Claude AI Review: How is Version 3.7 Better Than 3.5?

As a big ChatGPT fan, I’ve gotten used to its intuitive responses and knack for tackling various tasks. But lately, I've been hearing more and more about Claude AI by Anthropic. Both products use artificial intelligence and some of the most advanced Large Language Models (LLM) available today.

Is Claude AI worth the hype or just another fleeting AI trend? Is it better than ChatGPT? I had to try it and see for myself!

In this Claude AI review, I'll discuss what it is, who it's best for, and its key features. Then, I'll show you how I used Claude AI to generate responses and create a unique tone of voice using Projects! I'll also compare Claude's newest model released February 24, 2025: Claude 3.7 Sonnet to ChatGPT 4o mini to see how they compare.

I'll finish the article by comparing Claude AI with my top three Claude AI alternatives (ChatGPT, Perplexity AI, and Google Gemini). The goal is that by the end, you'll know if Claude AI is right for you! Let's take a look.

Verdict

Claude 3.7 Sonnet outshines its predecessor (Claude 3.5 Sonnet) with superior reasoning, enhanced instruction-following, and an extended thinking mode for tackling complex problems. 3.7’s improvements in depth, accuracy, and coding make it the clear winner over 3.5 for the best performance.

What is Claude AI?

Claude is a versatile AI assistant developed by Anthropic that is designed to support individual and team workflows. It excels in a couple of primary areas:

• Advanced reasoning: Claude handles complex tasks beyond recognizing patterns or generating text.
• Vision analysis: Claude can read and analyze almost any image, including handwritten notes, graphs, and photos.
• Code generation: You can use Claude to build websites with HTML and CSS, convert images into structured data, or fix complicated code.
• Multilingual processing: Claude translates languages in real time, helps with grammar practice, and creates content in multiple languages.

Claude offers high performance and speed through its various models:

• Haiku (light and fast): Claude's fastest model that effortlessly handles lightweight tasks with impressive speed.
• Sonnet (hard-working): The perfect balance between performance and speed for task efficiency.
• Opus (powerful): Claude's top-performing model to easily tackle complex analysis, lengthy tasks, and advanced math and coding.

Anthropic recently introduced its newest model (Claude 3.7 Sonnet), delivering hybrid reasoning capabilities with rapid responses and extended thinking for tackling complex tasks effectively. Compared to Claude 3.5 Sonnet, it offers over 15x longer output capacity, improved coding performance, and enhanced reasoning depth for real-world applications.

Claude also focuses on security, reliability, and accuracy for handling complex tasks and large volumes of work. Its API easily integrates into your existing systems, offering a range of features to boost productivity and teamwork.

Whether tackling intricate projects or coordinating with a team, Claude helps streamline your workflow and improves efficiency!

Claude 3.5 Sonnet vs. Claude 3.7 Sonnet

The differences between these two models aren't just about version numbers. They're about distinct capabilities that might make one better than the other, depending on your specific needs.

Claude 3.5 Sonnet (Released June 2024)

Claude 3.5 Sonnet strikes this really nice balance between speed and performance that works perfectly for most daily writing tasks. I've found it particularly good at generating creative content and handling general knowledge questions without taking forever to generate responses.

It also has some pretty impressive reasoning capabilities. For example, if you need help analyzing market trends, it'll connect the dots in ways you would have never considered. However, it occasionally needs a bit more prompting to go deeper.

Claude 3.7 Sonnet (Released February 2025)

The jump from 3.5 to 3.7 might not sound huge, but there are some noticeable improvements.

Improved Reasoning

The most obvious difference I've experienced is in its reasoning abilities. It thinks before it speaks in a way that feels distinctly more thorough.

For example, let's say you are working on an article about climate policy that involves understanding complex interconnections between economic factors and environmental impacts. 3.7 Sonnet will handle this complexity with noticeably more nuance than 3.5.

The responses won't just be more accurate. It will show a better grasp of how different elements influence each other.

