Mistral AI Free Plan 2026: What's Included & What's Not
Honest breakdown of the free tier limits and features
Mistral AI pricing varies by team size and features, ranging from $0 to $15 per user/month in 2026. Your actual cost depends on the tier you choose, contract length, and negotiated discounts.
Use the interactive pricing calculator to estimate your exact cost based on team size and requirements.
- Free tier: No free tier available
- Billing: Monthly and annual (save 15-20%)
- Hidden costs: Add ~35% for implementation, support, and training
Mistral AI offers a freemium model with limited features; upgrade to unlock more.
What's Included in the Free Plan
- Access to Mistral models via Le Chat
- Basic text generation and conversation
- Code interpreter for data analysis
- Document uploads (PDF, text)
- AFP-verified news search
- Web search capabilities
- Access on web platform
What's NOT Included (Paid Only)
- All Pro features at 53% discount
- Verification required (student email or ID)
- Full access to Mistral Large and advanced models
- 150 Flash Answers per day
- No Telemetry Mode
- Priority support
Free Plan Limits
| Limit | Free Plan | Paid Plans |
|---|---|---|
| Messages | ~25 per day | Unlimited/Higher |
| Models | Mistral Medium, Small | Unlimited/Higher |
| Flash Answers | None | Unlimited/Higher |
| File uploads | Limited | Unlimited/Higher |
| Telemetry | Standard data collection | Unlimited/Higher |
You'll Need to Upgrade When...
- You exceed the user limit
- You need features like All Pro features at 53% discount or Verification required (student email or ID)
- You require premium support or SLA guarantees
- You need to remove branding or watermarks
- You need advanced integrations or API access
Hidden Restrictions on Free Plan
- Mistral AI branding may appear on your content or communications
- Support is limited to community forums or email with longer response times
- Export options may be restricted or include watermarks
- API access is typically limited or not available
- Advanced reporting and analytics require paid plans
Free vs Paid: Which Do You Need?
Free Plan is Enough If...
- You're an individual or very small team
- You need only basic features
- You don't mind usage limits
- Branding on output is acceptable
- Community support is sufficient
You Need Paid If...
- Your team is growing beyond limits
- You need advanced features
- Professional branding is required
- You need priority support
- Integrations/API access is critical
Free vs Student Plan Comparison
| Free (Le Chat) $0 | Student $7.04/user/month | |
|---|---|---|
| Features | 7 included | 6+ included |
| Support | Community/Email | Priority Support |
| Branding | Mistral AI branding | Your branding |
| Best For | Casual users exploring European open-source AI with basic conversation needs | Students and educators needing affordable access to advanced AI with privacy controls |
Frequently Asked Questions
01 Is Mistral AI free?
Yes, Mistral AI offers a freemium plan with 7 core features included. However, there are limits on messages, models that may require upgrading.
02 What's included in Mistral AI's free plan?
Mistral AI's free plan includes: Access to Mistral models via Le Chat, Basic text generation and conversation, Code interpreter for data analysis, Document uploads (PDF, text), AFP-verified news search, and 2 more features. Key limits include Messages: ~25 per day, Models: Mistral Medium, Small, Flash Answers: None.
03 What's NOT included in Mistral AI's free plan?
The free plan excludes: All Pro features at 53% discount, Verification required (student email or ID), Full access to Mistral Large and advanced models, 150 Flash Answers per day, No Telemetry Mode. You'll also have Mistral AI branding and limited support options.
04 When should I upgrade from Mistral AI's free plan?
Consider upgrading when: you hit user or storage limits, need features like All Pro features at 53% discount or Verification required (student email or ID), require premium support, or want to remove branding. The cheapest paid plan starts at $7.04/user/month.
05 Is Mistral AI's free plan really free forever?
Yes, Mistral AI's free plan is available indefinitely with no time limit. However, feature and usage limits may restrict what you can do without upgrading to a paid plan.
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