Head-to-head · Updated
Data verifiedGPT-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.
GPT-5.5
Best OpenAI flagship for agentic coding, research, and computer-use work.
Claude Sonnet 4.6
Best daily driver for coding and writing — the model most developers actually reach for.
| GPT-5.5 | Claude Sonnet 4.6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Input cost / 1M tokens | $$30.00/1M | $$3.00/1M |
| Output cost / 1M tokens | $$180.00/1M | $$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% |
Which model wins for each use case — and why.
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.
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.
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.
Both models support a 1M token context window. Context length is not the differentiator between them.
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.
Pick GPT-5.5 if…
Pick Claude Sonnet 4.6 if…
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.
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