AI Index

Claude Sonnet 4.5vsClaude Sonnet 4.6

Both language models, compared at each maker’s own API list prices. Every figure links to its source.

Compare at your usage

Every model priced for the same request
Prompt per request
Cache hits
Batch

8,000 tokens in, 2,000 out

Claude Sonnet 4.5 on Claude APIClaude Sonnet 4.6 on Claude API
Rate appliedBase rateBase rate
Inputper 1M tokens$3.00 $3.00
Cache readper 1M tokens$0.30 $0.30
Outputper 1M tokens$15.00 $15.00
Cost per request$0.054$0.054
Per 1,000 requests$54.00$54.00

Every model is priced for the same request at its maker’s own list prices (each with its source and date), so bold marks the cheapest. A model that can’t serve the request is named, not ranked; a condition its seller doesn’t price says which rate was used.

Cost per request as prompts grow

2K tokens out, list price on each maker’s API. A line ends at the model’s context window.

0$1.00$2.00$3.000250K500K750K1Mprompt tokens per request8KClaude Sonnet 4.6$0.054 at 8KClaude Sonnet 4.5$0.054 at 8K
  • Claude Sonnet 4.5 · Claude API
  • Claude Sonnet 4.6 · Claude API

Where each stands among all scored models

Each line runs from the lowest to the highest score on the board; the tick is the median.

Epoch Capabilities Index#68 vs #51 of 118Claude Sonnet 4.6: 152.9Claude Sonnet 4.5: 147.6EQ-Bench Creative Writing v3#34 vs #23 of 93Claude Sonnet 4.6: 1,811Claude Sonnet 4.5: 1,677EQ-Bench Longform Writing#37 vs #15 of 92Claude Sonnet 4.6: 79.9Claude Sonnet 4.5: 71.4LMArena Document#23 vs #8 of 32Claude Sonnet 4.6: 1,482Claude Sonnet 4.5: 1,450
  • Claude Sonnet 4.5
  • Claude Sonnet 4.6

Key differences

Claude Sonnet 4.5Claude Sonnet 4.6
Context
200,000 Claude Sonnet 4.5 model overview · as of Nov 1, 2026
1,000,000 Claude Sonnet 4.6 model overview · as of Nov 1, 2026
Max output
64,000 Claude Sonnet 4.5 model overview · as of Nov 1, 2026
128,000 Claude Sonnet 4.6 model overview · as of Nov 1, 2026
Knowledge cutoff
Jan 2025 Claude Sonnet 4.5 model overview · as of Nov 1, 2026
Aug 2025 Claude Sonnet 4.6 model overview · as of Nov 1, 2026

These differences use verified vendor specifications or each maker’s official API on the same region, currency, meter and billing conditions. Different conditions remain side by side in the full table; they do not establish which model is cheaper. Declared features describe support, not measured quality or a recommendation. Missing evidence does not mean a feature is unsupported.

Full comparison

Claude Sonnet 4.5 Anthropic Claude Sonnet 4.6 Anthropic
Overview
ReleasedSep 29, 2025 Feb 17, 2026
Open weights— —
Knowledge cutoffJan 2025 Aug 2025
Specs
Context200K 1M
Max output64K 128K
Input modalitiesText, Image Text, Image
Output modalitiesText Text
ReasoningYes Yes
Reasoning effortsNot stated low, medium, high, max
Reasoning can be offNot stated Yes
Tool useYes Yes
Structured outputYes Yes
Pricing · per 1M tokens
Input price$3.00Also priced under other conditions: Batch $3.00Also priced under other conditions: Batch
Output price$15.00Also priced under other conditions: Batch $15.00Also priced under other conditions: Batch
Cache read price$0.30 $0.30
Cache write price$3.75Also priced under other conditions: 1-hour cache5-minute cache $3.75Also priced under other conditions: 1-hour cache5-minute cache
Cache write price (1-hour cache)$6.001-hour cache $6.001-hour cache
Blended price (3 input : 1 output)$6.00 $6.00
Pricing under conditions · per 1M tokens
Batch input price$1.50Batch $1.50Batch
Batch output price$7.50Batch $7.50Batch
Cited scores
Epoch Capabilities Index147.6 152.9
LMArena Text— 1,472
LMArena Text · Coding— 1,528
LMArena Vision— 1,283
LMArena Text · Chinese— 1,510
Epoch AI · GPQA Diamond— 87.4% 32K thinking budget
Epoch AI · SWE-bench Verified— 75.2%

Headline prices may come from different channels, regions or tiers. Check each source before choosing a model; missing facts stay blank.

Model details and sources

Cited scores