Claude 3.5 Sonnet vs Claude Sonnet 4
Claude 3.5 Sonnet vs Claude Sonnet 4: Claude 3.5 Sonnet is cheaper for input-heavy usage ($3.00/M vs $3.00/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 Sonnet 4
Cost Differences
Claude Sonnet 4 costs less 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 $0.00/month ($0.00/year) versus Claude Sonnet 4.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Claude 3.5 Sonnet | Claude Sonnet 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | Anthropic | Anthropic |
| Input Price | $3.00/1M tokens | $3.00/1M tokens |
| Output Price | $15.00/1M tokens | $15.00/1M tokens |
| Context Window | 200,000 tokens | 200,000 tokens |
| Max Output | 8,192 tokens | 64,000 tokens |
| Category | balanced | standard |
| Capabilities | textvisioncode | textvisioncodereasoning |
| Release Date | 10/22/2024 | 5/14/2025 |
Claude 3.5 Sonnet vs Claude Sonnet 4: Which Should You Choose?
Choosing between Claude 3.5 Sonnet and Claude Sonnet 4 depends on your priorities: cost efficiency, context length, or raw capability. Claude Sonnet 4 is the more affordable option at $3.00/1M input tokens.
These models target different tiers: Claude 3.5 Sonnet is a balanced model while Claude Sonnet 4 is standard. This means they're optimized for different workloads. Claude Sonnet 4 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 $15.00 for Claude Sonnet 4.
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:
- • You're already using Anthropic's API ecosystem
Choose Claude Sonnet 4 when:
- • You need more capabilities (reasoning)
- • You need longer outputs (up to 64,000 tokens)
- • 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 Sonnet 4
- • Input pricing: $3.00/M tokens
- • Output pricing: $15.00/M tokens
- • Context window: 200,000 tokens
- • Max output: 64,000 tokens
Watch out for
- • Trade-offs are minor in this matchup.
Try Different Scenarios
Use the calculator below to see how costs change with different usage patterns
Claude 3.5 Sonnet (Anthropic)
Claude Sonnet 4 (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 Sonnet 4?▼
What is the context window difference between Claude 3.5 Sonnet and Claude Sonnet 4?▼
Which model is better for AI Chatbot?▼
Which model has better overall pricing for heavy usage?▼
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