Model Comparison
Claude Sonnet 4.6 vs GPT-5
Claude Sonnet 4.6: HeavyGPT-5: Very heavy
Side-by-side environmental impact comparison. GPT-5 uses 6.1x more energy per query.
GPT-5 uses 6.1x more energy than Claude Sonnet 4.6
18.4 Wh vs 3.0 Wh per query · 8.0 g vs 1.1 g CO₂ · 66 mL vs 6 mL water
Claude Sonnet 4.6
Anthropic
Energy per query3.0 Wh
CO₂ per query1.1 g
Water per query6 mL
VS
GPT-5
OpenAI
Energy per query18.4 Wh
CO₂ per query8.0 g
Water per query66 mL
Claude Sonnet 4.6
ProviderAnthropic
CategoryText / Chat
Inference LocationAWS / GCP
Confidenceestimated
Efficiency TierHeavy
GPT-5
ProviderOpenAI
CategoryText / Chat
Inference LocationAzure / Multi-cloud
Confidencepeer-reviewed
Efficiency TierVery heavy
Frequently Asked Questions
Which uses more energy, Claude Sonnet 4.6 or GPT-5?
GPT-5 uses 6.1x more energy per query than Claude Sonnet 4.6. Claude Sonnet 4.6 uses 3.0 Wh per query, while GPT-5 uses 18.4 Wh.
What is the carbon footprint difference between Claude Sonnet 4.6 and GPT-5?
GPT-5 uses 7.6x more CO₂ per query than Claude Sonnet 4.6. Claude Sonnet 4.6 emits 1.1 g of CO₂ per query compared to GPT-5's 8.0 g.
Which is more environmentally friendly, Claude Sonnet 4.6 or GPT-5?
Claude Sonnet 4.6 is the more environmentally friendly option, using 3.0 Wh per query compared to GPT-5's 18.4 Wh. That makes GPT-5 roughly 6.1x more energy-intensive.
Calculate your footprint with these models
See how your daily usage of Claude Sonnet 4.6 and GPT-5 adds up over time. Our calculator estimates energy, carbon, and water impact.
Calculate My Compute