Short answer: Claude Sonnet 5 is Anthropic’s default model for Free and Pro users and is also available on Max, Team and Enterprise plans. API pricing is $2 per million input tokens and $10 per million output tokens through 31 August 2026, then $3 and $15. It narrows the gap with Opus 4.8 on agentic work at a lower price.
Last reviewed: 28 July 2026. Availability, usage limits and API pricing can change; check Anthropic’s current plan and platform documentation before purchasing.
Claude Sonnet 5 availability and pricing
| Access | What you get | Important limit |
|---|---|---|
| Claude Free | Sonnet 5 is the default model for everyday Claude chats. | Free accounts have lower usage limits than paid plans. |
| Claude Pro | Sonnet 5 is the default model with higher usage limits and additional paid features. | A Pro subscription does not mean unlimited model usage. |
| Max, Team and Enterprise | Sonnet 5 is available alongside other models and plan-specific controls. | Model access and allowances can depend on the plan and workspace policy. |
| Claude API | claude-sonnet-5 costs $2 per million input tokens and $10 per million output tokens through 31 August 2026. |
Standard pricing becomes $3 input and $15 output per million tokens after the introductory period. |
What changed on 30 June 2026?
Anthropic released Sonnet 5 across all Claude plans and made it the default for Free and Pro. That means most people opening a new Claude chat receive Sonnet 5 without selecting a separate paid-only model. Max, Team and Enterprise users can also use it, subject to their plan and organisation settings.
The launch also matters to developers. Sonnet 5 is available through the Claude API and Claude Code using the claude-sonnet-5 model ID. Anthropic introduced it at $2 per million input tokens and $10 per million output tokens through 31 August 2026. Standard pricing is scheduled to become $3 per million input tokens and $15 per million output tokens after that period.
Claude Sonnet 5 vs Opus 5 and Opus 4.8
When Anthropic launched Sonnet 5 on 30 June 2026, its official performance comparisons focused primarily on Sonnet 4.6 and Opus 4.8. Anthropic said Sonnet 5 substantially narrowed the performance gap with Opus 4.8 while offering a lower-cost option for coding, tool use, reasoning and agentic workloads.
The comparison changed again on 24 July 2026 when Anthropic released Claude Opus 5. Opus 5 is now the newer Opus-class option and is designed for demanding coding, knowledge work and longer multi-step tasks where additional capability can justify the higher price.
| Choose Sonnet 5 when | Consider Opus 5 when |
|---|---|
| You want a strong balance of capability, speed and cost. | Maximum capability matters more than minimizing API cost. |
| You run frequent coding, tool-use or agentic workloads. | You are handling especially difficult or high-value tasks. |
| You want the default Claude model available on Free or Pro. | You need stronger performance on complex coding or knowledge-work workflows. |
| You are processing enough API traffic that token cost matters. | The additional performance is worth the higher per-token price for your use case. |
For historical context, Opus 4.8 remains relevant because it was the Opus model Anthropic used in the original Sonnet 5 launch benchmarks. Sonnet 5 could approach or match Opus 4.8 on some agentic tasks depending on effort level and token budget.
That does not mean Sonnet 5 universally replaces either Opus model. Benchmark results should be treated as reference points rather than guarantees. Test the models using the same prompts, tools, context, effort settings and success criteria before choosing one for production work.
Claude Sonnet 5 Free vs Pro: what is the difference?
Because both Claude Free and Claude Pro use Sonnet 5 as their default model, the practical difference is mainly usage capacity and access to paid features rather than the underlying default model. Free users can test Sonnet 5 on real tasks before upgrading, while heavier Claude users should compare Pro’s usage allowances and features with their actual workload.
Claude subscription pricing and Claude API pricing are separate. The introductory $2 input / $10 output rate applies to developers using Sonnet 5 through the Claude API; it is not the monthly price of a Claude Pro subscription.
Should you switch from ChatGPT or Gemini?
Do not switch based on one launch claim. Sonnet 5 is a strong candidate for coding and multi-step agentic work, but the best default depends on your documents, integrations, privacy requirements, latency tolerance and budget. Run a small side-by-side test using the same tasks and scoring criteria.
Our 12-point AI tool evaluation checklist gives you a repeatable process. You can also compare the related July changes in our guides to Gemini image pricing and the Claude Fable 5 and Mythos 5 export-control episode.
What to test before paying
- Run five to ten representative tasks, not one impressive demo.
- Record accuracy, completion rate, correction time, latency and token use.
- Keep tools, effort level, context and prompts consistent across models.
- Check refusals and safety behaviour on legitimate edge cases relevant to your work.
- Estimate cost again after the introductory API price ends.
Is Claude Sonnet 5 free?
Is Claude Sonnet 5 included with Claude Pro?
How much does the Claude Sonnet 5 API cost?
Is Claude Sonnet 5 better than Opus 4.8?
What is the difference between Claude Sonnet 5 and Opus 5?
Should I choose Sonnet 5 or Opus 5?
Primary sources
- Anthropic: Introducing Claude Sonnet 5 — availability, pricing, comparisons and changelog.
- Claude Sonnet 5 System Card — evaluation methodology, capability and safety results.
- Claude Platform model overview — current developer model information.
Claude Sonnet 5 FAQs
Is Claude Sonnet 5 free?
Yes. Sonnet 5 is the default model for Claude Free users. Free accounts have lower usage limits than paid Claude plans.
Is Claude Sonnet 5 included with Claude Pro?
Yes. Sonnet 5 is also the default model for Claude Pro. Pro mainly provides higher usage allowances and additional paid features rather than a different default Sonnet model.
How much does the Claude Sonnet 5 API cost?
Through 31 August 2026, Sonnet 5 API pricing is $2 per million input tokens and $10 per million output tokens. Anthropic lists standard pricing of $3 per million input tokens and $15 per million output tokens after the introductory period.
Is Claude Sonnet 5 better than Opus 4.8?
It depends on the task. Anthropic’s original Sonnet 5 launch evaluations showed Sonnet 5 approaching or matching Opus 4.8 on some agentic workloads while costing less. Opus 4.8 remained the more generally capable model in the launch comparison.
What is the difference between Claude Sonnet 5 and Opus 5?
Sonnet 5 emphasizes a strong balance of capability, speed and cost, while Opus 5 is Anthropic’s newer Opus-class model for more demanding coding, reasoning and knowledge-work tasks. For high-volume workloads, Sonnet 5 may offer better economics; for difficult high-value tasks, Opus 5 may justify its higher price.
Should I choose Sonnet 5 or Opus 5?
Start with Sonnet 5 for general coding, agentic workflows and everyday knowledge work. Test Opus 5 when the task is unusually difficult or when small improvements in accuracy and task completion are valuable enough to justify the additional cost.