Opus 4.5 vs GPT-5.2 o1
A comprehensive 2026 comparison to help you choose the right AI tool for your needs. We tested both extensively.
Quick Verdict: Opus 4.5 vs GPT-5.2 o1
Both Claude Opus 4.5 and GPT-5.2 Thinking are excellent choices in 2026, with nearly identical performance across our benchmarks. Your decision should come down to specific features, pricing that fits your budget, and your primary use case.
Feature Comparison Table
Side-by-side comparison of key features and capabilities
When to Use Opus 4.5 vs GPT-5.2 o1
Choose Opus 4.5 When You Need:
- Professional developers, complex codebases, autonomous agents
- Superior coding assistance and code generation
- Better quality content writing and creative tasks
- Faster response times for time-sensitive work
- Processing longer documents with 200K context
Choose GPT-5.2 o1 When You Need:
- Complex reasoning, software engineering, research, math proofs
In-Depth Analysis: Opus 4.5 vs GPT-5.2 o1
Performance & Capabilities
In our comprehensive testing for 2026, we evaluated both Claude Opus 4.5 and GPT-5.2 Thinking across multiple dimensions including coding tasks, creative writing, reasoning problems, and general conversation quality.
Claude Opus 4.5 scored 5.0/5 on coding tasks, making it an excellent choice for developers. In comparison, GPT-5.2 Thinking achieved 4.8/5 in this category.
Pricing & Value
When it comes to pricing, both require paid subscriptions. For paid plans, Claude Opus 4.5 is more affordable at $20/month compared to $200/month.
Use Cases & Target Audience
Claude Opus 4.5 is particularly well-suited for Professional developers, complex codebases, autonomous agents. Its strengths make it ideal for professionals who need advanced coding help, quality content creation, and reliable AI assistance.
GPT-5.2 Thinking, on the other hand, excels at Complex reasoning, software engineering, research, math proofs. Users who prioritize complex reasoning, will find it particularly valuable.
Claude Opus 4.5 Pros & Cons
Pros
- Best coding model available (80.9% SWE-bench)
- Excellent for autonomous agents
- Effort parameter allows speed/quality tradeoff
- 76% fewer tokens than Sonnet at same quality
- Strong at long-horizon tasks
Cons
- More expensive than Sonnet
- Slower on simple tasks
- Requires Claude Pro/Max subscription for full access
GPT-5.2 Thinking Pros & Cons
Pros
- Best reasoning model from OpenAI
- Edges out Gemini 3 and Claude Opus 4.5 on most tests
- Performs at/above human expert level on GDPval
- Excellent for coding, math, and document analysis
- State-of-the-art on SWE-Bench Pro
Cons
- Expensive ($200/mo for Pro subscription)
- Slower than Instant variant
- Requires Pro subscription for full access
- Writing can feel robotic
Best For: Opus 4.5
Professional developers, complex codebases, autonomous agents
Best For: GPT-5.2 o1
Complex reasoning, software engineering, research, math proofs
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Opus 4.5 vs GPT-5.2 o1
Is Claude Opus 4.5 better than GPT-5.2 Thinking in 2026?
Both Claude Opus 4.5 and GPT-5.2 Thinking are excellent AI tools with similar overall ratings. The best choice depends on your specific needs and use case.
What is the price difference between Opus 4.5 and GPT-5.2 o1?
Claude Opus 4.5 costs $20/month for paid plans. GPT-5.2 Thinking costs $200/month for paid plans.
Which is better for coding: Opus 4.5 or GPT-5.2 o1?
For coding tasks, Claude Opus 4.5 scores higher with a 5.0/5 coding rating compared to 4.8/5.
Can I use Opus 4.5 and GPT-5.2 o1 for free?
Claude Opus 4.5 requires a paid subscription. GPT-5.2 Thinking requires a paid subscription. Both tools offer trial periods or limited free access for new users.
Which AI has a larger context window: Opus 4.5 or GPT-5.2 o1?
Claude Opus 4.5 has a larger context window at 200,000 tokens, compared to 128,000 tokens. Larger context windows allow processing more text in a single conversation.
Is Opus 4.5 faster than GPT-5.2 o1?
In our speed tests, Claude Opus 4.5 is faster with a speed rating of 4.2/5. Response times can vary based on server load and query complexity.
Which is better for writing content: Opus 4.5 or GPT-5.2 o1?
For content writing, Claude Opus 4.5 excels with a writing rating of 4.8/5 versus 4.5/5. Consider your specific writing needs when choosing.
Do Opus 4.5 and GPT-5.2 o1 support image generation?
Claude Opus 4.5 supports image understanding and analysis. GPT-5.2 Thinking supports image understanding and analysis. For dedicated image generation, consider specialized tools like DALL-E or Midjourney.
Which AI should beginners choose: Opus 4.5 or GPT-5.2 o1?
For beginners, we recommend trying both during their trial periods. Both have intuitive interfaces suitable for new users.
Can I switch from Opus 4.5 to GPT-5.2 o1 easily?
Yes, switching between AI tools is straightforward since they use similar prompting interfaces. Your conversation history won't transfer, but you can export important outputs. Many professionals use both tools depending on the task - Claude Opus 4.5 for Professional developers, complex codebases, autonomous agents and GPT-5.2 Thinking for Complex reasoning, software engineering, research, math proofs.
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Ready to Get Started?
Both tools offer free tiers or trials. Try them out and see which one works best for your workflow in 2026.