Claude Sonnet 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.
Claude Sonnet 4.6 vs GPT-5 Nano: side by side
| Spec | Claude Sonnet 4.6 | GPT-5 Nano | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intelligence | 42.6 | 26.8 | Claude Sonnet 4.6 |
| Output speed | 44 t/s | 170 t/s | GPT-5 Nano |
| Output price | $15.00/1M | $0.40/1M | GPT-5 Nano |
| Context | 1000K | 400K | Claude Sonnet 4.6 |
| Params | — | — | Tie |
| Type | Proprietary | Proprietary | Tie |
| Provider | Anthropic | OpenAI | Tie |
Claude Sonnet 4.6
Pros
- +Strong logical coherence
- +Careful safety alignment
- +Effective handling of large contexts
- +High-quality multimodal integration
Cons
- –Conservative refusal patterns on edge cases
- –Slower response times on complex inputs
- –Knowledge limited to training cutoff
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
Frequently asked questions
It depends on your needs. Claude Sonnet 4.6 and GPT-5 Nano are both multimodal models; the comparison table above shows where each one leads on the metrics that matter. See the verdict for a recommendation.