Looking for an honest Anthropic Claude 3 Opus vs Mistral AI Mistral Small 3 comparison in 2026? We scored both ai language models on the same six-dimension framework — performance, battery, display, camera, design and value — using identical methodology, so the numbers below are directly comparable. In our overall scoring the Mistral AI Mistral Small 3 comes out ahead 44/100 to 54/100 — a 10-point gap. The widest gap is in display, where the Mistral AI Mistral Small 3 pulls noticeably ahead.
Anthropic
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Mistral AI Mistral Small 3 edges out the Anthropic Claude 3 Opus in the ai language models category, especially in value, scoring 54 vs 44. If you want the better overall ai language models, Mistral AI Mistral Small 3 is the recommended choice.
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 | 3 Opus | Small 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Input (Prompt) | $15.00/1M | ✓$0.10/1M |
| Output (Completion) | $75.00/1M | ✓$0.30/1M |
| Open Source | Proprietary | ✓ Free |
Context Window (tokens)
| Metric | 3 Opus | Small 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Max Output | 4,096 tok | 4,096 tok |
| Speed | 35 tok/s | ✓200 tok/s |
| Time to First Token | 1.2s | ✓250ms |
| Languages | ✓50+ | 12+ |
Higher is better. Industry-standard AI evaluation benchmarks.
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| Feature | 3 Opus | 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 | 3 Opus | Small 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | Anthropic | Mistral AI |
| Parameters | — | 24B |
| Knowledge Cutoff | 2023-08 | 2024-01 |
| License | Commercial | Apache 2.0 |
| Best For | complex analysisresearchlong context | cost efficiencyopen sourceself hostinghigh volume |
Buy Anthropic Claude 3 Opus if…
The Anthropic Claude 3 Opus is worth considering if you prefer its specific design, ecosystem, or brand — though it scores lower overall in our comparison.
Buy Mistral AI Mistral Small 3 if…
Buy the Mistral AI Mistral Small 3 if you want the best overall value in this comparison. It scores higher overall and is the recommended choice for most buyers.
Mistral AI Mistral Small 3 edges out the Anthropic Claude 3 Opus in the ai language models category, especially in value, scoring 54 vs 44. If you want the better overall ai language models, Mistral AI Mistral Small 3 is the recommended choice.
No, Mistral AI Mistral Small 3 scores higher (75 vs 75).
Check the latest prices using the buy links above.
The Anthropic Claude 3 Opus is worth considering if you prefer its specific design, ecosystem, or brand — though it scores lower overall in our comparison.
Buy the Mistral AI Mistral Small 3 if you want the best overall value in this comparison. It scores higher overall and is the recommended choice for most buyers.
Reviewed by VersusMatrix Editorial Team
Last updated: April 25, 2026
Methodology: AI-powered analysis of technical specifications from manufacturer data. Scores are calculated by comparing products across multiple dimensions and normalized relative to the full category database. Our editorial process is independent and not influenced by affiliate partnerships.
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