DeepSeek R1 clearly outperforms the Mistral AI Mistral Small 3 in the ai language models category, particularly in design, scoring 7.1/10 vs 5.4/10. If you want the better overall performer, DeepSeek R1 is the clear pick.
Scores are relative within the ai language modelscategory. Percentages show each dimension's weight in the overall score. A difference of less than 0.5 points is considered a tie.
✓ Pros
✗ Cons
✓ Pros
✗ Cons
Lower cost = better value. Free = open-source self-hosted.
| Metric | DeepSeek R1 | Small 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Input (Prompt) | $0.55/1M | ✓$0.10/1M |
| Output (Completion) | $2.19/1M | ✓$0.30/1M |
| Open Source | ✓ Free | ✓ Free |
Context Window (tokens)
| Metric | DeepSeek R1 | Small 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Max Output | ✓32,768 tok | 4,096 tok |
| Speed | 25 tok/s | ✓200 tok/s |
| Time to First Token | 3.0s | ✓250ms |
| Languages | ✓20+ | 12+ |
Higher is better. Industry-standard AI evaluation benchmarks.
DeepSeek R1
Small 3
DeepSeek R1
Small 3
DeepSeek R1
Small 3
DeepSeek R1
Small 3
DeepSeek R1
Small 3
| Feature | DeepSeek R1 | Small 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Reasoning / Chain-of-Thought | ✓ | ✕ |
| Vision (Image Input) | ✕ | ✕ |
| Audio Input | ✕ | ✕ |
| Video Input | ✕ | ✕ |
| Image/Audio Output | ✕ | ✕ |
| Function Calling / Tools | ✕ | ✓ |
| JSON Mode | ✓ | ✓ |
| Real-time Web Access | ✕ | ✕ |
| Fine-tuning Support | ✓ | ✓ |
| Batch API | ✓ | ✓ |
| Streaming | ✓ | ✓ |
| Open Source | ✓ | ✓ |
| Field | DeepSeek R1 | Small 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | DeepSeek | Mistral AI |
| Parameters | 671B (37B active) | 24B |
| Knowledge Cutoff | 2024-07 | 2024-01 |
| License | MIT | Apache 2.0 |
| Best For | reasoningmathscienceopen sourcecost efficiency | cost efficiencyopen sourceself hostinghigh volume |
Buy DeepSeek R1 if…
Buy the DeepSeek R1 if you want the best performance in this comparison. It scores higher overall and is the recommended choice for most buyers.
Buy Mistral AI Mistral Small 3 if…
The Mistral AI Mistral Small 3 is worth considering if you prefer its specific design, ecosystem, or brand — though it scores lower overall in our comparison.
Who do you think wins this matchup?
DeepSeek R1 clearly outperforms the Mistral AI Mistral Small 3 in the ai language models category, particularly in design, scoring 7.1/10 vs 5.4/10. If you want the better overall performer, DeepSeek R1 is the clear pick.
Yes, DeepSeek R1 scores higher overall (9.2 vs 7.9).
Check the latest prices using the buy links above.
Buy the DeepSeek R1 if you want the best performance in this comparison. It scores higher overall and is the recommended choice for most buyers.
The Mistral AI Mistral Small 3 is worth considering if you prefer its specific design, ecosystem, or brand — though it scores lower overall in our comparison.