/1MOutput Price:Output: $0.60/1M
* Prices shown are per million tokens

Outputs Comparison

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Key Takeaways

DeepSeek
Less expensive input tokens
Less expensive output tokens
Mistral AI
Larger context window (32,768 tokens)

Detailed Comparison

AI Model Comparison Table
Feature
DeepSeek
DeepSeek-V2.5
Mistral AI
Mistral Small

FAQ

Common questions about DeepSeek-V2.5 vs Mistral Small.

Which is better, DeepSeek-V2.5 or Mistral Small?

DeepSeek-V2.5 (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-V2.5 compare to Mistral Small in benchmarks?

DeepSeek-V2.5 scores GSM8k: 95.1%, MT-Bench: 90.2%, HumanEval: 89.0%, BBH: 84.3%, AlignBench: 80.4%.

Is DeepSeek-V2.5 cheaper than Mistral Small?

DeepSeek-V2.5 is 1.4x cheaper for input tokens. DeepSeek-V2.5 costs $0.14/M input and $0.28/M output via deepseek. Mistral Small costs $0.20/M input and $0.60/M output via mistral.

What are the context window sizes for DeepSeek-V2.5 and Mistral Small?

DeepSeek-V2.5 supports 8K 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-V2.5 and Mistral Small?

Key differences include context window (8K vs 33K), input pricing ($0.14 vs $0.20/M), licensing (deepseek vs Mistral Research License). See the full comparison above for benchmark-by-benchmark results.

Who makes DeepSeek-V2.5 and Mistral Small?

DeepSeek-V2.5 is developed by DeepSeek and Mistral Small is developed by Mistral AI.

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