Mistral: what it is, what it costs, and who it suits (2026)
Mistral is a French AI company. Its chat app, formerly Le Chat, is now called Vibe.
Research-based, not tested. Written from official pages and help docs (last checked Oct 15, 2026). We haven't run our own tests of this yet, so treat it as an explainer, not a verdict. How we test
In one sentence
A European alternative with a low-cost paid plan and open-weight models you can also run yourself.
Latest models (last checked Oct 15, 2026)
Newest: Mistral Large 4 (preview, Oct 6). Default in the Vibe app: Mistral Medium 3.5.
- Oct 6, 2026: Mistral Large 4 (“le Chonk”) public preview in Mistral Studio/API; open weights promised by end of October (Mistral)
- 2026 (date not confirmed): Mistral Medium 3.5, the default model in Vibe (Mistral)
Free vs paid (as of Oct 2026)
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Limited chat, search, images and coding in Vibe |
| Pro | $14.99/month (students $5.99) | More messages and searches, all-day coding, spreadsheets and slides, monthly API credits |
| Team | $24.99/month (per-user basis not confirmed) | Higher limits, up to 30 GB storage per user, domain verification |
Free option: Limited messages and web searches, limited coding sessions, basic image generation and editing, and 100+ connectors, on web and mobile.
What it's good at
- Cheapest “Pro” plan of the big chat apps we checked
- Default model, Mistral Medium 3.5, is open-weight (you can download it)
- Coding help across terminal, editor and web
Keep in mind
- Smaller ecosystem than ChatGPT or Gemini
- Commercial self-hosting needs a Mistral licence, per its FAQ
- The rename from Le Chat to Vibe may confuse search results
Where you'll find it
- Vibe on web, iPhone and Android
- Mistral Studio and the API for developers
Last checked Oct 15, 2026. Model names change fast. Names and prices here are as of Oct 2026 and come from the sources at the bottom of the page.
See also: AI models explained · Which AI model should I use? · Best free AI models
Sources
- Mistral pricing: last checked Oct 15, 2026
- Mistral Help: Le Chat is now Vibe: last checked Oct 15, 2026
- Mistral: Medium 3.5: last checked Oct 15, 2026
- Mistral: Mistral Large 4 (“le Chonk”) public preview in Mistral Studio/API; open weights promised by end of October (Oct 6, 2026): last checked Oct 15, 2026
Prices and plans change often. Always confirm on the official site before you buy.
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