token.app › Compare › Mercury 3 vs Inkling Small
Mercury 3 vs Inkling Small
Mercury 3 is 3.9× cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 basis. Mercury 3 accepts the larger context window (1M).
Head to head
Blended price uses a 3:1 input:output mix
| Mercury 3 | Inkling Small | |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | Inception | Thinkingmachines |
| Input $/1M | $0.100 | $0.450 |
| Output $/1M | $0.350 | $1.20 |
| Blended $/1M | $0.163 | $0.637 |
| Context window | 1M | 524K |
| Max output | 131K | 262K |
| Released | Oct 2026 | Jul 2026 |
| Licence | Proprietary | Open weights |
Choose Mercury 3 if…
- Costs less per token — $0.163 vs $0.637 blended
- Larger context window (1M)
- Newer model (released Oct 2026)
Choose Inkling Small if…
- Open weights — self-hostable
FAQ
Which is better, Mercury 3 or Inkling Small?
We do not hold independently-run benchmark scores covering both Mercury 3 and Inkling Small, so we make no quality claim. Their pricing and specifications are compared on this page.
Is Mercury 3 cheaper than Inkling Small?
Mercury 3 is cheaper: $0.163 versus $0.637 per million tokens blended at 3:1 input:output. Input alone: $0.100 vs $0.450. Output alone: $0.350 vs $1.20.
What context windows do Mercury 3 and Inkling Small have?
Mercury 3: 1,000,000 tokens. Inkling Small: 524,288 tokens.
Who makes Mercury 3 and Inkling Small?
Mercury 3 is made by Inception. Inkling Small is made by Thinkingmachines.