GPT-5.5 vs Claude Opus 4.6: Which AI Model is Better?
Head-to-head comparison of GPT-5.5 and Claude Opus 4.6 — two frontier AI models in 2026. Compare pricing, performance, context windows, and capabilities.
Last updated: May 2026
Pricing Comparison
| Model | Provider | Input $/1M | Output $/1M | Context | Max Output |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GPT-5.5 | OpenAI | $5 | $30 | 1.05M | 128K |
| Claude Opus 4.6 | Anthropic | $5 | $25 | 1M | 128K |
Detailed Comparison
GPT-5.5
OpenAI
$5 / $30
per 1M tokens
Strengths
- + Excellent reasoning and multi-step tasks
- + Native vision and function calling
- + 1.05M context window
Best For
Multi-modal applications, complex reasoning chains
Context Window
1.05M
Max Output
128K
Claude Opus 4.6
Anthropic
$5 / $25
per 1M tokens
Strengths
- + Superior creative writing
- + Better at following nuanced instructions
- + Extended thinking for deep analysis
Best For
Long-form generation, nuanced analysis, creative tasks
Context Window
1M
Max Output
128K
Verdict
GPT-5.5 and Claude Opus 4.6 now share the same input price ($5/1M), while Claude Opus 4.6 has lower output pricing ($25/1M vs $30/1M). Both offer roughly 1M-token context windows in the canonical data. Choose GPT-5.5 for OpenAI ecosystem fit and complex multi-modal workflows; choose Claude Opus 4.6 when writing quality and nuanced instruction following matter most.
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FAQ
Which is cheaper, GPT-5.5 or Claude Opus 4.6?
GPT-5.5 costs $5/$30 per million tokens (input/output), while Claude Opus 4.6 costs $5/$25. Claude Opus 4.6 is cheaper for input.
Which has a larger context window?
GPT-5.5 supports 1.05M context, while Claude Opus 4.6 supports 1M. Larger context windows allow processing more text in a single request.
Which should I choose for my project?
GPT-5.5 and Claude Opus 4.6 now share the same input price ($5/1M), while Claude Opus 4.6 has lower output pricing ($25/1M vs $30/1M). Both offer roughly 1M-token context windows in the canonical data. Choose GPT-5.5 for OpenAI ecosystem fit and complex multi-modal workflows; choose Claude Opus 4.6 when writing quality and nuanced instruction following matter most.