Claude Sonnet 4.6 vs Grok Code Fast 1

Claude Sonnet 4.6 vs Grok Code Fast 1: Grok Code Fast 1 is cheaper for input-heavy usage ($0.20/M vs $3.00/M input tokens), while Claude Sonnet 4.6 is better for long-context tasks (1,000,000 tokens).

Direct answer: choose Grok Code Fast 1 for lower token spend and choose Claude Sonnet 4.6 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.

Anthropic

Claude Sonnet 4.6

xAI

Grok Code Fast 1

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Claude Sonnet 4.6 pricing page Grok Code Fast 1 pricing page Anthropic provider overview xAI provider overview

Cost Comparison (1000 input + 500 output tokens, 100 requests/day)

Claude Sonnet 4.6

Per Request:$0.0105

Daily:$1.05

Monthly:$31.50

Yearly:$383.25

Grok Code Fast 1

Per Request:$0.000950

Daily:$0.095

Monthly:$2.85

Yearly:$34.675

Cost Differences

$0.009550

Per Request

$0.955

Daily

$28.65

Monthly

$348.575

Yearly

Grok Code Fast 1 costs less than Claude Sonnet 4.6

Quick Recommendation

Winner for direct API pricing: Grok Code Fast 1. At the default workload, Grok Code Fast 1 saves about $28.65/month ($348.575/year) versus Claude Sonnet 4.6.

Claude Sonnet 4.6 full pricing breakdown Grok Code Fast 1 full pricing breakdown Anthropic API pricing details xAI API pricing details Anthropic vs xAI API pricing Codex Mini vs Claude Sonnet 4.6 Codex Mini vs Claude Sonnet 4.5

Feature Comparison

Feature	Claude Sonnet 4.6	Grok Code Fast 1
Provider	Anthropic	xAI
Input Price	$3.00/1M tokens	$0.20/1M tokens
Output Price	$15.00/1M tokens	$1.50/1M tokens
Context Window	1,000,000 tokens	256,000 tokens
Max Output	65,536 tokens	32,768 tokens
Category	balanced	standard
Capabilities	textvisioncodereasoningcomputer-use	textcodereasoning
Release Date	2/18/2026	2/1/2026

Claude Sonnet 4.6 vs Grok Code Fast 1: Which Should You Choose?

Choosing between Claude Sonnet 4.6 and Grok Code Fast 1 depends on your priorities: cost efficiency, context length, or raw capability. Grok Code Fast 1 is the more affordable option at $0.20/1M input tokens — 93% cheaper than Claude Sonnet 4.6. Meanwhile, Claude Sonnet 4.6 offers a significantly larger context window at 1,000,000 tokens vs 256,000 for Grok Code Fast 1.

These models come from different providers — Anthropic and xAI — which means different API ecosystems, SDKs, rate limits, and terms of service. If you're already integrated with Anthropic, switching to xAIinvolves migration effort beyond just pricing. Factor in your existing infrastructure when deciding.

These models target different tiers: Claude Sonnet 4.6 is a balanced model while Grok Code Fast 1 is standard. This means they're optimized for different workloads. Grok Code Fast 1 targets more demanding workloads, while Claude Sonnet 4.6 provides a cost-effective option for everyday tasks.

Output costs matter too. Claude Sonnet 4.6 charges $15.00/1M output tokens vs $1.50 for Grok Code Fast 1. For generation-heavy workloads (content creation, code generation, summarization), output pricing often dominates your bill. Grok Code Fast 1 has the edge here at $1.50/1M output tokens.

Multimodal capabilities: Claude Sonnet 4.6 supports vision (image inputs) while Grok Code Fast 1 is text-only. If your application needs image understanding, this narrows your choice.

Best Use Cases

Choose Claude Sonnet 4.6 when:

• You need a larger context window (1,000,000 tokens)
• You need more capabilities (vision, computer-use)
• You need longer outputs (up to 65,536 tokens)
• You're already using Anthropic's API ecosystem

Choose Grok Code Fast 1 when:

• Budget is a primary concern
• You're already using xAI's API ecosystem

Pros and Caveats at a Glance

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

• Higher input cost than Grok Code Fast 1
• Higher output cost than Grok Code Fast 1

Grok Code Fast 1

• Input pricing: $0.20/M tokens
• Output pricing: $1.50/M tokens
• Context window: 256,000 tokens
• Max output: 32,768 tokens

Watch out for

• Smaller context window than Claude Sonnet 4.6

Try Different Scenarios

Use the calculator below to see how costs change with different usage patterns

Claude Sonnet 4.6 (Anthropic)

Cost Calculator

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Model

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Requests/Day

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Grok Code Fast 1 (xAI)

Cost Calculator

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Model

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Requests/Day

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, Claude Sonnet 4.6 or Grok Code Fast 1?▼

Grok Code Fast 1 is cheaper for input tokens at $0.20 per million tokens vs $3.00 for Claude Sonnet 4.6 — that's 93% savings on input costs.

What is the context window difference between Claude Sonnet 4.6 and Grok Code Fast 1?▼

Claude Sonnet 4.6 supports 1,000,000 tokens while Grok Code Fast 1 supports 256,000 tokens — a difference of 744,000 tokens in favor of Claude Sonnet 4.6.

Which model is better for AI Agent / Agentic Workflows?▼

Both models support text, code, reasoning. For ai agent / agentic workflows, Grok Code Fast 1 is the lower-cost option, while Claude Sonnet 4.6 offers a larger context window (1,000,000 vs 256,000 tokens). Choose Grok Code Fast 1 for budget sensitivity or Claude Sonnet 4.6 for longer context tasks.

Which model has better overall pricing for heavy usage?▼

At 100 requests/day with 1,000 input and 500 output tokens each, Claude Sonnet 4.6 costs about $31.50/month and Grok Code Fast 1 costs about $2.85/month. Overall, Grok Code Fast 1 has lower combined input + output rates ($0.20 in, $1.50 out) vs Claude Sonnet 4.6.

Where can I compare Anthropic and xAI API pricing beyond this model matchup?▼

See the Anthropic vs xAI provider comparison page for lineup-level averages, then review each model page for exact per-token rates.