Looking for an honest Meta Llama 3.1 405B vs Mistral AI Codestral 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 Meta Llama 3.1 405B comes out ahead 62/100 to 55/100 — a 7-point gap. The widest gap is in display, where the Mistral AI Codestral pulls noticeably ahead.
Meta
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Meta Llama 3.1 405B narrowly beats the Mistral AI Codestral in the ai language models category, especially in performance, scoring 62 vs 55. If you want the better overall ai language models, Meta Llama 3.1 405B 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 | 3.1 405B | AI Codestral |
|---|---|---|
| Input (Prompt) | ✓Free/1M | $0.30/1M |
| Output (Completion) | ✓Free/1M | $0.90/1M |
| Open Source | ✓ Free | Proprietary |
Context Window (tokens)
| Metric | 3.1 405B | AI Codestral |
|---|---|---|
| Max Output | 4,096 tok | ✓8,192 tok |
| Speed | 30 tok/s | ✓150 tok/s |
| Time to First Token | 1.5s | ✓300ms |
| Languages | 8+ | ✓80+ |
Higher is better. Industry-standard AI evaluation benchmarks.
3.1 405B
AI Codestral
3.1 405B
AI Codestral
3.1 405B
AI Codestral
3.1 405B
AI Codestral
3.1 405B
AI Codestral
| Feature | 3.1 405B | AI Codestral |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 3.1 405B | AI Codestral |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | Meta | Mistral AI |
| Parameters | 405B | 22B |
| Knowledge Cutoff | 2023-12 | 2024-06 |
| License | Llama 3.1 Community | Commercial |
| Best For | open sourceself hostingfine tuningenterprise privacy | codingfill in middlecode completionIDE integration |
Buy Meta Llama 3.1 405B if…
Buy the Meta Llama 3.1 405B if you want the best performance in this comparison. It scores higher overall and is the recommended choice for most buyers.
Buy Mistral AI Codestral if…
The Mistral AI Codestral is worth considering if you prefer its specific design, ecosystem, or brand — though it scores lower overall in our comparison.
Meta Llama 3.1 405B narrowly beats the Mistral AI Codestral in the ai language models category, especially in performance, scoring 62 vs 55. If you want the better overall ai language models, Meta Llama 3.1 405B is the recommended choice.
Yes, Meta Llama 3.1 405B scores higher overall (75 vs 75).
Check the latest prices using the buy links above.
Buy the Meta Llama 3.1 405B if you want the best performance in this comparison. It scores higher overall and is the recommended choice for most buyers.
The Mistral AI Codestral is worth considering if you prefer its specific design, ecosystem, or brand — though it scores lower overall in our comparison.
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.