Claude API vs Perplexity Sonar API pricing
Both start at $1 per million input tokens, $5 per million output. Claude API has changed its listed prices 6 times since 2024. Perplexity Sonar API has not changed its listed prices since 2026.
Claude API vs Perplexity Sonar API at a glance
Current list prices as last read from each pricing page.
Claude API
- Starts at
- $1 per million input tokens, $5 per million outputHaiku 4.5, USD per million tokens, standard processing
- Top listed plan
- $10 per million input tokens, $50 per million outputFable 5.1
- Priced by
- Usage based
- Free plan
- Not recorded
- Price history
- since 2024
- Price changes
- 6
Perplexity Sonar API
- Starts at
- $1 per million input tokens, $1 per million output, plus $5 to $12 per 1,000 requestsSonar, USD per million tokens, before per request fees
- Top listed plan
- $3 per million input tokens, $15 per million output, plus $6 to $14 per 1,000 requestsSonar Pro
- Priced by
- Usage based
- Free plan
- Not recorded
- Price history
- since 2026
- Price changes
- none
Claude API vs Perplexity Sonar API price history
Both histories on one chart. The default line is each product's cheapest paid plan.
Show the data as a table
| Observed | Claude API Haiku tier, input | Perplexity Sonar API Sonar, input |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 20, 2024 | $0.25 | |
| Dec 3, 2024 | $1 | |
| Jun 3, 2025 | $0.80 | |
| Oct 1, 2025 | $0.80 | |
| Jan 1, 2026 | $1 | |
| Apr 1, 2026 | $1 | |
| Jul 1, 2026 | $1 | |
| Sep 21, 2026 | $1 | $1 |
| Oct 3, 2026 | $1 | $1 |
Plans side by side
Every plan currently listed, with the price it started at where we have it.
Claude APIUSD per million tokens, standard processing
| Plan | Price | Listed since |
|---|---|---|
| Top model, input | $10was $15 in 2024 | Jun 2024 |
| Top model, output | $50was $75 in 2024 | Jun 2024 |
| Sonnet tier, input | $2was $3 in 2024 | Jun 2024 |
| Sonnet tier, output | $10was $15 in 2024 | Jun 2024 |
| Haiku tier, input | $1was $0.25 in 2024 | Jun 2024 |
| Haiku tier, output | $5was $1.25 in 2024 | Jun 2024 |
Perplexity Sonar APIUSD per million tokens, before per request fees
| Plan | Price | Listed since |
|---|---|---|
| Sonar, input | $1 | Sep 2026 |
| Sonar, output | $1 | Sep 2026 |
| Sonar Pro, input | $3 | Sep 2026 |
| Sonar Pro, output | $15 | Sep 2026 |
What changed, and when
Every dated price move we have on record for either product, newest first.
- Jul 2026Claude API changed its plans and prices. Top model, input went from $5 to $10 (+100%). Top model, output went from $25 to $50 (+100%). Sonnet tier, input went from $3 to $2 (-33%). Sonnet tier, output went from $15 to $10 (-33%).
- Jan 2026Claude API changed its plans and prices. Top model, input went from $15 to $5 (-67%). Top model, output went from $75 to $25 (-67%). Haiku tier, input went from $0.80 to $1 (+25%). Haiku tier, output went from $4 to $5 (+25%).
- Jun 2025Claude API cut the Haiku tier input and output prices. Haiku tier, input went from $1 to $0.80 (-20%). Haiku tier, output went from $5 to $4 (-20%).
- Dec 2024Claude API raised the Haiku tier input and output prices. Haiku tier, input went from $0.25 to $1 (+300%). Haiku tier, output went from $1.25 to $5 (+300%).
Claude API vs Perplexity Sonar API pricing questions
- Is Claude API or Perplexity Sonar API cheaper?
- Both start at $1 per million input tokens, $5 per million output. Claude API's top listed plan is Fable 5.1 at $10 per million input tokens, $50 per million output, Perplexity Sonar API's top listed plan is Sonar Pro at $3 per million input tokens, $15 per million output, plus $6 to $14 per 1,000 requests.
- Has Claude API or Perplexity Sonar API raised prices?
- Claude API: Top model, input has been listed since Jun 2024, starting at $15. It came down to $5 by Jan 2026 (-67%), and finally went up to $10 by Jul 2026 (+100%). Top model, output has been listed since Jun 2024, starting at $75. It came down to $25 by Jan 2026 (-67%), and finally went up to $50 by Jul 2026 (+100%). Sonnet tier, input has been listed since Jun 2024, starting at $3. It came down to $2 by Jul 2026 (-33%). Sonnet tier, output has been listed since Jun 2024, starting at $15. It came down to $10 by Jul 2026 (-33%). Haiku tier, input has been listed since Jun 2024, starting at $0.25. It went up to $1 by Dec 2024 (+300%), then came down to $0.80 by Jun 2025 (-20%), and finally went up to $1 by Jan 2026 (+25%). Haiku tier, output has been listed since Jun 2024, starting at $1.25. It went up to $5 by Dec 2024 (+300%), then came down to $4 by Jun 2025 (-20%), and finally went up to $5 by Jan 2026 (+25%). Perplexity Sonar API has not changed its listed prices since 2026.
- How are Claude API and Perplexity Sonar API priced?
- Claude API: usage based, USD per million tokens, standard processing. Perplexity Sonar API: usage based, USD per million tokens, before per request fees.
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