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Claude Sonnet 4.6 vs GPT-4 Turbo

Pricing, context window, and benchmark comparison · Last updated April 2026

Quick Verdict

Claude Sonnet 4.6 is cheaper than GPT-4 Turbo at $3.00/1M/1M vs $10.00/1M/1M input tokens — a 3.3x cost difference. Claude Sonnet 4.6 scores higher on quality benchmarks (ELO 1310). Choose Claude Sonnet 4.6 for cost-sensitive workloads; both are strong choices depending on your budget.

Detailed Comparison

MetricClaude Sonnet 4.6GPT-4 Turbo
Input Price / 1M tokens$3.00/1MCheaper$10.00/1M
Output Price / 1M tokens$15.00/1MCheaper$30.00/1M
Context Window200KLarger128K
ELO Score (LMSYS)1310Smarter1260
Open Source
Free Tier
Release Date2025-022023-11

Which is cheaper: Claude Sonnet 4.6 or GPT-4 Turbo?

Claude Sonnet 4.6 is the cheaper option at $3.00/1M per 1M input tokens, compared to $10.00/1M for GPT-4 Turbo. That is a 3.3x cost difference on input tokens. Output pricing follows a similar pattern: Claude Sonnet 4.6 charges $15.00/1M/1M vs $30.00/1M/1M for GPT-4 Turbo.

Which has better quality: Claude Sonnet 4.6 or GPT-4 Turbo?

Based on LMSYS Chatbot Arena rankings, Claude Sonnet 4.6 achieves a higher ELO score (1310 vs 1260), suggesting stronger performance on open-ended tasks. Claude Sonnet 4.6 excels at latest claude model with improved agentic capabilities. GPT-4 Turbo is known for strong general reasoning.

Which should you choose: Claude Sonnet 4.6 or GPT-4 Turbo?

Choose Claude Sonnet 4.6 if:
  • Latest Claude model with improved agentic capabilities
  • Better at multi-step autonomous workflows
  • 200K context window
Choose GPT-4 Turbo if:
  • Strong general reasoning
  • Good at following complex multi-step instructions
  • Reliable tool/function calling

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper: Claude Sonnet 4.6 or GPT-4 Turbo?

Claude Sonnet 4.6 is cheaper at $3.00/1M per 1M input tokens, making it 3.3x more affordable.

Which has better quality: Claude Sonnet 4.6 or GPT-4 Turbo?

Claude Sonnet 4.6 scores higher on the LMSYS Chatbot Arena with an ELO of 1310, suggesting better overall quality for most tasks.

Which has a larger context window: Claude Sonnet 4.6 or GPT-4 Turbo?

Claude Sonnet 4.6 has a larger context window at 200K tokens.

Should I choose Claude Sonnet 4.6 or GPT-4 Turbo?

Choose Claude Sonnet 4.6 if cost is the priority. Choose Claude Sonnet 4.6 if benchmark quality is most important. Consider your specific use case: Claude Sonnet 4.6 is best for coding and function-calling, while GPT-4 Turbo excels at coding and function-calling.

Is Claude Sonnet 4.6 or GPT-4 Turbo open source?

Claude Sonnet 4.6 is proprietary. GPT-4 Turbo is proprietary.

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