Pairwise benchmark snapshot · Aug 1, 2026
In this head-to-head showdown, OpenAI o1 delivers higher overall intelligence and human-preferred responses (Elo 1,512 vs 1,455), while Claude Sonnet 4 leads in SWE-bench software engineering benchmarks (62.8%), while Claude Sonnet 4 is more budget-friendly at $15/1M per 1M output tokens. Review the complete breakdown below to determine which model best fits your performance and budget requirements.
9 direct benchmark disciplines evaluated across capability, speed, and cost
First Sonnet 4 generation. Bridge between 3.5/3.7 and Sonnet 5.
OpenAI pioneer reasoning foundation model designed for complex science, math, and multi-step reasoning.
Simulate accuracy gains vs added response time & token cost
Reasoning models “think before answering” by generating internal reasoning tokens. Higher effort improves math, coding, and logic accuracy, but increases response delay and token costs.
Δ 57 Arena Elo pts
92 tok/s
$15 / 1M output
Relative percentile scores computed across all active models in the benchmark catalog.
Comparing top Western standard models with China's leading frontier rival across 6 skill dimensions. Tap any spoke or dot to inspect.
Category wins across reasoning intelligence, generation speed, and token cost.
Preference Elo, Coding proficiency, SWE-bench & LiveBench accuracy
Generation throughput and time to first token responsiveness
Cost per million tokens and max context window length
| Benchmark | Claude Sonnet 4 | OpenAI o1 | Advantage Delta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preference Elo | +57 | ||
| Coding Elo | +17 | ||
| LiveBench | +2.2% | ||
| SWE-bench | +13.9% | ||
| GPQA Diamond | +1.6% | ||
| Time to first token | +200 ms | ||
| Output speed | 92 tok/s | 45 tok/s | +47 tok/s |
| Input price | +$12/1M | ||
| Output price | +$45/1M | ||
| Context window | — |
Simulate monthly production API costs in USD (US Dollar).
Claude Sonnet 4 is estimated to save $1,095.00/month ($13,140/year).
Higher SWE-bench (62.8%).
Lower output list price ($15/1M).
Lower TTFT (220 ms).
Larger window (200k).
Both accept images. Defaulting to the higher-Elo side (OpenAI o1).
| Target Workload | Recommended Pick | Evaluation Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Repo / coding agents | Claude Sonnet 4 | Higher SWE-bench (62.8%). |
| High-volume chat | Claude Sonnet 4 | Lower output list price ($15/1M). |
| Voice / low-latency UI | Claude Sonnet 4 | Lower TTFT (220 ms). |
| Long-document RAG | Claude Sonnet 4 | Larger window (200k). |
| Screenshots / vision | OpenAI o1 | Both accept images. Defaulting to the higher-Elo side (OpenAI o1). |
No comments posted on this matchup yet. Be the first to share an evaluation note!
Dynamic OpenGraph banner generated at /compare/claude-sonnet-4-vs-o1/opengraph-image
Verified Head-to-Head Telemetry