Claude 4.5 vs GPT-5.1
Which AI Codes Better? Complete 2025 Benchmark Comparison
Verdict: Claude 4.5 leads in coding benchmarks (77.2% vs 76.3% on SWE-bench) and excels at complex refactoring tasks. GPT-5.1 is faster, cheaper, and better for general-purpose tasks beyond coding.
Performance Benchmarks
| Benchmark | Claude 4.5 | GPT-5.1 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| SWE-bench Verified | 77.2% | 76.3% | Claude |
| AIME 2025 (Math) | - | 94.0% | GPT-5.1 |
| OSWorld (Computer) | 61.4% | - | Claude |
| Response Speed | ~45 t/s | ~70 t/s | GPT-5.1 |
Pricing Breakdown
Claude 4.5 Sonnet
Input$3/1M tokens
Output$15/1M tokens
GPT-5.1
Input$2.50/1M tokens
Output$10/1M tokens
Strengths & Weaknesses
Claude 4.5
Strengths
- +Highest SWE-bench score (77.2%)
- +Superior complex refactoring
- +Reliable code structure
- +Consistent style guide adherence
Weaknesses
- -Slower response times
- -Higher API costs
- -Smaller ecosystem
GPT-5.1
Strengths
- +Faster responses (~70 t/s)
- +Lower token costs
- +Extensive integrations
- +Superior general reasoning
Weaknesses
- -Slightly lower coding scores
- -Occasional hallucinations
- -Inconsistent formatting
Which Should You Choose?
Choose Claude 4.5 for:
- ✓Complex refactoring tasks
- ✓Premium code quality requirements
- ✓Code review and analysis
- ✓Large codebase understanding
- ✓Budget allows premium pricing
Choose GPT-5.1 for:
- ✓Rapid iteration cycles
- ✓Cost-conscious development
- ✓Mixed workloads (code + general)
- ✓Extensive ecosystem needs
- ✓Well-scoped, simple projects
Ready to Try Claude?
Claude 5 release anticipated Q2-Q3 2026 with even more powerful capabilities.