Claude Sonnet 4 alternatives
Best Claude Sonnet 4 alternatives
10 models that can stand in for Claude Sonnet 4, ranked by benchmark score, with what each one does better.
Current Model
Claude Sonnet 4
- Input / 1M
- $3
- Output / 1M
- $15
- Context
- 200K
- Intelligence
- 18.9
Quick picks
The best alternative depends on what you need
Why people switch away from Claude Sonnet 4, and the model that fits each reason best.
Ranked
Top Claude Sonnet 4 alternatives
Each model is scored against Claude Sonnet 4. Green means better, red means worse.
| Model | Input / 1M | Output / 1M | Context | Intelligence | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Claude Sonnet 4 Anthropic | Input / 1M$3 | Output / 1M$15 | Context200K | Intelligence18.9 | Reference model |
| Input / 1M$3 | Output / 1M$15 | Context1M+400% | Intelligence30.1+59% | Compare | |
Why switch:Higher intelligence scoreLarger 1M contextNewer release | |||||
| Input / 1M$1.25-58% | Output / 1M$10-33% | Context400K+100% | Intelligence24.7+31% | Compare | |
Why switch:1.5x cheaper outputHigher intelligence scoreLarger 400K contextNewer release | |||||
| Input / 1M$1.25-58% | Output / 1M$10-33% | Context400K+100% | Intelligence23.7+25% | Compare | |
Why switch:1.5x cheaper outputHigher intelligence scoreLarger 400K contextNewer release | |||||
| Input / 1M$1.25-58% | Output / 1M$10-33% | Context400K+100% | Intelligence23+22% | Compare | |
Why switch:1.5x cheaper outputHigher intelligence scoreLarger 400K contextNewer release | |||||
| Input / 1M$0.55-82% | Output / 1M$3.50-77% | Context262K+31% | Intelligence21.4+13% | Compare | |
Why switch:4.3x cheaper outputHigher intelligence scoreLarger 262K contextAccepts videoNewer release | |||||
| Input / 1M$3 | Output / 1M$15 | Context1M+400% | Intelligence20.7+10% | Compare | |
Why switch:Higher intelligence scoreLarger 1M contextNewer release | |||||
| Input / 1M$2-33% | Output / 1M$8-47% | Context200K | Intelligence20.2+7% | Compare | |
Why switch:1.9x cheaper outputHigher intelligence score | |||||
| Input / 1M$1-67% | Output / 1M$5-67% | Context200K | Intelligence16.9-11% | Compare | |
Why switch:3x cheaper outputNewer release | |||||
| Input / 1M$1.10-63% | Output / 1M$4.40-71% | Context200K | Intelligence16.7-12% | Compare | |
Why switch:3.4x cheaper output | |||||
| Input / 1M$1.25-58% | Output / 1M$10-33% | Context1.05M+424% | Intelligence16.1-15% | Compare | |
Why switch:1.5x cheaper outputLarger 1.05M contextAccepts audio and videoNewer release | |||||
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to Claude Sonnet 4?
Claude Sonnet 4.6 from Anthropic ranks first, based on independent benchmark scores. It costs $15 per 1M output tokens, compared with $15 for Claude Sonnet 4.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Claude Sonnet 4?
Yes. Qwen3.5 397B A17B charges $3.50 per 1M output tokens, versus $15 for Claude Sonnet 4.
Can I try Claude Sonnet 4 and its alternatives at the same time?
Yes. Shortcut Chat sends one prompt to several models at once, so you can compare Claude Sonnet 4 with any of these alternatives on your own tasks.
Not sure which to pick? Try them all.
Send one prompt to Claude Sonnet 4 and its alternatives at the same time, and keep the answer you like best.