GPT-5.5 is OpenAI's current premium model at $5/1M input. Claude Sonnet 4.6 is the daily-driver favorite at $3/1M — 40% cheaper with 1M token context, the strongest writing score in the directory, and 97/100 coding score. GPT-5.5 has the edge in OpenAI-native coding agents (58.6% SWE-Bench Pro, 82.7% Terminal-Bench), computer-use workflows, and Codex integration. For most developers and content teams, Claude Sonnet 4.6 is the smarter value. For OpenAI-first agentic workflows, GPT-5.5 is the clear pick.
OpenAIPremium
GPT-5.5
Best OpenAI flagship for agentic coding, research, and computer-use work.
VS
AnthropicPremium
Claude Sonnet 4.6
Best daily driver for coding and writing — the model most developers actually reach for.
At a glance
GPT-5.5
Claude Sonnet 4.6
Input cost / 1M tokens
$$5.00/1M
$$3.00/1M
Output cost / 1M tokens
$$30.00/1M
$$15.00/1M
Context window
1M tokens
1M tokens
Speed
Balanced
Balanced
Price tier
Premium
Premium
Benchmarks
SWE-bench (coding)
—
79.6%
Arena Elo
—
1,340
MMLU
—
88.3%
How they compare
Which model wins for each use case — and why.
OpenAI Agentic WorkflowsGPT-5.5 wins
GPT-5.5 leads Terminal-Bench 2.0 at 82.7% and is the strongest OpenAI model for Codex, computer-use, and OpenAI-native agent workflows.
WritingClaude Sonnet 4.6 wins
Claude Sonnet 4.6 has the highest writing recommendation score (98/100) in the directory. For editorial, content, and long-form work, it's unmatched at this price.
PriceClaude Sonnet 4.6 wins
Claude Sonnet 4.6 costs $3/1M input vs GPT-5.5's $5/1M — 40% cheaper. Output is $15/1M vs $30/1M — 50% cheaper. The savings are significant at scale.
Context WindowTie
Both models support a 1M token context window. Context length is not the differentiator between them.
Everyday CodingClaude Sonnet 4.6 wins
Claude Sonnet 4.6 scores 97/100 on coding recommendation and is the default in Cursor and Windsurf. For daily coding tasks, it delivers premium performance at 40% lower cost.
Which should you pick?
Pick GPT-5.5 if…
You're running OpenAI-native coding agents, Codex workflows, or computer-use automation
Your team is deeply integrated into OpenAI APIs and switching costs are real
You need OpenAI's latest model for benchmark-driven evaluation or reporting
Against Claude Sonnet 4.6 it costs about 49% more per token.
OpenAI's latest agentic flagship for coding, research, computer-use workflows, and long multi-step knowledge work.
Input
$5.00/1M
Output
$30.00/1M
Context
1M tokens
Speed
Balanced
What people actually use it for
Running multi-file implementation and debugging loops in Codex
Building agents that research, operate tools, and verify work over long tasks
Analyzing large business, scientific, or technical documents with 1M context
Where it wins
58.6% on SWE-Bench Pro, ahead of GPT-5.4 on the same public coding benchmark
82.7% on Terminal-Bench 2.0 for complex command-line workflows
1M token API context window for large-codebase and document-heavy workflows
Where it falls down
Claude Opus 4.7 leads GPT-5.5 on SWE-Bench Pro for pure coding ceiling
Premium API pricing makes it less attractive for high-volume low-risk work
Skip it if
You only care about the highest public coding benchmark score or need a cheaper high-volume model.
Our verdict
The strongest OpenAI pick for agentic coding and knowledge work. Claude Opus 4.7 still wins on the public SWE-Bench Pro coding number, but GPT-5.5 is the better OpenAI default when ecosystem, Codex, or computer-use workflows matter.
Full pricing, benchmark table and release notes on the GPT-5.5 page.
Against GPT-5.5 it costs about 49% less per token.
The default model powering Cursor and Windsurf. 79.6% SWE-bench, 1M context window, and best-in-tier writing quality — all at $3/1M input.
Input
$3.00/1M
Output
$15.00/1M
Context
1M tokens
Speed
Balanced
What people actually use it for
Daily coding in Cursor — debugging, refactoring, and feature implementation
Drafting polished client reports, strategy memos, and long-form editorial content
Answering research questions with up to 1M tokens of document context
Where it wins
Strong coding quality with 1M context at $3/1M input
Default model in Cursor and Windsurf, the two most popular AI coding editors
Best writing quality in its price tier — tone, long-form clarity, editorial polish
Where it falls down
Claude Opus 4.7 has a higher current premium coding ceiling
GPT-5.5 or GPT-5.4 are better picks when OpenAI computer-use workflows are the priority
Skip it if
You specifically need desktop-control capabilities (GPT-5.5/GPT-5.4) or the absolute highest coding ceiling (Opus 4.7).
Our verdict
The best all-around model for most developers and writers. Strong SWE-bench, excellent writing, 1M context — all at $3/1M input. Hard to beat as a daily driver.
Is GPT-5.5 worth the premium over Claude Sonnet 4.6?
Only if you specifically need OpenAI-native coding agents, Codex, or computer-use workflows. For everyday coding, writing, and research, Claude Sonnet 4.6 delivers comparable quality at 40% lower cost.
Which is cheaper?
Claude Sonnet 4.6 is cheaper: $3/$15 per 1M tokens vs GPT-5.5's $5/$30. That's 40% cheaper on input and 50% cheaper on output.
Which is better for writing?
Claude Sonnet 4.6 leads the writing category with a 98/100 recommendation score. For editorial, content, and long-form writing, Claude is the stronger pick.