VerdictPal · editorial desk · updated 16 Oct 2026VerdictPal

Compare · Two models, head-to-head

Pick two models. See the diff.

Composite scores, benchmark ranks, capability grids, and pricing per million tokens. All sourced from the same data that powers the model atlas.

Tools Models

Claude Sonnet 5.5 vs Claude Opus 5.5

Model A

Model B

MODEL A

Claude Sonnet 5.5

Anthropic · Claude Sonnet

Composite 0Intel 01 rows1 sources

Anthropic's 28 Sep 2026 Sonnet. API list $2 / $10 per 1M tokens, 1M context, 128K output. Text and image in, text out. Reliable knowledge cutoff June 2026. No AA or Vals ledger row on this page.

MODEL B

Claude Opus 5.5

Anthropic · Claude Opus

Composite 70Intel 704 rows1 sources

Anthropic's 22 Sep 2026 Opus. API list $4 / $20 per 1M tokens, 1M context, 128K output. Text and image in, text out. No AA or Vals ledger row on this page as of 23 Sep 2026.

Claude Sonnet 5.52stats won

Tied2stats

Claude Opus 5.52stats won

Spec showdown

Capacity, price, freshness.

Claude Sonnet 5.5vsClaude Opus 5.5

Claude Opus 5.5 leads on composite score (70 vs 0), with deeper benchmark coverage across more families. Claude Sonnet 5.5 is more affordable at $2.0/1M input — about 2× cheaper than $4.0/1M.

Composite score
Claude Sonnet 5.50Claude Opus 5.570Winner on this row
Benchmark mix
Claude Sonnet 5.50Claude Opus 5.570Winner on this row
Context window
Claude Sonnet 5.51MClaude Opus 5.51M
Max output
Claude Sonnet 5.5128KClaude Opus 5.5128K
Input price / 1M (lower wins)
Claude Sonnet 5.5$2.0Winner on this rowClaude Opus 5.5$4.0
Output speed (AA default API)
Claude Sonnet 5.5135 t/sWinner on this rowClaude Opus 5.596 t/s

Composite score

Benchmark mix

Context window

Max output

128K

Input price / 1M (lower wins)

$2.0

$4.0

Output speed (AA default API)

135 t/s

96 t/s

Capability grid

What each model can do.

Modalities

Claude Sonnet 5.5Claude Opus 5.5

Text●●

Image●●

Audio——

Video——

Code●●

Tool use●●

Reasoning●●

Access

Claude Sonnet 5.5Claude Opus 5.5

API●●

Consumer app●●

Open weights——

Managed cloud●●

On-device——

Family profile

Top score per benchmark family.

No shared benchmark families between these two models.

Benchmark ranks

Every shared benchmark, side by side.

Performance

AA output speed#34/195 · #60/195

135 t/s

96 t/s

Dossier facts

Dates, sources, fineprint.

Claude Sonnet 5.5Claude Opus 5.5

ProviderAnthropicAnthropic

FamilyClaude SonnetClaude Opus

Release date2026-09-282026-09-22

Knowledge cutoffJun 2026Jun 2026

Context window1M1M

Max output128K128K

Input price /1M$2.0$4.0

Output price /1M$10$20

Statusflagshipflagship

Composite score070

Intelligence score070

Intel sourcenonecomposite

Benchmark rows14

Source count11

Freshnessfreshfresh

Pricing checked2026-09-282026-09-28

Ecosystem

Which tools wrap each model.

Claude Sonnet 5.5

claude

Claude Opus 5.5

claude

Verdict

Which model to actually pick.

Claude Opus 5.5 leads on composite score (70 vs 0), with deeper benchmark coverage across more families. Claude Sonnet 5.5 is more affordable at $2.0/1M input — about 2× cheaper than $4.0/1M.

Open Claude Sonnet 5.5's dossier Open Claude Opus 5.5's dossier

Questions this comparison answers

Every answer below is assembled from the dated fields on this page. Nothing is written separately for search.

Should you use Claude Sonnet 5.5 or Claude Opus 5.5?

Claude Opus 5.5 leads on composite score (70 vs 0), with deeper benchmark coverage across more families. Claude Sonnet 5.5 is more affordable at $2.0/1M input — about 2× cheaper than $4.0/1M.

Is Claude Sonnet 5.5 or Claude Opus 5.5 cheaper?

Claude Sonnet 5.5: $2.0 / $10. Claude Opus 5.5: $4.0 / $20.

How do the Claude Sonnet 5.5 and Claude Opus 5.5 context windows compare?

Claude Sonnet 5.5: 1M. Claude Opus 5.5: 1M.