If you build an app, a chatbot or an automation on top of Claude, you pay through the Claude API, not through a monthly subscription. You pay for tokens: pieces of text that go into the model and come out of it. A token is roughly three quarters of an English word, and Armenian text usually uses more tokens per word.
Current Claude API prices
| Model | Input, per 1M tokens | Output, per 1M tokens | Cache read |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fable 5.2 | $8 | $40 | $0.20 |
| Opus 5.5 | $4 | $20 | $0.20 |
| Sonnet 5.5 | $2 | $10 | $0.10 |
| Haiku 5.5 (up to 100K) | $0.10 | $0.50 | $0.01 |
| Haiku 5.5 (above 100K) | $0.50 | $2.50 | $0.05 |
Older models such as Opus 5, Sonnet 5, Opus 4.8, Sonnet 4.6 and Haiku 4.5 are still listed as legacy models, but the newer ones are usually both better and cheaper.
Three ways to pay less
- Batch processing: if you can wait for results, the Batch API gives a 50% discount on input and output.
- Prompt caching: if every request starts with the same long instructions, cache them. Reading from the cache costs a small fraction of the normal input price.
- Model routing: send simple tasks to Haiku or Sonnet and only the hard ones to Opus or Fable.
A simple cost example
Imagine a support bot that handles 1,000 questions a day. Each question uses about 3,000 input tokens and 300 output tokens. On Sonnet 5.5 that is about $6 for input and $3 for output per day, around $270 a month. On Haiku 5.5 the same work costs about $0.45 a day, around $14 a month. The right choice depends on how complex the questions are.
Other API costs to know
- Web search through the API costs $10 per 1,000 searches.
- Opus 5.5 has a faster mode in research preview at $8 and $40 per million tokens.
- Max and Ultra subscribers get $100 or $200 of API credits each month, which is useful for small projects.
Prices and dates in this article were checked on November 10, 2026. AI companies change them often, so always confirm on the official pricing page before you buy.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Claude API included in Claude Pro?
No. Pro is for the chat apps and Claude Code. The API is billed separately by usage, although Max and Ultra include monthly API credits.
Which Claude model is cheapest?
Haiku 5.5, at $0.10 per million input tokens and $0.50 per million output tokens for requests up to 100K tokens.
Can I pay for the Claude API from Armenia?
Usually yes, with an international bank card. Check the payment step in the Claude Console before you plan a project.
Read next
- Claude Haiku 5.5 Review: The Cheapest Claude Model and When to Use It
- AI API Prices Compared, November 2026: Claude, GPT-6, Gemini, Grok, Kimi and DeepSeek
- Claude AI Review 2026: Models, Plans, Prices and Who It Is For
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