ChatGPT is the most famous AI chat platform, but that doesn’t automatically imply it’s the finest. Google Gemini often tops the rankings, and Claude deserves attention as well.

If you’re not familiar with Claude, it’s a collection of large-language models created by the AI firm Anthropic. Claude has recently undergone a significant enhancement with Claude 4, Anthropic’s newest AI model. In technical terms, Claude 4 comprises two models: Claude Opus 4 and Claude Sonnet 4.

These new models present considerable improvements in AI functionalities, featuring better reasoning and coding that rivals anything produced by OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT. Here’s a summary of the new features in Claude 4 and reasons you might prefer Claude over ChatGPT.

Claude Opus 4 vs Claude Sonnet 4

Claude 4 is not just one large language model; it’s a collection of large language models. At present, this collection includes two models — Claude Opus 4 and Claude Sonnet 4, both of which I’ve had the opportunity to test. Keen AI users may question the naming convention, but Anthropic has indeed shifted from “Claude 3.7 Sonnet” to “Claude Sonnet 4.” I find the new naming preferable, although the alteration might cause some confusion.

What is the difference between Claude Sonnet 4 and Claude Opus 4? In simple terms, Claude Sonnet 4 serves as the standard model for general questions and information gathering, whereas Claude Opus 4 is more focused on complex coding tasks.

According to Anthropic, both Claude 4 models outperform their predecessors in significant ways. For example, they are 65 percent less likely to take shortcuts in particular agentic workflows that are susceptible to shortcuts and loopholes. Moreover, Claude Opus 4 features markedly enhanced memory abilities, allowing it to better remember information during development processes. It can generate memory files for reference without needing a broader context window (the total amount of fundamental data a model can handle at one time).

There is a compromise with the advanced Claude Opus 4. As a larger model, it’s more expensive to utilize and isn’t available to free users. Even those on the $20-per-month Claude Pro subscription might encounter limitations after using Claude Opus 4. However, subscribers to the $100-per-month Max account will benefit from significantly higher limits.

Why I appreciate Claude

There are various elements of Claude that I value, although it’s crucial to recognize that there are still numerous features lacking in Claude compared to alternative AI services. The primary aspect I enjoy about Claude is its more…human-like essence.

From the design to the responses, everything feels more personal and organic. This applies to both Claude Sonnet 4 and Claude Opus 4. There are minor touches, such as the “thinking” icon, and more substantial variations, like the generated text. Part of this stems from the ability to tailor each interaction with Claude through both preset and custom “styles,” which influence how Claude replies. Preset choices include “Concise” and “Explanatory,” but you can also develop your own styles.

Claude in comparison to the competition

As AI services quickly advance, not all provide the same functionalities. Many features offered by ChatGPT are still absent in Claude, for instance.

For example, Claude is unable to generate images, and Anthropic has just begun rolling out a voice chat feature within Claude. Still in its beta phase, Claude’s voice chat does not sound as natural as the text-based interaction. These aspects might be vital for you — and if you heavily depend on such functionalities, Claude may not be the ideal choice for you, or it might not be the sole AI service you require.

Nonetheless, Claude also shines in several domains. For instance, Claude includes a “Deep Research”-like capability (simply termed Research), which combs through a multitude of sources to collect information. It also has an “Extended Thinking” function, essentially a reasoning