Claude Mythos 5.1 vs Claude Sonnet 4.6
Pricing verdict: Claude Mythos 5.1 vs Claude Sonnet 4.6: Claude Sonnet 4.6 is cheaper for input-heavy usage ($3.00/M vs $10.00/M input tokens), while Claude Mythos 5.1 is better for long-context tasks (1,000,000 tokens).
Direct answer: choose Claude Sonnet 4.6 for lower token spend and choose Claude Mythos 5.1 when your workload needs longer context.
Compare API pricing, input and output token costs, context windows, and monthly estimates on one page so you can pick the right model fast.
Cost Comparison (1000 input + 500 output tokens, 100 requests/day)
Claude Mythos 5.1
Claude Sonnet 4.6
Cost Differences
Claude Sonnet 4.6 costs less than Claude Mythos 5.1
Quick Recommendation
Winner for direct API pricing: Claude Sonnet 4.6. At the default workload, Claude Sonnet 4.6 saves about $73.50/month ($894.25/year) versus Claude Mythos 5.1.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Claude Mythos 5.1 | Claude Sonnet 4.6 |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | Anthropic | Anthropic |
| Input Price | $10.00/1M tokens | $3.00/1M tokens |
| Output Price | $50.00/1M tokens | $15.00/1M tokens |
| Context Window | 1,000,000 tokens | 1,000,000 tokens |
| Max Output | 128,000 tokens | 65,536 tokens |
| Category | flagship | balanced |
| Capabilities | textvisionreasoningcode | textvisioncodereasoningcomputer-use |
| Release Date | 9/1/2026 | 2/18/2026 |
Claude Mythos 5.1 vs Claude Sonnet 4.6: Which Should You Choose?
Choosing between Claude Mythos 5.1 and Claude Sonnet 4.6 depends on your priorities: cost efficiency, context length, or raw capability. Claude Sonnet 4.6 is the more affordable option at $3.00/1M input tokens — 70% cheaper than Claude Mythos 5.1.
These models target different tiers: Claude Mythos 5.1 is a flagship model while Claude Sonnet 4.6 is balanced. This means they're optimized for different workloads. Claude Mythos 5.1 is built for complex tasks that require deeper reasoning, while Claude Sonnet 4.6 offers better value for routine operations.
Output costs matter too. Claude Mythos 5.1 charges $50.00/1M output tokens vs $15.00 for Claude Sonnet 4.6. For generation-heavy workloads (content creation, code generation, summarization), output pricing often dominates your bill. Claude Sonnet 4.6 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 Mythos 5.1 when:
- • You need longer outputs (up to 128,000 tokens)
- • You're already using Anthropic's API ecosystem
Choose Claude Sonnet 4.6 when:
- • Budget is a primary concern
- • You need more capabilities (computer-use)
- • You're already using Anthropic's API ecosystem
Pros and Caveats at a Glance
Claude Mythos 5.1
- • Input pricing: $10.00/M tokens
- • Output pricing: $50.00/M tokens
- • Context window: 1,000,000 tokens
- • Max output: 128,000 tokens
Watch out for
- • Higher input cost than Claude Sonnet 4.6
- • Higher output cost than Claude Sonnet 4.6
Claude Sonnet 4.6
- • Input pricing: $3.00/M tokens
- • Output pricing: $15.00/M tokens
- • Context window: 1,000,000 tokens
- • Max output: 65,536 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 Mythos 5.1 (Anthropic)
Claude Sonnet 4.6 (Anthropic)
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Sign Up for Anthropic →Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, Claude Mythos 5.1 or Claude Sonnet 4.6?▼
What is the context window difference between Claude Mythos 5.1 and Claude Sonnet 4.6?▼
Which model is better for AI Agent / Agentic Workflows?▼
Which model has better overall pricing for heavy usage?▼
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