The Model Tiers Explained
Anthropic releases Claude in multiple model tiers. The primary tiers most users encounter are Sonnet (the mid-tier everyday model) and Opus (the highest-capability model). The differences are in capability, speed, and cost. Opus is more capable at complex reasoning. Sonnet is faster and more cost-efficient.
The practical rule: start with Sonnet for everything. Switch to Opus when you notice Sonnet struggling -- missing nuance in complex analysis, losing track of multi-step logic, or producing shallow responses to tasks requiring deep reasoning. Most users never need to switch.
When Sonnet Is Sufficient
Content creation of any kind -- blog posts, social captions, email sequences, video scripts. Code generation for most web applications. Analysis of straightforward documents. Planning and outlining. Standard business communication. The vast majority of tasks professionals, creators, and founders use Claude for fall here.
When Opus Produces Better Results
Complex multi-document analysis where relationships between many sources matter. Strategic analysis requiring synthesis of competing considerations and genuine judgment calls. Long-form research requiring consistent coherence across thousands of words. Tasks where Sonnet produces a response that seems reasonable but shallow -- where you can tell Claude has not fully engaged with the complexity.