Choosing the Best Claude Model

The next thing to know about is the model family. At the moment there are three Claude models: Opus, Sonnet, and Haiku. Each one is tuned for a different shape of job.

Why not always pick Opus?

A reasonable question. Two reasons. First, the bigger models tend to be slightly slower. Second, they use more of your usage allowance. Depending on your plan, you might not have access to Opus at all, or you might find yourself hitting your limits if you over-rely on it.

Personally I tend to have a fair bit of spare capacity, so I just use Opus a lot - it's easier than switching between models. But if you keep hitting your limits, downgrading to Sonnet for day-to-day use is the move.