API cost decision in 10 seconds

OpenAI GPT Latest vs 🔥Claude Opus 4.6

Pick Claude Opus 4.6 for lower cost; pick OpenAI GPT Latest only if the larger context window matters more.

Pricing data updated:  Prices normalized to USD per 1M tokens Sample workload: 1M input + 500K output

Budget verdict

Pick Claude Opus 4.6 for lower cost; pick OpenAI GPT Latest only if the larger context window matters more.

On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, Claude Opus 4.6 is estimated at $17.5 vs $20 for OpenAI GPT Latest, saving $2.5 (12.5% lower).

Cost-first pickClaude Opus 4.6
Context-first pickOpenAI GPT Latest
Sample savings$2.512.5%
10x traffic gap$25

OpenAI GPT Latest has more context, but Claude Opus 4.6 saves $2.5 on the standard workload. At 10x that traffic, the same price gap is about $25. Use the calculator below to replace the sample workload with your own token volume.

Cost sensitivity

Workload Sensitivity

Same prices, different token mixes.

Claude Opus 4.6 stays cheaper across input-heavy, balanced, and output-heavy sample workloads.

Workload shapeToken mixBetter pickOpenAI GPT LatestClaude Opus 4.6
Input-heavy / RAG 5M input + 500K output Claude Opus 4.6 $40 $37.5
Balanced workload 1M input + 1M output Claude Opus 4.6 $35 $30
Output-heavy chatbot 1M input + 5M output Claude Opus 4.6 $155 $130
Cheaper inputTie$5 vs $5 / 1M
Cheaper outputClaude Opus 4.6$30 vs $25 / 1M
Larger contextOpenAI GPT Latest1.05M vs 1M
Sample workloadClaude Opus 4.6$20 vs $17.5

Estimate your workload cost

Your Workload Cost

Prices are normalized to USD per 1M tokens.
OpenAI GPT LatestCalculating…Estimated API cost
Claude Opus 4.6Calculating…Estimated API cost
Cheaper for this workloadCalculating…Difference: calculating…

This estimate uses normalized public API pricing per 1M tokens. It is a planning aid, not a billing quote. Verify provider pricing, limits, and terms before production use.

Quick Decision

Verdict

Tie has the lower input price, Claude Opus 4.6 has the lower output price, and OpenAI GPT Latest offers the larger context window.

For a 1M input token plus 500K output token workload, the estimated API cost is $20 for OpenAI GPT Latest and $17.5 for Claude Opus 4.6.

Best Fit

Choose OpenAI GPT Latest when you care most about larger context window.

Choose Claude Opus 4.6 when you care most about lower output-token price.

Head-to-Head Specs
FeatureOpenAI GPT Latest
(OpenAI)		🔥Claude Opus 4.6
(Anthropic)
Input Price
prompt tokens per 1M		$5$5
Completion Price
per 1M tokens		$30$25
Sample Workload Cost
1M input + 500K output		$20$17.5
Context Window1.05M1M
Release Date2026-04-272026-02-04
Popularity#18
OpenAI GPT Latest

This model always redirects to the latest model in the OpenAI GPT family.

Claude Opus 4.6

Opus 4.6 is Anthropic’s strongest model for coding and long-running professional tasks. It is built for agents that operate across entire workflows rather than single prompts, making it especially effective...

Use-Case Decision Matrix

Use caseBetter pickWhy
Budget-constrained productionClaude Opus 4.6On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, Claude Opus 4.6 is estimated at $17.5 vs $20 for OpenAI GPT Latest, saving $2.5 (12.5% lower).
High-volume input processingTieLower prompt-token price matters most when prompts or retrieved passages dominate the bill.
Long responses and chatbotsClaude Opus 4.6Lower output-token price matters most when assistants generate many completion tokens.
RAG or long-document workOpenAI GPT LatestA larger context window leaves more room for retrieved passages and source files.