Claude 3.5 Sonnet vs Claude 3 Opus
Claude 3.5 Sonnet vs Claude 3 Opus: Claude 3.5 Sonnet is cheaper for input-heavy usage ($3.00/M vs $15.00/M input tokens), while Claude 3.5 Sonnet is better for long-context tasks (200,000 tokens).
Direct answer: choose Claude 3.5 Sonnet for lower token spend and choose Claude 3.5 Sonnet when your workload needs longer context.
Compare input and output token pricing, context windows, and monthly cost estimates on one page so you can pick the cheaper model fast.
Cost Comparison (1000 input + 500 output tokens, 100 requests/day)
Claude 3.5 Sonnet
Claude 3 Opus
Cost Differences
Claude 3 Opus costs more than Claude 3.5 Sonnet
Quick Recommendation
Winner for direct API pricing: Claude 3.5 Sonnet. At the default workload, Claude 3.5 Sonnet saves about $126.00/month ($1,533.00/year) versus Claude 3 Opus.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Claude 3.5 Sonnet | Claude 3 Opus |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | Anthropic | Anthropic |
| Input Price | $3.00/1M tokens | $15.00/1M tokens |
| Output Price | $15.00/1M tokens | $75.00/1M tokens |
| Context Window | 200,000 tokens | 200,000 tokens |
| Max Output | 8,192 tokens | 4,096 tokens |
| Category | balanced | flagship |
| Capabilities | textvisioncode | textvisionreasoning |
| Release Date | 10/22/2024 | 3/4/2024 |
Claude 3.5 Sonnet vs Claude 3 Opus: Which Should You Choose?
Choosing between Claude 3.5 Sonnet and Claude 3 Opus depends on your priorities: cost efficiency, context length, or raw capability. Claude 3.5 Sonnet is the more affordable option at $3.00/1M input tokens — 80% cheaper than Claude 3 Opus.
These models target different tiers: Claude 3.5 Sonnet is a balanced model while Claude 3 Opus is flagship. This means they're optimized for different workloads. Claude 3 Opus targets more demanding workloads, while Claude 3.5 Sonnet provides a cost-effective option for everyday tasks.
Output costs matter too. Claude 3.5 Sonnet charges $15.00/1M output tokens vs $75.00 for Claude 3 Opus. For generation-heavy workloads (content creation, code generation, summarization), output pricing often dominates your bill. Claude 3.5 Sonnet has the edge here at $15.00/1M output tokens.
Multimodal capabilities: Both models support vision (image understanding), so you can send images alongside text prompts with either option.
Best Use Cases
Choose Claude 3.5 Sonnet when:
- • Budget is a primary concern
- • You need longer outputs (up to 8,192 tokens)
- • You're already using Anthropic's API ecosystem
Choose Claude 3 Opus when:
- • You're already using Anthropic's API ecosystem
Pros and Caveats at a Glance
Claude 3.5 Sonnet
- • Input pricing: $3.00/M tokens
- • Output pricing: $15.00/M tokens
- • Context window: 200,000 tokens
- • Max output: 8,192 tokens
Watch out for
- • Trade-offs are minor in this matchup.
Claude 3 Opus
- • Input pricing: $15.00/M tokens
- • Output pricing: $75.00/M tokens
- • Context window: 200,000 tokens
- • Max output: 4,096 tokens
Watch out for
- • Higher input cost than Claude 3.5 Sonnet
- • Higher output cost than Claude 3.5 Sonnet
Try Different Scenarios
Use the calculator below to see how costs change with different usage patterns
Claude 3.5 Sonnet (Anthropic)
Claude 3 Opus (Anthropic)
Start using Claude 3.5 Sonnet today
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Sign Up for Anthropic →Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, Claude 3.5 Sonnet or Claude 3 Opus?▼
What is the context window difference between Claude 3.5 Sonnet and Claude 3 Opus?▼
Which model is better for AI Chatbot?▼
Which model has better overall pricing for heavy usage?▼
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