Standard & Extended Thinking Modes

Claude 3.7 Sonnet introduces a hybrid reasoning approach with two modes:

• Standard mode: For quick responses
• Extended thinking mode: For deeper, step-by-step reasoning on complex problems

This new feature allows Claude to tackle more complex tasks with greater nuance, as the statement suggests.

Following Complex Instructions

Another area where I've noticed improvement is in following complex instructions.

With 3.5, I sometimes had to break down multi-part requests into separate prompts. With 3.7, I can throw a complex set of requirements at it, and it keeps track of everything much better.

Additional Features

• Visible Reasoning Process: In extended thinking mode, Claude shows its step-by-step reasoning process.
• Increased Output Capacity: Claude 3.7 Sonnet supports outputs up to 128K tokens long, over 15 times longer than previous versions.
• Improved Coding Capabilities: Claude 3.7 Sonnet excels in software engineering tasks with state-of-the-art results on benchmarks like SWE-bench Verified.

3.5 vs. 3.7: Which to Choose?

If you require more sophisticated reasoning for complex topics, Claude 3.7 Sonnet is the better choice. Its extended thinking mode is particularly useful for questions that need careful consideration.

For day-to-day content creation and simpler tasks, Claude 3.7 Sonnet also performs well, offering enhanced capabilities over its predecessor. While Claude 3.5 Sonnet was suitable for these tasks in the past, Claude 3.7 Sonnet has now become the standard for all types of tasks due to its improved performance.

The bottom line? Claude 3.7 Sonnet offers significant advancements over 3.5 Sonnet, making it the preferred choice overall.

Who Is Claude AI Best For?

Anyone can use Claude AI for a variety of different things. However, certain types of people benefit from Claude AI the most:

• Developers can use Claude AI to enhance their projects with real-time code generation rather than manually writing it. Claude excels in Python but is proficient in all major programming languages. For example, developers can quickly generate HTML for a new website or debug code in multiple programming languages.
• Translators can use Claude AI's multilingual capabilities to speed up and improve language translation accuracy. For example, they can accurately translate complex legal documents between English and Chinese.
• Language learners can also use Claude AI to improve their language skills. For example, they can get real-time feedback on various languages to enhance their vocabulary. You can learn a wide range of languages with Claude, including but not limited to English, French, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Japanese, Italian, Mandarin, Russian, Arabic, Hindi, and Korean.
• Writers can use Claude AI to streamline content creation by automating brainstorming, outlining, and writing to increase productivity. For example, a writer can use Claude AI to generate a detailed blog post outline and draft sections while receiving grammar and style suggestions for a polished final edit.
• Researchers and data analysts can use Claude AI to simplify data processing and enhance workflow. For example, they can analyze large datasets to identify patterns instantly.
• Business owners can use Claude AI to optimize operations and enhance customer interactions. They can automate tasks like data analysis, content creation, and real-time translation. For example, they can use Claude AI to generate customer support responses in multiple languages and analyze operational data for actionable insights.
• With its advanced reasoning, vision analysis, and multilingual features, teams can use Claude to boost collaboration and efficiency. For example, they can simplify project management by analyzing data, translating communications, and generating real-time code. Claude even has a “Team” plan with higher usage limits and the ability for team members to share their chats.
• Anyone can use Claude AI to simplify daily tasks, boost productivity, and help with writing, learning, research, and business processes. For example, you can use Claude to write a draft for a novel or get assistance in learning a new language.

Key Features That Set Claude AI Apart

Here are the key features that set Claude apart from other AI assistants. I've added examples to put things into context:

