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GPT-5.5 vs Claude Opus 4.8 Pricing 2026: Complete Cost Comparison
Both are premium-tier AI APIs at $5/1M input tokens. But the output pricing differs by 20% — and that adds up fast. Here's exactly what each costs, when to use which, and how to save.
Last updated: July 7, 2026. All prices verified against official provider pages.
TL;DR — GPT-5.5 vs Claude Opus 4.8:
- Input price: Identical — both $5/1M tokens
- Output price: Claude Opus 4.8 wins at $25/1M vs GPT-5.5's $30/1M (20% cheaper)
- Context window: Both have 1M tokens
- Best for coding: Claude Opus 4.8 (higher benchmark scores, lower cost)
- Best for general reasoning: Competitive — depends on specific task
Claude Opus 4.8
- 1M context window
- 128K max output
- Strong coding benchmarks
- Adaptive thinking
- Multi-platform (API, AWS, Google, Azure)
GPT-5.5
- 1.05M context window
- Strong general reasoning
- Creative writing strength
- OpenAI ecosystem integration
- Pro tier available ($30/$180)
Full Pricing Comparison
| Feature | Claude Opus 4.8 | GPT-5.5 |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | $5.00/1M | $5.00/1M |
| Output price | $25.00/1M | $30.00/1M |
| Context window | 1M tokens | 1.05M tokens |
| Max output | 128K tokens | ~32K tokens |
| Extended thinking | No | No |
| Adaptive thinking | Yes | Unknown |
| Batch API discount | 50% off | 50% off |
| Pro tier | Claude Fable 5 ($10/$50) | GPT-5.5 Pro ($30/$180) |
Real-World Cost Examples
| Model | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| Claude Opus 4.8 | $130 |
| GPT-5.5 | $155 |
Savings with Claude: $25/month (16%)
| Model | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| Claude Opus 4.8 | $550 |
| GPT-5.5 | $650 |
Savings with Claude: $100/month (15%)
| Model | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| Claude Opus 4.8 | $2,750 |
| GPT-5.5 | $3,250 |
Savings with Claude: $500/month (15%)
Key insight: The savings scale linearly with output tokens. Since both models have the same input price, the 20% output price difference ($25 vs $30) is the only cost variable. For output-heavy workloads (code generation, chatbots, content creation), Claude Opus 4.8 is always cheaper.
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Open Calculator →When to Use GPT-5.5
GPT-5.5 is the better choice when:
- You're already in the OpenAI ecosystem. If you're using OpenAI's tools, plugins, and integrations, switching providers has a real cost.
- Creative writing is your primary use case. GPT-5.5 is often preferred for creative and conversational tasks.
- You need the 1.05M context window. The slightly larger context (1.05M vs 1M) matters for very long documents.
- You want the Pro tier. GPT-5.5 Pro ($30/$180) offers higher capability for specialized tasks.
When to Use Claude Opus 4.8
Claude Opus 4.8 is the better choice when:
- Coding is your primary use case. Claude Opus 4.8 consistently scores higher on coding benchmarks and handles complex multi-file refactoring better.
- Cost matters. The 20% output savings adds up. At 10M output tokens/month, you save $50/month.
- You need longer outputs. Claude supports 128K max output vs GPT-5.5's ~32K.
- Agentic workflows. Claude's adaptive thinking and strong instruction-following make it ideal for multi-step agent tasks.
- Multi-platform deployment. Claude is available on AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure in addition to the direct API.
What About Cheaper Alternatives?
If $5/1M input is too steep, consider these alternatives:
| Model | Input/1M | Output/1M | Savings vs GPT-5.5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claude Sonnet 5 | $2.00 | $10.00 | 60-67% |
| Gemini 2.5 Pro | $1.25 | $10.00 | 67-75% |
| DeepSeek V4 Pro | $0.435 | $0.87 | 91-97% |
| GPT-5.4 mini | $0.75 | $4.50 | 70-85% |
Claude Sonnet 5 at $2/$10 (intro pricing through Aug 31) is particularly compelling — it offers near-premium quality at 60% less cost than GPT-5.5.
Compare all 51 models side-by-side
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View Full Pricing Table →FAQ
Is GPT-5.5 more expensive than Claude Opus 4.8?
Yes, but only on output tokens. Both charge $5/1M input tokens. GPT-5.5 charges $30/1M output tokens while Claude Opus 4.8 charges $25/1M — a 20% difference. For output-heavy workloads, Claude is meaningfully cheaper.
Which is better for coding: GPT-5.5 or Claude Opus 4.8?
Claude Opus 4.8 is generally preferred for coding. It scores higher on coding benchmarks, handles complex multi-file refactoring better, and costs 20% less on output tokens. GPT-5.5 is competitive for general reasoning and creative writing.
How much can I save by switching from GPT-5.5 to Claude Opus 4.8?
You save 20% on output tokens ($5/1M savings). For a workload processing 1M input + 5M output tokens monthly, switching from GPT-5.5 ($155) to Claude Opus 4.8 ($130) saves $25/month. For heavier output workloads, savings scale proportionally.