Claude Opus 4.8 (Fast) vs GPT-5.4
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 4.8 (Fast) if you need
- ✓high-volume text-image-file tasks at 166.3 t/s and $15 per million tokens
- ✓seamless integration across extremely large contexts up to 1.05M tokens
- ✓document-level multimodal workflows without native audio or video needs
- ✓flexible prompting for cost-efficient large-scale processing
Choose GPT-5.4 if you need
- ✓higher intelligence scoring 55.7 with nuanced and careful reasoning
- ✓strong safety alignment and high-quality writing or analysis
- ✓effective 1M-token context handling where caution on edge cases is acceptable
- ✓fast-mode outputs that prioritize depth over maximum speed
Verdict
GPT-5.4 leads on speed and cost with 166.3 t/s output and $15/1M tokens plus a slightly larger 1.05M context, making it stronger for high-volume multimodal document workflows. Claude Opus 4.8 (Fast) holds the edge in intelligence (55.7 vs 51.4) and safety-aligned reasoning, suiting nuanced analysis tasks despite slower speed and higher price. The choice hinges on whether throughput or careful output quality matters most.
Claude Opus 4.8 (Fast) vs GPT-5.4: side by side
| Spec | Claude Opus 4.8 (Fast) | GPT-5.4 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intelligence | 55.7 | 51.4 | Claude Opus 4.8 (Fast) |
| Output speed | 69 t/s | 166 t/s | GPT-5.4 |
| Output price | $50.00/1M | $15.00/1M | GPT-5.4 |
| Context | 1000K | 1050K | GPT-5.4 |
| Params | — | — | Tie |
| Provider | Anthropic | OpenAI | Tie |
Detailed analysis
Intelligence
Winner: Claude Opus 4.8 (Fast)Claude Opus 4.8 (Fast) scores 55.7 on the intelligence index compared with GPT-5.4's 51.4. Its strengths in nuanced reasoning and high-quality analysis directly support this lead. GPT-5.4 remains competitive for practical multimodal tasks but trails on the raw metric.
Speed
Winner: GPT-5.4GPT-5.4 delivers 166.3 tokens per second versus Claude Opus 4.8 (Fast)'s 69.08 t/s. This more than doubles throughput for large multimodal jobs. Claude's fast mode still trades some depth for speed but cannot match the raw output rate.
Pricing
Winner: GPT-5.4GPT-5.4 costs $15 per million output tokens while Claude Opus 4.8 (Fast) costs $50 per million. The threefold price difference favors GPT-5.4 for sustained high-volume use. Both are proprietary models from major providers with no open-weight alternative listed.
Context & Multimodal
Winner: GPT-5.4GPT-5.4 offers a 1.05M context window and explicit seamless text-image-file integration plus document-level strengths. Claude matches with a 1M window and effective large-context handling but notes variable multimodal performance with image clarity. GPT-5.4's larger window and workflow flexibility give it the edge here.
Claude Opus 4.8 (Fast)
Pros
- +Strong safety alignment
- +Nuanced and careful reasoning
- +Effective large-context handling
Cons
- –Can be overly cautious on edge cases
- –Multimodal performance varies with image clarity
- –Fast mode may trade some depth for speed
GPT-5.4
Pros
- +Handles extremely large contexts
- +Seamless text-image-file integration
- +Strong at document-level tasks
Cons
- –No native audio or video support
- –Large context can increase latency
- –May need careful prompting for complex tasks
Summary: Claude Opus 4.8 (Fast) vs GPT-5.4
Select GPT-5.4 when speed, lower cost, and broad multimodal document handling are priorities. Choose Claude Opus 4.8 (Fast) when maximum intelligence, safety alignment, and careful writing quality outweigh the slower and more expensive profile. Both handle large contexts well but target different workflow trade-offs.
Frequently asked questions
Claude Opus 4.8 (Fast) scores higher on intelligence while GPT-5.4 wins on speed and price; neither is universally better.