Anthropic has introduced cloud sonnet 5A new model that offers capabilities previously exclusive to the Opus series at a more affordable price point. The launch comes as the US Department of Commerce lifted export restrictions on Cloudflare 5 and Mythos 5. Starting Wednesday, Anthropic will restore global access to these two models.
Sonnet 5 is available with initial API pricing of $2 per million input tokens and $10 per million output tokens until August 31, 2026. After that, standard pricing will be $3 per million input tokens and $15 per million output tokens. This model is now available for Free, Pro and Max subscribers.
What makes Claude’s Sonnet 5 different?
Anthropic describes the Sonnet 5 as the most agentic Sonnet model to date. The model has capabilities that were previously mostly limited to Opus 4.8, such as multi-step planning, use of tools including browsers and terminals, self-verification of its output without explicit prompts, improved instruction following, and improved agentive search in large codebases.
These enhancements target users who rely on the cloud for coding, research, automation, and document work. Sonnet 4.6 was generally considered weak at planning and understanding large codebases, but Sonnet 5 appears to have closed that gap substantially.
The pricing model positions the Sonnet 5 as a budget-friendly alternative to the Opus 4.8 when considering performance. During the initial period until August 31, 2026, Sonnet 5 costs $2 per million tokens for input and $10 for output.
The standard version costs $3 for input and $15 per million tokens for output. By comparison, Opus 4.8 costs $5 per million tokens for input and $25 for output. At standard pricing,
The Sonnet 5 is about 60% less expensive than the Opus 4.8. Users can choose between the two depending on their preferences for cost savings or maximum performance.
Benchmark tests from BrowseComp and OSWorld-Verified support the performance claims, showing that Sonnet 5 performs much closer to Opus 4.8 than Sonnet 4.6.
Why are Fable 5 and Mythos 5 returning?
The release of Sonnet 5 came as Anthropic restored access to Cloud Fable 5 and Mythos 5. The models were taken offline for two and a half weeks following a US government order restricting access to foreign nationals citing national security concerns.
Anthropic announced at the X that the Commerce Department has lifted export controls on both models. Access is being restored to global users and business customers starting Wednesday.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the government had worked closely with Anthropic over the past two weeks to assess and approve Fable 5 and support US leadership in AI.
A letter from Lutnick’s Anthropic, cited by multiple outlets, said the company had coordinated with the government to proactively identify and address security risks related to the models.
Anthropic has committed to inform the government if it detects any malicious activity involving the models. Lutnick’s letter also warned that the Trump administration reserves the right to reimpose sanctions in the future if circumstances change or if Anthropic fails to meet its commitments.
White House Chief of Staff Susie Wills expressed her gratitude to the industries working closely with the White House to implement the President’s executive order on promoting advanced AI innovation and security.
He noted the ongoing efforts around model access, guardrails, testing and security and emphasized that deploying the best technology as quickly as possible remains a priority.
Which cloud model should users choose
Anthropic’s paid tiers give users immediate access to Sonnet 5 through Cloud Apps, Cloud Code, and Anthropic APIs. Free-tier users can also access the model.
For those who were temporarily locked out of Fable 5 and Mythos 5 during the two-week suspension, access is slowly being restored starting Wednesday. Pro, Max, and Enterprise plan users should see the models reappear in their model selection menu.
When choosing a model, users can consider the following:
- Sonnet 5: Provides the best cost-performance balance for most agency and coding tasks.
- Opus 4.8: Provides maximum performance for the most demanding tasks.
- Fable 5: Shares architecture with Mythos and includes safety railings; It will be available at usage-based pricing after the free period ends on June 22.
- Myth 5: Limited to vetted partners, including government cyber defenders and some life sciences researchers.
The ongoing developments reflect Anthropic’s efforts to balance the expansion of its business with government regulations. The launch of the Fable 5 in June, its subsequent suspension, and now its reinstatement with the more affordable Sonnet release shows how Anthropic is refining its product lineup while dealing with increasingly complex regulations for advanced AI models.
The release of Sonnet 5 also strengthens Anthropic’s position against OpenAI. Recently, OpenAI delayed the public rollout of GPT-5.6 at the request of the US government, limiting access to selected partners.
With Sonnet 5 now available and the return of Fable 5, Anthropic offers a wider range of models accessible to developers and users than OpenAI in the near future.
Sonnet 5 is available now. Access to Fable 5 and Mythos 5 will be restored starting Wednesday for eligible users.
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