Claude Sonnet 4.6 vs Gemini 3 Pro: Which is Better in 2026?
Claude Sonnet 4.6 and Gemini 3 Pro are both strong at the frontier tier — but they serve different needs. Claude wins on writing quality. Gemini wins on context size, price, and Google integration. Here's where it matters.
Last updated: February 2026
Our Pick
Claude Sonnet 4.6
Claude Sonnet 4.6 is the better model for most everyday tasks — writing, analysis, and complex instruction-following. But Gemini 3 Pro is a serious competitor at $2/$12 per 1M tokens (cheaper than Claude's $3/$15) and has a 1M token context window that nothing else at this price matches. If you work with very large documents or are cost-sensitive at scale, Gemini is the smarter choice.
Try Claude Sonnet 4.6At a glance
| Feature | Claude Sonnet 4.6 | Gemini 3 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 8.0 / 10 | 8.8 / 10 |
| Provider | Anthropic | |
| Context window | 200K tokens | 1M tokens |
| Input (per 1M tokens) | $3 | Free |
| Output (per 1M tokens) | $15 | Free |
| Multimodal | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | No | No |
Use case breakdown
Claude produces more natural, controlled prose. Gemini is capable but less consistent on tone and style.
1M token context vs 200K — Gemini handles 5× larger files in a single prompt.
Claude's 200K context fits large codebases. Both are strong but Claude is more precise on refactoring tasks.
$2/$12 per 1M tokens vs Claude's $3/$15. Meaningful difference at API scale.
Gemini has native video understanding. Claude handles images but has no video input.
Gemini is built directly into Gmail, Docs, and Sheets. Claude requires a separate interface.
FAQ
Is Claude Sonnet 4.6 or Gemini 3 Pro better?
Claude Sonnet 4.6 is better for writing, analysis, and instruction-following. Gemini 3 Pro wins on context window (1M tokens), price ($2 vs $3/1M input), and video understanding. For pure output quality, Claude edges it.
Which is cheaper, Claude Sonnet 4.6 or Gemini 3 Pro?
Gemini 3 Pro is cheaper: $2/1M input vs Claude Sonnet 4.6's $3/1M, and $12/1M output vs Claude's $15/1M. At high API volume, that gap adds up quickly.
What is Gemini 3 Pro's context window?
1 million tokens — five times larger than Claude Sonnet 4.6's 200K. For very large files, entire codebases, or multi-document research, Gemini is the clear choice.
Can I use both for free?
Yes. Claude.ai and Gemini.google.com both have free tiers. Gemini is also available inside Google products for Workspace users.