AI Index

Claude Sonnet 4.6vsClaude Sonnet 5

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 4.6 on Claude APIClaude Sonnet 5 on Claude API
Rate appliedBase rateBase rate
Inputper 1M tokens$3.00 $2.00
Cache readper 1M tokens$0.30 $0.20
Outputper 1M tokens$15.00 $10.00
Cost per request$0.054$0.036
Per 1,000 requests$54.00$36.00

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.

0$1.00$2.00$3.000250K500K750K1Mprompt tokens per request8KClaude Sonnet 4.6$0.054 at 8KClaude Sonnet 5$0.036 at 8K
  • Claude Sonnet 4.6 · Claude API
  • Claude Sonnet 5 · 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#51 vs #31 of 118Claude Sonnet 5: 156.7Claude Sonnet 4.6: 152.9LMArena Text#33 vs #39 of 163Claude Sonnet 5: 1,462Claude Sonnet 4.6: 1,472LMArena Text · Coding#21 vs #30 of 163Claude Sonnet 5: 1,520Claude Sonnet 4.6: 1,528LMArena Vision#23 vs #29 of 89Claude Sonnet 5: 1,273Claude Sonnet 4.6: 1,283
  • Claude Sonnet 4.6
  • Claude Sonnet 5

Key differences

Claude Sonnet 4.6Claude Sonnet 5
InputMaker’s official API · global · USD
$3.00 / 1M tokens Claude API pricing · as of Nov 1, 2026
$2.00 / 1M tokens Claude API pricing · as of Nov 1, 2026
OutputMaker’s official API · global · USD
$15.00 / 1M tokens Claude API pricing · as of Nov 1, 2026
$10.00 / 1M tokens Claude API pricing · as of Nov 1, 2026
Knowledge cutoff
Aug 2025 Claude Sonnet 4.6 model overview · as of Nov 1, 2026
Jan 2026 Claude Sonnet 5 model overview · as of Nov 1, 2026
Cache readMaker’s official API · global · USD
$0.30 / 1M tokens Claude API pricing · as of Nov 1, 2026
$0.20 / 1M tokens Claude API pricing · as of Nov 1, 2026
Cache writeMaker’s official API · global · USD · 5-minute cache
$3.75 / 1M tokens Claude API pricing · as of Nov 1, 2026
$2.50 / 1M tokens Claude API pricing · as of Nov 1, 2026
Cache writeMaker’s official API · global · USD · 1-hour cache
$6.00 / 1M tokens Claude API pricing · as of Nov 1, 2026
$4.00 / 1M tokens Claude API pricing · 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 4.6 Anthropic Claude Sonnet 5 Anthropic
Overview
ReleasedFeb 17, 2026 Jun 30, 2026
Open weights— —
Knowledge cutoffAug 2025 Jan 2026
Specs
Context1M 1M
Max output128K 128K
Input modalitiesText, Image Text, Image
Output modalitiesText Text
ReasoningYes Yes
Reasoning effortslow, medium, high, max low, medium, high, xhigh, max
Reasoning can be offYes Yes
Tool useYes Yes
Structured outputYes Yes
Pricing · per 1M tokens
Input price$3.00Also priced under other conditions: Batch $2.00Also priced under other conditions: Batch
Output price$15.00Also priced under other conditions: Batch $10.00Also priced under other conditions: Batch
Cache read price$0.30 $0.20
Cache write price$3.75Also priced under other conditions: 1-hour cache5-minute cache $2.50Also priced under other conditions: 1-hour cache5-minute cache
Cache write price (1-hour cache)$6.001-hour cache $4.001-hour cache
Blended price (3 input : 1 output)$6.00 $4.00
Pricing under conditions · per 1M tokens
Batch input price$1.50Batch $1.00Batch
Batch output price$7.50Batch $5.00Batch
Cited scores
Epoch Capabilities Index152.9 156.7
LMArena Text1,472 1,462 high effort
LMArena Text · Coding1,528 1,520 high effort
LMArena Vision1,283 1,273 high effort
LMArena Text · Chinese1,510 1,498 high effort
Epoch AI · GPQA Diamond87.4% 32K thinking budget90.5% xhigh effort
Epoch AI · FrontierMath Tiers 1–3— 65.6% max effort
Epoch AI · SWE-bench Verified75.2% —

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