Claude Sonnet 4.6 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 Sonnet 4.6 if you need
- ✓high-speed multimodal output at 156.68 t/s
- ✓maximum intelligence (51.4) for complex text-image-file tasks
- ✓slightly larger 1.05M context with seamless document integration
- ✓flexible workflows handling large-scale multimodal inputs
Choose GPT-5.4 if you need
- ✓strong logical coherence and careful safety alignment
- ✓high-quality multimodal integration with conservative edge-case handling
- ✓reliable performance on long-context analysis within 1M tokens
- ✓tasks where refusal patterns on risky inputs are preferred
Verdict
GPT-5.4 leads in raw intelligence (51.4 vs 34.3) and output speed (156.68 t/s vs 45.11 t/s) while offering a slightly larger context window and stronger document-level multimodal workflows. Claude Sonnet 4.6 counters with superior logical coherence and safety alignment but trails on speed and measured intelligence. Both share identical pricing and near-identical context sizes, making GPT-5.4 the stronger performer for high-throughput multimodal tasks.
Claude Sonnet 4.6 vs GPT-5.4: side by side
| Spec | Claude Sonnet 4.6 | GPT-5.4 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intelligence | 34.3 | 51.4 | GPT-5.4 |
| Output speed | 45 t/s | 157 t/s | GPT-5.4 |
| Output price | $15.00/1M | $15.00/1M | Tie |
| Context | 1000K | 1050K | GPT-5.4 |
| Params | — | — | Tie |
| Provider | Anthropic | OpenAI | Tie |
Detailed analysis
Intelligence
Winner: GPT-5.4GPT-5.4 scores 51.4 on the intelligence index compared to Claude Sonnet 4.6's 34.3. This gap favors GPT-5.4 for demanding multimodal reasoning and document tasks.
Speed
Winner: GPT-5.4GPT-5.4 delivers 156.68 tokens per second versus Claude Sonnet 4.6's 45.11 t/s. The more than threefold speed advantage makes GPT-5.4 preferable for high-volume workloads.
Context & Pricing
Winner: TieBoth models cost $15 per million output tokens with nearly identical context windows (1.05M vs 1M). GPT-5.4 holds a marginal edge in maximum context size.
Multimodal Strengths
Winner: GPT-5.4GPT-5.4 emphasizes seamless text-image-file integration and document-level tasks. Claude Sonnet 4.6 highlights logical coherence and safety-aligned multimodal analysis.
Claude Sonnet 4.6
Pros
- +Strong logical coherence
- +Careful safety alignment
- +Effective handling of large contexts
Cons
- –Conservative refusal patterns on edge cases
- –Slower response times on complex inputs
- –Knowledge limited to training cutoff
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 Sonnet 4.6 vs GPT-5.4
Select GPT-5.4 when speed, intelligence, and flexible large-context multimodal processing are priorities. Choose Claude Sonnet 4.6 when logical coherence and safety alignment outweigh raw performance metrics. Both models are priced identically and handle comparable context lengths.
Frequently asked questions
GPT-5.4 is stronger overall due to its higher intelligence index, faster speed, and explicit strengths in document-level multimodal workflows.