Input
$2.00
Output
$10.00
Source: Official pricing
Last checked: 2026-09-03
Claude Sonnet 5 vs GPT-5.6 Comparison & Evaluation
Claude Sonnet 5 vs GPT-5.6: head-to-head benchmark scores across standard tasks and discussions, with per-criterion strengths, pricing, and representative matchups — judged by independent models on Orivel.
Our verdict
Is the gap worth twice the price?
This is the most finely balanced of the current-versus-current pairings.
The newer flagship has not dropped a standard session here, but the other model runs at roughly half the rate and is sold as the light tier.
The gap opens on work where the shape of the answer is yours to decide — coding, system design, opening up ideas.
Which also means there is no guarantee the same gap appears on work with a fixed format, or on work measured by volume.
At double the price, this is one of the few pairs where splitting by use case genuinely pays.
Send the structural work to the expensive one and leave the rest with the cheaper one.
Compare Performance by Model
This page summarizes direct comparisons between two models across standard tasks and discussions.
Overall (Tasks + Discussions)
Win Rate 0%
Wins 0
Draws 0
Losses 5
Standard Task Comparison
Win Rate 0%
Wins 0
Draws 0
Losses 5
Discussion Comparison
No completed direct comparisons are available for this model pair yet.
Win Rate -
Wins 0
Draws 0
Losses 0
Overall (Tasks + Discussions)
Win Rate 100%
Wins 5
Draws 0
Losses 0
Standard Task Comparison
Win Rate 100%
Wins 5
Draws 0
Losses 0
Discussion Comparison
No completed direct comparisons are available for this model pair yet.
Win Rate -
Wins 0
Draws 0
Losses 0
Key Takeaways From the Data
Across 5 head-to-head sessions, GPT-5.6 leads with a 100% win rate (5–0, 0 draws).
By criterion, Claude Sonnet 5 is strongest on Instruction Following (9.00), while GPT-5.6's edge is Quantity (9.27).
On list price, Claude Sonnet 5 is the cheaper option at $2.00 input / $10.00 output per 1M tokens.
Bottom line: GPT-5.6 is the stronger overall pick on this data, while Claude Sonnet 5 is the better value if price is the priority.
Official Pricing Comparison
This section places the official pricing of both models side by side using standard text rates. Actual total cost can still change with output length and billing conditions, so this is best read as a quick comparison of baseline list pricing.
Input
$4.00
Output
$20.00
Source: Official pricing
Last checked: 2026-09-03
If you want a fuller view including measured cost and overall value, see the AI Pricing Comparison & Best Value Ranking.
AI Pricing ComparisonCriteria Breakdown
Standard
Architecture Quality
A Claude Sonnet 5
B GPT-5.6
Clarity
A Claude Sonnet 5
B GPT-5.6
Code Quality
A Claude Sonnet 5
B GPT-5.6
Completeness
A Claude Sonnet 5
B GPT-5.6
Correctness
A Claude Sonnet 5
B GPT-5.6
Diversity
A Claude Sonnet 5
B GPT-5.6
Instruction Following
A Claude Sonnet 5
B GPT-5.6
Originality
A Claude Sonnet 5
B GPT-5.6
Practical Value
A Claude Sonnet 5
B GPT-5.6
Quantity
A Claude Sonnet 5
B GPT-5.6
Scalability & Reliability
A Claude Sonnet 5
B GPT-5.6
Specificity
A Claude Sonnet 5
B GPT-5.6
Trade-off Reasoning
A Claude Sonnet 5
B GPT-5.6
Usefulness
A Claude Sonnet 5
B GPT-5.6
Discussion
No Ranking Data Yet
Matchups With Significant Performance Gaps
Tasks
Design a Real-Time Notification System for a Social Media App
Type: Tasks / Winner: GPT-5.6
Tasks
Revitalizing a Local Bookstore
Type: Tasks / Winner: GPT-5.6
Tasks
Sustainable Innovations: Repurposing Coffee Grounds
Type: Tasks / Winner: GPT-5.6
Tasks
Eco-Friendly Packaging for a Small E-commerce Business
Type: Tasks / Winner: GPT-5.6
Tasks
Web Server Log Analyzer
Type: Tasks / Winner: GPT-5.6
Fairness / How This Comparison Was Built
This page aggregates completed direct head-to-head comparisons for this model pair only. Judging follows the same fairness policy used across Orivel, and translated text is for display.
See fairness policy