Claude Sonnet 4.6 vs GPT-4.1 nano

Claude Sonnet 4.6 vs GPT-4.1 nano: GPT-4.1 nano is cheaper for input-heavy usage ($0.10/M vs $3.00/M input tokens), while Claude Sonnet 4.6 is better for long-context tasks (1,000,000 tokens).

Direct answer: choose GPT-4.1 nano for lower token spend and choose Claude Sonnet 4.6 when your workload needs longer context.

Compare input and output token pricing, context windows, and monthly cost estimates on one page so you can pick the cheaper model fast.

Anthropic

Claude Sonnet 4.6

OpenAI

GPT-4.1 nano

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Claude Sonnet 4.6 pricing page GPT-4.1 nano pricing page Anthropic provider overview OpenAI provider overview

Cost Comparison (1000 input + 500 output tokens, 100 requests/day)

Claude Sonnet 4.6

Per Request:$0.0105

Daily:$1.05

Monthly:$31.50

Yearly:$383.25

GPT-4.1 nano

Per Request:$0.000300

Daily:$0.03

Monthly:$0.90

Yearly:$10.95

Cost Differences

$0.0102

Per Request

$1.02

Daily

$30.60

Monthly

$372.30

Yearly

GPT-4.1 nano costs less than Claude Sonnet 4.6

Quick Recommendation

Winner for direct API pricing: GPT-4.1 nano. At the default workload, GPT-4.1 nano saves about $30.60/month ($372.30/year) versus Claude Sonnet 4.6.

Claude Sonnet 4.6 full pricing breakdown GPT-4.1 nano full pricing breakdown Anthropic API pricing details OpenAI API pricing details Anthropic vs OpenAI API pricing Codex Mini vs o4-mini Deep Research Codex Mini vs o3 Deep Research

Feature Comparison

Feature	Claude Sonnet 4.6	GPT-4.1 nano
Provider	Anthropic	OpenAI
Input Price	$3.00/1M tokens	$0.10/1M tokens
Output Price	$15.00/1M tokens	$0.40/1M tokens
Context Window	1,000,000 tokens	128,000 tokens
Max Output	65,536 tokens	8,192 tokens
Category	balanced	efficient
Capabilities	textvisioncodereasoningcomputer-use	text
Release Date	2/18/2026	4/14/2025

Claude Sonnet 4.6 vs GPT-4.1 nano: Which Should You Choose?

Choosing between Claude Sonnet 4.6 and GPT-4.1 nano depends on your priorities: cost efficiency, context length, or raw capability. GPT-4.1 nano is the more affordable option at $0.10/1M input tokens — 97% cheaper than Claude Sonnet 4.6. Meanwhile, Claude Sonnet 4.6 offers a significantly larger context window at 1,000,000 tokens vs 128,000 for GPT-4.1 nano.

These models come from different providers — Anthropic and OpenAI — which means different API ecosystems, SDKs, rate limits, and terms of service. If you're already integrated with Anthropic, switching to OpenAIinvolves migration effort beyond just pricing. Factor in your existing infrastructure when deciding.

These models target different tiers: Claude Sonnet 4.6 is a balanced model while GPT-4.1 nano is efficient. This means they're optimized for different workloads. GPT-4.1 nano targets more demanding workloads, while Claude Sonnet 4.6 provides a cost-effective option for everyday tasks.

Output costs matter too. Claude Sonnet 4.6 charges $15.00/1M output tokens vs $0.40 for GPT-4.1 nano. For generation-heavy workloads (content creation, code generation, summarization), output pricing often dominates your bill. GPT-4.1 nano has the edge here at $0.40/1M output tokens.

Multimodal capabilities: Claude Sonnet 4.6 supports vision (image inputs) while GPT-4.1 nano is text-only. If your application needs image understanding, this narrows your choice.

Best Use Cases

Choose Claude Sonnet 4.6 when:

• You need a larger context window (1,000,000 tokens)
• You need more capabilities (vision, code, reasoning, computer-use)
• You need longer outputs (up to 65,536 tokens)
• You're already using Anthropic's API ecosystem

Choose GPT-4.1 nano when:

• Budget is a primary concern
• You're already using OpenAI's API ecosystem
• You're running high-volume, latency-sensitive workloads

Pros and Caveats at a Glance

Claude Sonnet 4.6

• Input pricing: $3.00/M tokens
• Output pricing: $15.00/M tokens
• Context window: 1,000,000 tokens
• Max output: 65,536 tokens

Watch out for

• Higher input cost than GPT-4.1 nano
• Higher output cost than GPT-4.1 nano

GPT-4.1 nano

• Input pricing: $0.10/M tokens
• Output pricing: $0.40/M tokens
• Context window: 128,000 tokens
• Max output: 8,192 tokens

Watch out for

• Smaller context window than Claude Sonnet 4.6

Try Different Scenarios

Use the calculator below to see how costs change with different usage patterns

Claude Sonnet 4.6 (Anthropic)

Cost Calculator

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GPT-4.1 nano (OpenAI)

Cost Calculator

Provider

Model

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Output Tokens

Requests/Day

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Start using Claude Sonnet 4.6 today

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, Claude Sonnet 4.6 or GPT-4.1 nano?▼

GPT-4.1 nano is cheaper for input tokens at $0.10 per million tokens vs $3.00 for Claude Sonnet 4.6 — that's 97% savings on input costs.

What is the context window difference between Claude Sonnet 4.6 and GPT-4.1 nano?▼

Claude Sonnet 4.6 supports 1,000,000 tokens while GPT-4.1 nano supports 128,000 tokens — a difference of 872,000 tokens in favor of Claude Sonnet 4.6.

Which model is better for AI Chatbot?▼

Both models support text. For ai chatbot, GPT-4.1 nano is the lower-cost option, while Claude Sonnet 4.6 offers a larger context window (1,000,000 vs 128,000 tokens). Choose GPT-4.1 nano for budget sensitivity or Claude Sonnet 4.6 for longer context tasks.

Which model has better overall pricing for heavy usage?▼

At 100 requests/day with 1,000 input and 500 output tokens each, Claude Sonnet 4.6 costs about $31.50/month and GPT-4.1 nano costs about $0.90/month. Overall, GPT-4.1 nano has lower combined input + output rates ($0.10 in, $0.40 out) vs Claude Sonnet 4.6.

Where can I compare Anthropic and OpenAI API pricing beyond this model matchup?▼

See the Anthropic vs OpenAI provider comparison page for lineup-level averages, then review each model page for exact per-token rates.