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Pricing Guide

Claude Pricing & Plans (2026) - Free vs Pro Compared

Last updated: February 2026

Free

$0/month

  • Access to Claude Sonnet 4.5
  • Limited daily messages
  • Standard response speed
  • Basic file uploads
  • No Projects or extended context

Pro

$20/month

  • Access to Claude Opus 4.5 and Sonnet 4.5
  • 5x more message allowance
  • Priority access during high traffic
  • Projects with custom instructions
  • Extended context window up to 200K tokens
  • Early access to new features

API Pricing

Input

$3.00 per 1M tokens (Sonnet 4.5)

Output

$15.00 per 1M tokens (Sonnet 4.5)

Opus 4.5 costs $15/$75 per 1M tokens. Haiku available at $0.25/$1.25 per 1M tokens for lightweight tasks.

Our Take

Claude Pro is excellent value at $20/month, especially for writing, analysis, and coding. The extended context window and Opus access make it worthwhile for power users. The free tier is generous enough for light daily use.

Best for: Long-form writing, nuanced analysis, coding, and tasks requiring careful reasoning

Why Pay for Multiple Subscriptions?

Council gives you access to all major AI models in one place. Compare answers side-by-side without juggling subscriptions.

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