GPT-5 (medium) vs Claude 4 Opus (Extended Thinking): The Ultimate Performance & Pricing Comparison

The Final Verdict in the GPT-5 (medium) vs Claude 4 Opus (Extended Thinking) Showdown

After a comprehensive analysis, GPT-5 (medium) emerges as the superior choice for users prioritizing raw intelligence and reasoning. However, Claude 4 Opus (Extended Thinking) remains a highly competitive option, especially for scenarios demanding faster response times and cost-efficiency. This detailed GPT-5 (medium) vs Claude 4 Opus (Extended Thinking) comparison will break down every critical metric to help you make the best decision.

GPT-5 (medium) vs Claude 4 Opus (Extended Thinking): Key Differences at a Glance

Before we dive deep, here's a high-level summary of the GPT-5 (medium) vs Claude 4 Opus (Extended Thinking) comparison. This highlights the core metrics that define each model.

GPT-5 (medium)

By OpenAI

Intelligence Index:10

Blended Price / 1M:$0.0034375

Generation Speed:169.986 tokens/sec

Released 2025-08-28

Claude 4 Opus (Extended Thinking)

By Anthropic

Intelligence Index:9

Blended Price / 1M:$0.03

Generation Speed:20.298 tokens/sec

Released 2025-08-28

Performance Analysis: The Definitive GPT-5 (medium) vs Claude 4 Opus (Extended Thinking) Battle

This radar chart visually maps the core capabilities (e.g., Intelligence, Coding, Math indices) of `GPT-5 (medium)` vs `Claude 4 Opus (Extended Thinking)`.

The capability radar provides a holistic view of the GPT-5 (medium) vs Claude 4 Opus (Extended Thinking) matchup. This chart illustrates each model's strengths and weaknesses at a glance, forming a cornerstone of our GPT-5 (medium) vs Claude 4 Opus (Extended Thinking) analysis.

The Economics of GPT-5 (medium) vs Claude 4 Opus (Extended Thinking)

Power is only one part of the equation. This GPT-5 (medium) vs Claude 4 Opus (Extended Thinking) pricing analysis gives you a true sense of value.

Pricing Breakdown

Real-World Cost Scenario

To process 1M input tokens and generate 250k output tokens, `GPT-5 (medium)` would cost $0.004, whereas `Claude 4 Opus (Extended Thinking)` would cost $0.034. This practical calculation is vital for any developer considering the GPT-5 (medium) vs Claude 4 Opus (Extended Thinking) choice.

Which Model Wins the GPT-5 (medium) vs Claude 4 Opus (Extended Thinking) Battle for You?

Choose GPT-5 (medium) if...

Your top priority is raw performance and capability.

You are working in a technical or scientific field requiring the highest accuracy.

You need the most advanced reasoning capabilities available.

Choose Claude 4 Opus (Extended Thinking) if...

You are developing at scale where operational costs are critical.

You prioritize cost-effectiveness over maximum performance.

Your workload requires consistent, reliable performance.

Your Questions about the GPT-5 (medium) vs Claude 4 Opus (Extended Thinking) Comparison

Data provided by https://artificialanalysis.ai/