• Advanced Reasoning: Claude AI tackles challenging problems with solid logic and decision-making skills. It uses advanced NLP (Natural Language Processing) models to understand human language, making it a favorite among developers and researchers for handling complicated tasks. For example, it can analyze complex business scenarios, such as optimizing global supply chains to reduce costs and improve delivery times.
• Vision Analysis: Claude AI’s advanced technology accurately interprets images and videos. Its sophisticated algorithms and deep learning capabilities enable it to recognize objects and understand scenes, making it valuable for various visual analysis tasks. For example, it can transcribe handwritten notes from an image.
• Real-time Code Generation: Claude AI quickly generates and modifies code, boosting development speed and accuracy. Its powerful language models simplify complex coding tasks, making it an excellent tool for developers and businesses needing efficient and customizable coding solutions. For example, it can quickly generate HTML code for a new webpage rather than doing it manually.
• Multilingual Processing: Claude AI effortlessly translates multiple languages for smooth communication. It supports various linguistic needs, making it a valuable tool for global interactions. For example, it can translate a conversation between English and Spanish in real time or assist with multilingual customer support.
• Model Variants: Claude AI provides various model options, each equipped with the latest AI technology to suit different needs. This variety of options ensures you select the best model for your tasks, demonstrating Claude AI’s commitment to innovation and user-focused design. For example, you can choose Claude’s Sonnet model for high-speed tasks or the Opus model for more detailed analysis.
• Security & Reliability: Claude AI prioritizes user security and data privacy with advanced protection features. It ensures safe interactions and keeps user data secure, setting a high standard for security in the AI industry. For example, it ensures that sensitive data is encrypted and interactions are protected against unauthorized access.
• Projects: Projects help you use Claude with your own information, like style guides or previous work. Create a project, upload internal knowledge, generate custom instructions, and collaborate with team members. This extra context lets Claude assist with various tasks, whether crafting emails to sound like your marketing team or writing SQL queries like a data analyst!

How to Use Claude AI

Here's how I used Claude AI to generate responses and create a unique tone of voice using Projects. I also compare how Claude 3.5 Sonnet compares to ChatGPT 4o mini:

1. Create a Claude AI Account
2. Upgrade to Pro
3. Give Claude AI a Text Prompt
4. Create a Project
5. Set Custom Instructions
6. Give the Project a Text Prompt

I started by going to anthropic.com and selecting “Talk to Claude.”

Step 1: Create a Claude AI Account

I started by going to anthropic.com and selecting “Talk to Claude.”

After making my account, Claude AI welcomed me to the platform and asked me for my name.

Claude AI then discussed a few important things to remember when using it, such as its usage policy and the possibility of generating incorrect or misleading information. They also provide detailed documentation to help with the integration process.

From the start, I could tell that Claude AI was very transparent with its users, and I appreciated its openness before I started using the software. I hit “Let's Begin” to get started!

Immediately, Claude AI took me to the Claude AI chatbot, where I could get Claude to help me with various tasks. Some common ways people use Claude include:

• Summarizing long documents and articles.
• Writing various types of creative content.
• Generating and debugging code in various programming languages.
• Translating languages and complex documents.
• Improving language skills with real-time feedback.
• Streamlining content creation by automating brainstorming, outlining, and editing.
• Analyzing large datasets to identify patterns.
• Simplifying daily tasks and boosting productivity.
• Providing valuable answers to your questions.

Step 2: Upgrade to Pro

After creating an account, I was automatically put on Claude's free plan. I wanted to try Claude AI's newest and most powerful model (Claude 3.7 Sonnet). The only way to access it was to upgrade my account, which I did by going to “Upgrade” at the top.

After upgrading to Claude's Pro plan, I noticed I had access to more features:

• I now had access to all of Claude's models, including older ones:
  • Claude 3.7 Sonnet (most intelligent)
  • Claude 3 Haiku (fastest model for daily tasks)
  • Claude 3.5 Sonnet
  • Claude 3.5 Sonnet
• I had a Projects tab in the left panel where I could create projects and upload internal knowledge.

There were also two Thinking Modes to choose from:

• Normal (for most use cases)
• Extended (for math and coding)

It was time to put Claude AI to the test!

Step 3: Give Claude AI a Text Prompt

With Claude 3.7 Sonnet selected, I inserted my text prompt: “Explain the impact of climate change on global agriculture and suggest three practical solutions for mitigating these effects.” This prompt will evaluate Claude's ability to handle complex reasoning, provide detailed insights, and offer practical recommendations.

Within seconds, it gave me a solid response covering exactly what I'd asked!

I gave Claude 3.5 Sonnet the same text prompt to compare the two models.

Both models gave solid advice with similar outputs. However, I noticed that Claude 3.7 Sonnet had much better formatting.

