o3 vs Claude Sonnet 4.6
Pricing, context window, and benchmark comparison · Last updated April 2026
Claude Sonnet 4.6 is cheaper than o3 at $3.00/1M/1M vs $10.00/1M/1M input tokens — a 3.3x cost difference. o3 scores higher on quality benchmarks (ELO 1380). Choose Claude Sonnet 4.6 for cost-sensitive workloads; choose o3 for maximum quality.
Which is cheaper: o3 or Claude Sonnet 4.6?
Claude Sonnet 4.6 is the cheaper option at $3.00/1M per 1M input tokens, compared to $10.00/1M for o3. That is a 3.3x cost difference on input tokens. Output pricing follows a similar pattern: o3 charges $40.00/1M/1M vs $15.00/1M/1M for Claude Sonnet 4.6.
Which has better quality: o3 or Claude Sonnet 4.6?
Based on LMSYS Chatbot Arena rankings, o3 achieves a higher ELO score (1380 vs 1310), suggesting stronger performance on open-ended tasks. o3 excels at highest reasoning benchmark scores of any model. Claude Sonnet 4.6 is known for latest claude model with improved agentic capabilities.
Which should you choose: o3 or Claude Sonnet 4.6?
- → Highest reasoning benchmark scores of any model
- → Better cost-efficiency than o1 at similar quality
- → Superior at agentic and multi-step tasks
- → Latest Claude model with improved agentic capabilities
- → Better at multi-step autonomous workflows
- → 200K context window
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper: o3 or Claude Sonnet 4.6?
Claude Sonnet 4.6 is cheaper at $3.00/1M per 1M input tokens, making it 3.3x more affordable.
Which has better quality: o3 or Claude Sonnet 4.6?
o3 scores higher on the LMSYS Chatbot Arena with an ELO of 1380, suggesting better overall quality for most tasks.
Which has a larger context window: o3 or Claude Sonnet 4.6?
Both o3 and Claude Sonnet 4.6 have the same context window.
Should I choose o3 or Claude Sonnet 4.6?
Choose Claude Sonnet 4.6 if cost is the priority. Choose o3 if benchmark quality is most important. Consider your specific use case: o3 is best for reasoning and math, while Claude Sonnet 4.6 excels at coding and function-calling.
Is o3 or Claude Sonnet 4.6 open source?
o3 is proprietary. Claude Sonnet 4.6 is proprietary.