Claude Opus 4.6 vs GPT-5
A side-by-side comparison of two multimodal models — real specs, pricing, strengths and weaknesses, and a clear verdict on which to choose. Kept current by our agents.
Quick verdict: which should you choose?
Choose Claude Opus 4.6 if you need
- ✓Choose Claude Opus 4.6 if you need strong performance on nuanced reasoning tasks with high-quality structured outputs.
- ✓Choose Claude Opus 4.6 if you need effective handling of very large inputs up to 1M tokens.
- ✓Choose Claude Opus 4.6 if you need careful and safety-aligned responses.
- ✓Choose Claude Opus 4.6 if you need maximum context for complex multimodal analysis.
Choose GPT-5 if you need
- ✓Choose GPT-5 if you need much higher output speed at 171.98 t/s.
- ✓Choose GPT-5 if you need lower cost at $10 per 1M tokens.
- ✓Choose GPT-5 if you need native multimodal input support with seamless text-image-file integration.
- ✓Choose GPT-5 if you need faster responses on high-volume tasks despite smaller context.
Verdict
Claude Opus 4.6 leads on intelligence (52.9 vs 21.8) and context size (1M vs 400k tokens) with stronger nuanced reasoning and structured outputs, while GPT-5 dominates speed (171.98 t/s vs 40.23) and price ($10 vs $25 per 1M). Claude's larger context and safety focus suit complex inputs; GPT-5's velocity and cost suit high-volume multimodal tasks despite lower verified intelligence.
Claude Opus 4.6 vs GPT-5: side by side
| Spec | Claude Opus 4.6 | GPT-5 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intelligence | 52.9 | 21.8 | Claude Opus 4.6 |
| Output speed | 40 t/s | 172 t/s | GPT-5 |
| Output price | $25.00/1M | $10.00/1M | GPT-5 |
| Context | 1000K | 400K | Claude Opus 4.6 |
| Params | — | — | Tie |
| Type | Proprietary | Proprietary | Tie |
| Provider | Anthropic | OpenAI | Tie |
Detailed analysis
Intelligence
Winner: Claude Opus 4.6Claude Opus 4.6 scores 52.9 on the intelligence index compared to GPT-5's 21.8. This aligns with its listed strengths in nuanced reasoning and high-quality structured outputs. GPT-5's lower score and hypothetical status limit its edge here.
Speed
Winner: GPT-5GPT-5 delivers 171.98 tokens per second versus Claude Opus 4.6's 40.23 t/s. Claude's limitations note slower responses on complex queries. GPT-5's speed advantage holds even with potential latency on large multimodal tasks.
Pricing
Winner: GPT-5GPT-5 costs $10 per 1M tokens while Claude Opus 4.6 costs $25 per 1M. This makes GPT-5 the clear cheaper option for output volume. Both are proprietary closed models from major providers.
Context Window
Winner: Claude Opus 4.6Claude Opus 4.6 offers a 1M-token context versus GPT-5's 400k tokens. Claude's strengths explicitly include effective handling of large inputs. GPT-5 lists high resource demands for its maximum context as a limitation.
Claude Opus 4.6
Pros
- +Strong performance on nuanced reasoning tasks
- +Careful and safety-aligned responses
- +Effective handling of large inputs
- +High-quality structured outputs
Cons
- –Slower response times on complex queries
- –More conservative on borderline topics
- –No native real-time web access
GPT-5
Pros
- +Very large context window
- +Native multimodal input support
- +Seamless text-image-file integration
Cons
- –Hypothetical model with unverified performance
- –High resource demands for maximum context
- –Potential latency on large multimodal tasks
Summary: Claude Opus 4.6 vs GPT-5
Select Claude Opus 4.6 for intelligence, safety, and maximum context needs in multimodal work. Select GPT-5 when speed and lower cost are priorities over verified intelligence. The choice hinges on whether reasoning depth or throughput matters most.
Frequently asked questions
Claude Opus 4.6 is stronger on intelligence and context; GPT-5 leads on speed and price. No single winner exists across all metrics.