Step 4: Create a Project

Next, I wanted to create a project in Claude AI to change my tone of voice. To do this, I went to the left panel and selected “Projects.”

I went to “Create Project” on the top right.

The Projects feature in Claude AI is probably my favorite feature. It helps me organize my work and use knowledge from various conversations. By uploading documents, code, and files, I can create themed collections that Claude can refer to repeatedly.

I wanted to have some fun and create a project containing a tone of voice that sounded like Gandalf from Lord of the Rings. I named it “Gandalf” with the description, “A wise, mystical, and authoritative tone,” and hit “Create Project.”

Step 5: Set Custom Instructions

Claude AI created my project immediately! Since I had no PDFs, documents, or other text to upload, I selected “Set Custom Instructions.”

Selecting the custom instructions option opened a new window where I could give Claude some instructions on how it should respond. I kept things simple and told it to “Use a wise, mystical, and authoritative tone.” I hit “Save Instructions.”

Step 6: Give the Project a Text Prompt

I typed in the same prompt I used earlier (“Explain the impact of climate change on global agriculture and suggest three practical solutions for mitigating these effects.”) and hit Enter.

Claude AI generated a solid response, which I could easily imagine Gandalf from Lord of the Rings saying these words! Claude AI does an excellent job of generating unique voices without much effort. I can now access this tone of voice whenever I need it when using Claude!

Overall, Claude AI impressed me with its transparency and ease of use. After upgrading to the Pro plan, I could access multiple models, including the advanced Claude 3.5 Sonnet, which provided detailed responses. Claude AI also helped me create a unique tone of voice I could use whenever I wanted!

Top 3 Claude AI Alternatives

While Claude AI is a strong option, looking at other choices that may fit your needs better is a good idea. You may also want to check out Microsoft Copilot!

Here are the best Claude AI alternatives I'd recommend:

ChatGPT

With hundreds of millions of users, the first Claude AI alternative I'd recommend is ChatGPT. It's known for its broad accessibility and ease of use.

ChatGPT excels in generating creative content, answering queries, and offering support with a conversational approach. It benefits individuals who need quick, interactive help with writing, brainstorming, or learning new concepts.

Rather than “Projects,” ChatGPT offers “GPTs.” GPTs are custom versions of ChatGPT that combine specific instructions, knowledge, and skills to create tailored AI experiences for various needs and tasks. Meanwhile, Claude AI's Projects feature lets you create unique voice tones and upload documents to build a custom knowledge base for tailored responses.

Claude AI is great at handling complex tasks with advanced reasoning, multilingual support, and vision analysis. Designed for high performance in code generation and detailed analysis, its models are perfect for technical support and real-time language translation.

If you’re looking for a versatile, user-friendly assistant for general tasks and creative projects, ChatGPT is an excellent choice. However, Claude AI is better suited for complex problem-solving, technical tasks, creating knowledge bases, and translating content.

Visit ChatGPT →

Perplexity AI

The second Claude AI alternative I’d recommend is Perplexity AI.

Claude AI excels at complex tasks and code generation. Meanwhile, Perplexity AI excels at conversational search and provides detailed up-to-date web-based responses. Perplexity AI is a better tool for real-time information retrieval.

While Claude AI excels in security, diverse models, and vision analysis for complex tasks, Perplexity AI stands out in search features, file organization, and image generation. For example, Collections on Perplexity AI lets you organize Threads into shareable spaces, making collaboration easy and efficient. You can group Threads by project, set privacy settings, invite feedback, and use AI prompts in each Collection.

Claude AI is your best bet if you’re looking for a robust AI assistant that handles complex tasks and team workflows. On the other hand, if you need a powerful tool for research, searching, and generating web-based content, Perplexity AI might be more suited to your needs! Either way, both tools offer powerful features that are worth looking into.

Visit Perplexity →

Google Gemini

The final Claude AI alternative I’d recommend is Google Gemini. While Claude AI excels in advanced reasoning, real-time code generation, and multilingual processing, Gemini offers a fresh perspective with its recent advancements.

