Claude 3 Opus vs Claude Opus 4.1
Claude 3 Opus vs Claude Opus 4.1: Claude 3 Opus is cheaper for input-heavy usage ($15.00/M vs $15.00/M input tokens), while Claude 3 Opus is better for long-context tasks (200,000 tokens).
Direct answer: choose Claude 3 Opus for lower token spend and choose Claude 3 Opus 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 Opus
Claude Opus 4.1
Cost Differences
Claude Opus 4.1 costs less than Claude 3 Opus
Quick Recommendation
Winner for direct API pricing: Claude 3 Opus. At the default workload, Claude 3 Opus saves about $0.00/month ($0.00/year) versus Claude Opus 4.1.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Claude 3 Opus | Claude Opus 4.1 |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | Anthropic | Anthropic |
| Input Price | $15.00/1M tokens | $15.00/1M tokens |
| Output Price | $75.00/1M tokens | $75.00/1M tokens |
| Context Window | 200,000 tokens | 200,000 tokens |
| Max Output | 4,096 tokens | 32,000 tokens |
| Category | flagship | flagship |
| Capabilities | textvisionreasoning | textvisioncodereasoning |
| Release Date | 3/4/2024 | 8/5/2025 |
Claude 3 Opus vs Claude Opus 4.1: Which Should You Choose?
Choosing between Claude 3 Opus and Claude Opus 4.1 depends on your priorities: cost efficiency, context length, or raw capability. Claude Opus 4.1 is the more affordable option at $15.00/1M input tokens.
Both models are in the flagship category, making this a direct head-to-head comparison. At scale — say 10,000 requests per day — the cost difference adds up: Claude Opus 4.1 would save you roughly $0.00/month compared to Claude 3 Opus. For startups and indie developers, that difference can be significant.
Output costs matter too. Claude 3 Opus charges $75.00/1M output tokens vs $75.00 for Claude Opus 4.1.
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 Opus when:
- • You're already using Anthropic's API ecosystem
Choose Claude Opus 4.1 when:
- • You need more capabilities (code)
- • You need longer outputs (up to 32,000 tokens)
- • You're already using Anthropic's API ecosystem
Pros and Caveats at a Glance
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
- • Trade-offs are minor in this matchup.
Claude Opus 4.1
- • Input pricing: $15.00/M tokens
- • Output pricing: $75.00/M tokens
- • Context window: 200,000 tokens
- • Max output: 32,000 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 Opus (Anthropic)
Claude Opus 4.1 (Anthropic)
Start using Claude 3 Opus today
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Sign Up for Anthropic →Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, Claude 3 Opus or Claude Opus 4.1?▼
What is the context window difference between Claude 3 Opus and Claude Opus 4.1?▼
Which model is better for AI Chatbot?▼
Which model has better overall pricing for heavy usage?▼
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