Hermes 4 vs Claude 3.5 Sonnet
Nous Research's open-weight Hermes 4 family (14B / 70B / 405B) — a steerable, neutrally-aligned reasoning model with a hybrid 'thinking' mode, strong function calling and structured JSON output for agentic builders.
🧠 Expert verdict
Our expert verdict: Claude 3.5 Sonnet is the stronger all-round choice, scoring 4.9/5 versus 4.4/5 for Hermes 4. Choose Claude 3.5 Sonnet if you want the best writing tool overall; pick Hermes 4 if "Highly steerable, neutrally aligned" matters more for your workflow.
Hermes 4
Nous Research's open-weight Hermes 4 family (14B / 70B / 405B) — a steerable, neutrally-aligned reasoning model with a hybrid 'thinking' mode, strong function calling and structured JSON output for agentic builders.
Claude 3.5 Sonnet
Anthropic's smartest and most capable Claude model — excels at complex reasoning, coding and analysis.
Hermes 4
✅ Pros
- +Highly steerable, neutrally aligned
- +Hybrid reasoning (think vs. answer)
- +Excellent function calling & JSON mode
- +Three sizes incl. 405B
- +Fully open weights
❌ Cons
- −Raw model — you handle safety/guardrails
- −Largest size is hardware-heavy
- −Not as polished as hosted assistants
- −Smaller mainstream ecosystem
🎯 Best for — Hermes 4
🏷️ Tags — Hermes 4
Our Verdict
After comparing ratings, pricing and features, Claude 3.5 Sonnet comes out ahead with a 4.9/5 rating. It is the better choice for most users.
Expert take on each tool
📌 Hermes 4
Hermes 4 is the model for builders who want maximum control and neutral alignment, with first-class function calling and JSON output. It rewards teams comfortable adding their own guardrails in exchange for a highly steerable open model.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better: Hermes 4 or Claude 3.5 Sonnet?
Claude 3.5 Sonnet has the higher user rating (4.9/5 vs 4.4/5), making it the stronger overall pick. That said, Hermes 4 can still be the better fit depending on your budget and specific needs — see the full comparison above.
Is Hermes 4 or Claude 3.5 Sonnet cheaper?
Hermes 4 (Open weights / API via providers) and Claude 3.5 Sonnet (Free / $20/mo) sit at a similar price point. The best way to compare actual cost is to check each tool's plans for the specific features and usage limits you need.
Can I switch from Hermes 4 to Claude 3.5 Sonnet?
Yes — switching between Hermes 4 and Claude 3.5 Sonnet is usually straightforward since both are writing tools with similar core workflows. Most users can export their data and get started with Claude 3.5 Sonnet within a day; just check Claude 3.5 Sonnet's free plan before committing to a paid tier.