Claude Opus 4.6 vs GPT-5 Nano
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 GPT-5 Nano if you need fast responses at very low cost for high-volume tasks.
- ✓Choose GPT-5 Nano if you need efficient handling of 400k-token contexts with image and file inputs.
- ✓Choose GPT-5 Nano if you need lightweight multimodal processing for extended documents.
- ✓Choose GPT-5 Nano if you need output speeds above 170 tokens per second.
Choose GPT-5 Nano if you need
- ✓Choose Claude Opus 4.6 if you need top intelligence (52.9 index) for nuanced reasoning tasks.
- ✓Choose Claude Opus 4.6 if you need a full 1M-token context window.
- ✓Choose Claude Opus 4.6 if you need high-quality structured outputs with safety alignment.
- ✓Choose Claude Opus 4.6 if you need careful handling of complex or borderline topics.
Verdict
Claude Opus 4.6 leads decisively on intelligence (52.9 vs 26.8) and maximum context length, making it stronger for nuanced reasoning and very large inputs, while GPT-5 Nano dominates on speed (170 t/s vs 40 t/s) and price ($0.4 vs $25 per million tokens). GPT-5 Nano is the practical choice for high-volume, extended document work with image and file support; Claude Opus 4.6 excels when output quality and careful reasoning matter most.
Claude Opus 4.6 vs GPT-5 Nano: side by side
| Spec | Claude Opus 4.6 | GPT-5 Nano | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intelligence | 52.9 | 26.8 | Claude Opus 4.6 |
| Output speed | 40 t/s | 170 t/s | GPT-5 Nano |
| Output price | $25.00/1M | $0.40/1M | GPT-5 Nano |
| 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 with GPT-5 Nano's 26.8. This gap favors Claude for nuanced reasoning and advanced tasks. GPT-5 Nano's lower score aligns with its noted limitations in complex reasoning depth.
Speed
Winner: GPT-5 NanoGPT-5 Nano delivers 170.06 tokens per second versus Claude Opus 4.6's 40.23 t/s. The large speed advantage supports GPT-5 Nano's strength in faster responses and lightweight design. Claude's slower speed matches its limitation on complex queries.
Pricing
Winner: GPT-5 NanoGPT-5 Nano costs $0.4 per million tokens while Claude Opus 4.6 costs $25 per million tokens. The 62x price difference makes GPT-5 Nano far more economical for large-scale use. Both are proprietary models from major providers.
Context Window
Winner: Claude Opus 4.6Claude Opus 4.6 offers a 1M-token context versus GPT-5 Nano's 400k tokens. Claude's larger window directly supports its strength in handling very large inputs. GPT-5 Nano still manages large contexts efficiently within its limit.
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 Nano
Pros
- +Handles very large contexts efficiently
- +Supports text, image, and file inputs
- +Lightweight design for faster responses
- +Practical for extended document tasks
Cons
- –Lower capability depth than full-scale models
- –May struggle with highly complex reasoning
- –Trade-off in advanced task performance
Summary: Claude Opus 4.6 vs GPT-5 Nano
Select GPT-5 Nano when speed, low cost, and practical multimodal document handling are priorities. Select Claude Opus 4.6 when maximum intelligence, reasoning quality, and the largest context window are required. The choice hinges on whether throughput and price or capability depth matter more for the workload.
Frequently asked questions
Claude Opus 4.6 is better for intelligence and reasoning quality; GPT-5 Nano is better for speed and cost.