Claude: what it is, what it costs, and who it suits (2026)
Claude is Anthropic's family of AI models, used through the Claude app.
Research-based, not tested. Written from official pages and help docs (last checked Oct 15, 2026). We haven't run our own tests of this yet, so treat it as an explainer, not a verdict. How we test
In one sentence
A thoughtful, careful writer and strong coder, with a free plan that already includes web search, file creation and voice mode.
Latest models (last checked Oct 15, 2026)
Most capable: Claude Fable 5.1. Anthropic recommends starting with Opus 5.5 for most work. Haiku 5.5 appears on the pricing page, but we couldn't confirm its release date (not verified).
- Sep 28, 2026: Claude Sonnet 5.5: 30%+ faster than Sonnet 5 (Anthropic)
- Sep 22, 2026: Claude Opus 5.5: first of the Claude 5.5 family (Anthropic)
- Sep 1, 2026: Claude Fable 5.1 (and Mythos 5.1 for verified organisations only) (Anthropic)
Free vs paid (as of Oct 2026)
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Sonnet and Haiku models, web search, memory, voice mode, Artifacts, up to 5 projects |
| Pro | $20/month, or $17/month billed annually ($200/year) | More usage, Opus models, Claude Code, Research, Claude in Chrome and Microsoft 365 |
| Max | From $100/month | 5x or 20x more usage than Pro, priority access, monthly API credits |
Free option: Chat with the Sonnet and Haiku models on web, desktop and mobile, with web search, memory, voice mode, file creation and up to 5 projects.
What it's good at
- Long, careful writing and editing
- Reading long documents (up to 1M-token context, depending on the model)
- Coding (Claude Code is included with paid plans)
Keep in mind
- No image generation listed on the pricing page
- Usage limits reset every 5 hours, with weekly caps on paid plans; there's no fixed message count
- Top models (Opus, Fable) need a paid plan
Where you'll find it
- Claude apps on web, iPhone, Android and desktop
- Claude in Chrome and Microsoft 365/Outlook (Pro and up)
- Developers: the Claude API. Current models are Haiku 5.5, Sonnet 5.5, Opus 5.5 and Fable 5.1
On consumer plans, Anthropic lists model training as “Opt-out”: you can switch it off in settings.
Last checked Oct 15, 2026. Model names change fast. Names and prices here are as of Oct 2026 and come from the sources at the bottom of the page.
See also: AI models explained · Which AI model should I use? · Best free AI models
Sources
- Claude pricing: last checked Oct 15, 2026
- Anthropic: Claude Sonnet 5.5 (Sep 28, 2026): last checked Oct 15, 2026
- Anthropic: Claude Opus 5.5 (Sep 22, 2026): last checked Oct 15, 2026
- Anthropic: Claude Fable 5.1 (and Mythos 5.1 for verified organisations only) (Sep 1, 2026): last checked Oct 15, 2026
Prices and plans change often. Always confirm on the official site before you buy.
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