Gemini has evolved significantly from its earlier Bard iteration, adding extensive Google product integrations. For example, you can integrate Google Gemini AI with Google Workspace tools and use it in Google Slides to generate creative presentations or in Gmail to craft engaging emails. Unlike Claude AI, which cannot create images and is disconnected from the Internet, Gemini supports image generation and benefits from Google's expansive infrastructure.

Claude AI is ideal if you’re looking for robust AI assistance and coding features with secure, reliable performance. Alternatively, Gemini is worth looking into if you prefer a tool with extensive integrations, image generation capabilities, and a broad range of functionalities tied into Google's ecosystem!

Visit Gemini →

Claude AI Review: Is Version 3.7 Better Than 3.5?

After testing both models, it's clear that Claude 3.7 Sonnet is a noticeable upgrade over Claude 3.5 Sonnet. The improved reasoning, extended thinking mode, and enhanced ability to follow complex instructions make it the better option for more depth, accuracy, and efficiency in your AI-generated content.

While Claude 3.5 Sonnet was a solid performer (especially for creative tasks and general knowledge inquiries) Claude 3.7 Sonnet refines and expands on these capabilities, making it the superior choice for both everyday use and complex problem-solving.

Whether you're analyzing data, generating long-form content, or working with intricate coding tasks, Claude 3.7 Sonnet handles it all with greater nuance and intelligence. If you're looking for the most advanced and capable Claude model, upgrading to 3.7 Sonnet is absolutely worth it.

When comparing Claude AI to its alternatives:

• ChatGPT stands out for its versatility and interactive support, which make it ideal for creative projects and daily tasks.
• Perplexity AI excels in conversational search, real-time information retrieval, and robust file organization with image generation capabilities.
• Google Gemini provides comprehensive Google integrations and image generation capabilities.

Thanks for reading my Claude AI review! I hope you found it helpful.

Claude is available for free. However, to unlock its most advanced models (like Claude 3.7 Sonnet along with features like extended thinking mode and increased usage) you'll need to upgrade to the Pro plan.

Try Claude AI for yourself and see how you like it!

Visit Claude AI →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Claude AI better than ChatGPT?

Both Claude AI and ChatGPT are strong AI chatbots. Which one is better depends on what you need. Claude AI excels in advanced reasoning, multilingual processing, and code generation, making it ideal for complex problem-solving and technical support. ChatGPT, with its broad accessibility and ease of use, is better suited for interactive and diverse tasks. If you need advanced technical capabilities, Claude AI may be the better choice; for general versatility and interaction, ChatGPT is likely more suitable.

Can I trust Claude AI?

Claude AI is generally trustworthy and has strong security measures and ethical practices. It excels in summarization, code generation, and creative writing but may lack the latest information due to its reliance on outdated training data and lack of real-time updates.

Is Claude AI worth it?

Overall, Claude AI is a reliable tool for creating extensive documents that are organized and generally more succinct than those of its competitors. It also has excellent features, like intelligent reasoning skills and an easy-to-use interface. These capabilities make Claude AI a valuable choice, especially since it offers a free plan!

What are the limitations of Claude AI?

Claude AI has several limitations:

• It relies on training data that may not include the latest information.
• It may reflect biases in its data.
• It is disconnected from the Internet.
• It cannot generate images.

However, Anthropic is constantly improving Claude AI.

How to use Claude AI for free?

Accessing Claude AI for free is easy. Go to the Anthropic website and create a free account. With this account, you can use their free plan, which includes their fastest model: Claude 3 Haiku. You can upgrade your account for $20 per month to access higher-performing models and more features.

What is Claude AI good for?

Claude AI is good for many things. It can:

• Summarize long documents and articles.
• Create code in different programming languages.
• Hold natural and informative conversations.
• Translate languages correctly.
• Write various types of creative content.
• Provide helpful answers to your questions.

Is Claude AI genuine or fake?

Claude AI is a real AI chatbot made by Anthropic. Anthropic is an AI research company started by former OpenAI researchers. You can trust Claude for its excellent language skills, focus on ethical AI, and its tens of millions of visitors.