While GPT‑5 has not yet been released, reports now indicate OpenAI plans on launching it imminently—possibly this week. Early insiders suggest GPT‑5 fuses strengths from OpenAI’s prior “GPT” and “o‑series” reasoning-focused models, dynamically routing complexity based on task demands. Some reports have described it as outperforming Anthropic’s Claude Sonnet 4 (which you can try here) in early coding and reasoning side‑by‑side evaluations. Although comparisons to Claude Opus 4 are still speculative. Rumors also propose GPT‑5 isn’t a single monolithic model but rather a routing system that picks the optimal sub‑model (e.g., fast GPT style for simple queries, deep reasoning “o” model for complex tasks), kind of similar to the hybrid behavior seen in Claude 4.
This article draws an early feature comparison between the incoming OpenAI GPT-5 and Claude 4 models to see how they stack up.
Claude 4: Structure & Feature Deep Dive
Claude 4 was officially launched in May 2025, introducing two main versions:
- Claude Opus 4 – flagship, highest‑tier, paid version
- Claude Sonnet 4 – generalist, available even to free users
Read a detailed comparative analysis of these models here.
Hybrid Reasoning Modes
Both models support two modes:
- Near‑Instant: rapid answers for simple queries
- Extended Thinking: multi‑step, slower mode for deep reasoning and planning They also support interleaved tool execution, switching between internal thinking and tools (like search) during reasoning.
Context Window & Memory
Both offer a massive ~200K‑token context window, allowing retention of lengthy prompts, code, documents, or conversations. Opus 4, when given file access, can generate persistent memory artifacts—caching facts over long workflows for improved coherence.
Coding and Agentic Abilities
Opus 4, touted as “the best coding model in the world,” shines on SWE‑bench (scoring ≈ 72.5%) and Terminal‑bench (≈ 43.2%)—and in high‑compute settings even higher (≈ 79.4% SWE; 50% Terminal). It autonomously executed a task equivalent to playing Pokémon Red continuously for 24 hours, highlighting sustained reasoning over long agentic workflows. Sonnet 4, though more lightweight and accessible, still outperforms many competitors: SWE‑bench ≈ 72.7%, GPQA ≈ 75.4%, MMLU ≈ 86.5%, and robust performance on TAU‑bench and visual reasoning between Claude 3.7 and GPT‑4.1 benchmarks.
Safety & Transparency Features
Anthropic assigned Opus 4 a safety classification of ASL‑3, given its potency and potential misuse risk—especially in bioweapons or cyberattacks—triggering strict internal safeguards, anti‑jailbreak, and bounty programs. Claude 4 also introduces “thinking summaries”, condensing reasoning chains into user‑friendly explanations, improving transparency while limiting over‑exposed chain‑of‑thought.
Claude 4 Pricing & Access
- Claude Sonnet 4: Free-tier availability; API access $3Mtokinput-$15/Mtokoutput.
- Claude Opus 4: Paid‑tier only; API pricing $15Mtokinput-$75Mtokoutput per million tokens. Opus 4 is also available via Amazon Bedrock and Google Vertex AI platforms, widening enterprise reach.
GPT‑5 (Predicted) vs Claude 4: Feature Comparison
Below is a structured feature-by-feature analysis, combining reported GPT‑5 characteristics with known Claude 4 capabilities.
Qualitative Insights
Dynamic Reasoning
Anthropic’s extended thinking relies on modes that must be explicitly toggled by users or systems. By contrast, GPT‑5—if accurate about dynamic routing—could automate the process, selecting between simplicity and depth automatically. That would offer a more fluid user experience if implemented robustly.
Sustained Agentic Workflows
Claude Opus 4 has already shown it can autonomously run a task continuously for seven hours, maintaining coherence and planning ahead—impressive agentic level. GPT‑5 may aim for similar sustained agents, but until formal evaluation emerges, Claude currently has the edge in proven long-haul planning.
Benchmarks & Competitor Gaps
Claude Sonnet 4 is often praised as the best “free‑tier” model with strong scores across SWE, GPQA, TAU, and MMLU benchmarks—even outperforming GPT‑4.1. Yet GPT‑5 is already reported to surpass Sonnet 4 in early coding tests. Whether it can match Opus 4 remains uncertain.
Transparency & Safety Posture
Anthropic has pursued a cautious, policy-rich deployment—assigning Opus 4 ASL‑3 classification and evolving thinking-summaries to balance transparency and security. OpenAI’s parallel safety features for GPT‑5 are not yet public, so it remains to be seen how they compare in handling sensitive or potentially harmful usage scenarios.
OpenAI GPT 5 vs Claude 4: Use‑Cases & Fit
Developer Tools / Coding Agents
- Claude Opus 4: Provides strong capabilities for enterprise code agents—mass refactoring, CLI workflows, multi-file edits, extended memory context.
- GPT‑5: Early reports suggest it may exceed Sonnet 4 in coding tasks; if it matches Opus capabilities, it could challenge Claude in this domain.
General Purpose Query & Reasoning
- Claude Sonnet 4: Reliable generalist model available free; good for writing, analysis, tutoring, lighter code help.
- GPT‑5: Promises dynamic speed/effort; could offer faster responses for simple queries and deeper reasoning when needed—if efficient, it may rival or surpass Sonnet 4.
Agentic Automation & Multi‑Step Workflows
- Opus 4: Proven for long-running agentic tasks (e.g., playing Pokémon for 24h, code tasks).
- GPT‑5: Unknown capabilities in sustained autonomous workflows—dependent on internal tools and memory support.
Budget & Tiered Access
- Sonnet 4: Free access makes it exceptionally attractive for broad use.
- GPT‑5: Likely behind ChatGPT Plus/Enterprise paywalls—pricing not yet known. Claude’s explicit token‑level pricing gives clarity to enterprise users.
OpenAI GPT 5 vs Claude 4 Summary
- Coding & sustained agent tasks → Current advantage: Claude Opus 4 (verified performance). GPT‑5 might challenge but untested.
- General-purpose reasoning & free access → Claude Sonnet 4 leads; GPT‑5 may offer faster dynamic responses if accessible at lower tiers.
- Dynamic effort allocation → If GPT‑5 integrates automatic model routing, it may exceed Claude’s manual switching.
- Safety & transparency → Claude 4 offers established safeguards and summary-level exposure; GPT‑5 details pending.
- Value proposition → Sonnet 4 delivers unmatched free-tier capability; Opus 4 cost is clear; GPT‑5 pricing remains unknown.
What to Watch After GPT‑5 Launches?
Once GPT‑5 is officially released:
- Benchmark comparisons: side‑by‑side evaluations on SWE‑bench, TAU‑bench, GPQA, MMLU, AIME, etc.
- Agentic performance tests: can GPT‑5 match Opus 4’s multi-hour coherence?
- Context window size: does GPT‑5 support 200 K+ tokens?
- Tool integration: will GPT‑5 support interleaved tool/programmatic capabilities like Claude?
- Safety classification & transparency: will OpenAI offer chain‑of‑thought exposure similar to Anthropic’s summaries?
- Pricing & tier structure: how competitive will GPT‑5 be for developers and enterprise users?
The Bottom Line
Claude 4, with its Opus and Sonnet variants, is a polished, production-ready model, excelling in coding, reasoning, memory usage, and safety. Although GPT-5 has not yet launched, it promises dynamic reasoning and stronger utility for developers, potentially automating decision-making processes. If GPT-5 exceeds Sonnet 4 and nears Opus 4 in persistence and planning, while ensuring robust safety, it could redefine expectations for interactive AI. Until its release, however, Claude 4 remains the most reliable and powerful model available.