Claude Sonnet 4 vs GPT-4o: The Best Mid-Tier Model in 2026
Claude Sonnet 4 and GPT-4o are both $3-5/1M tokens — the sweet spot for most teams. Here’s which one to pick.
Quick Verdict
| Factor | Winner |
|---|
| Coding | Claude Sonnet 4 |
| Speed | GPT-4o |
| Cost | GPT-4o |
| Context | Claude Sonnet 4 |
| Overall | Tie |
Test Results
Coding Task: Build React Component
| Model | Score | Code Quality | Time |
|---|
| Claude Sonnet 4 | 9.2 | Excellent | 8s |
| GPT-4o | 8.9 | Good | 5s |
Reasoning Task: Architecture Decision
| Model | Score | Depth | Practicality |
|---|
| Claude Sonnet 4 | 9.0 | Excellent | Good |
| GPT-4o | 8.7 | Good | Excellent |
Pricing
| Model | Input | Output |
|---|
| Claude Sonnet 4 | $3.00 | $15.00 |
| GPT-4o | $2.50 | $10.00 |
GPT-4o is ~30% cheaper.
When to Choose What
- Pick Claude Sonnet 4: Code quality matters, need large context
- Pick GPT-4o: Budget matters, need speed, agent workflows
Both are excellent. You won’t regret either.
