GPT-4.1 vs Claude Sonnet 4.6 — LLM API Cost Comparison
Compare GPT-4.1 (OpenAI) vs Claude Sonnet 4.6 (Anthropic) on cost per million tokens, context window, and monthly spend.
Prices verified 2026-05-20 · Pricing may change — use the calculator for current estimates
- Input
- $2/1M tokens
- Output
- $8/1M tokens
- Context
- 1M tokens
- Released
- 2025-04
Recommended production model (replaced GPT-4o); 1M context
- Input
- $3/1M tokens
- Output
- $15/1M tokens
- Context
- 1M tokens
- Released
- 2026-04
Best speed/intelligence balance; extended thinking supported
Monthly Cost by Usage Tier (70% input / 30% output ratio)
| Usage | GPT-4.1 | Claude Sonnet 4.6 | Cheaper by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light (1M tokens) | $3.80 | $6.60 | GPT-4.1 (42%) |
| Moderate (10M tokens) | $38.00 | $66.00 | GPT-4.1 (42%) |
| Heavy (100M tokens) | $380 | $660 | GPT-4.1 (42%) |
| Very Heavy (1B tokens) | $3,800 | $6,600 | GPT-4.1 (42%) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper — GPT-4.1 or Claude Sonnet 4.6?
For input tokens, GPT-4.1 is cheaper at $2/1M tokens — 1.5× less than $3/1M. For output tokens, GPT-4.1 wins at $8/1M vs $15/1M. At heavy workloads (100M tokens/month), the cost difference can be significant.
What is the context window difference between GPT-4.1 and Claude Sonnet 4.6?
GPT-4.1 supports 1,000,000 tokens per request; Claude Sonnet 4.6 supports 1,000,000 tokens. GPT-4.1 wins on context length, making it better for long documents, large codebases, or extended conversations without chunking.
When should I choose GPT-4.1 over Claude Sonnet 4.6?
Choose GPT-4.1 (OpenAI) if you prefer OpenAI's ecosystem, tooling, or reliability track record. Recommended production model (replaced GPT-4o); 1M context. Choose Claude Sonnet 4.6 (Anthropic) if Best speed/intelligence balance; extended thinking supported. the price/performance fits your workload better. Use this calculator to find the break-even point for your exact token volume.
How much does 1 billion tokens cost on GPT-4.1 vs Claude Sonnet 4.6?
At 700M input + 300M output tokens (1B total): GPT-4.1 costs $3800; Claude Sonnet 4.6 costs $6600. The difference is $2800/billion tokens at this 70/30 input/output ratio.