{"version":1,"type":"story","url":"https://digestai.news/story/anthropic-doubles-opus-5-5-fast-mode-pricing-to-8-40-per-million-token","json":"https://digestai.news/story/anthropic-doubles-opus-5-5-fast-mode-pricing-to-8-40-per-million-token.json","markdown":"https://digestai.news/story/anthropic-doubles-opus-5-5-fast-mode-pricing-to-8-40-per-million-token.md","slug":"anthropic-doubles-opus-5-5-fast-mode-pricing-to-8-40-per-million-token","headline":"Anthropic doubles Opus 5.5 fast mode pricing to $8/$40 per million tokens","summary":"Anthropic’s Opus 5.5 fast mode now costs **$8 per million input tokens** and **$40 per million output tokens**, double the standard rates of **$4/$20**. The feature accelerates output token generation by up to **2.5x** but does not reduce the time to first token. Anthropic’s official documentation confirms the same model is used, with only inference speed altered.\n\nThe cost-effectiveness of fast mode depends on output length. For a **3,000-token response**, the price increase is **$0.076 per run**, saving about **45 seconds** at 40 tokens/second. However, for shorter outputs (e.g., **300 tokens**), the savings drop to **2–4 seconds**, making the **$5–$29/hour** estimate for saved time less compelling. The author notes that standard output speeds are unlisted, requiring assumptions (40, 60, or 80 tokens/sec) to calculate savings. Background tasks or long outputs may justify the cost, while short, real-time tasks likely won’t.\n\nThe article also compares Opus 5.5 fast mode to the cheaper **Sonnet 5.5** ($2/$10), cautioning users to weigh model performance against speed needs before opting for the premium tier.","keyPoints":["Opus 5.5 fast mode doubles pricing to $8/$40 per million tokens, matching 2.5x output speed but no TTFT change","Savings per hour vary from $5–$29 depending on output length and assumed token speeds (40–80/sec)","Anthropic’s documentation excludes Batch API support and warns of rate limits; switching back resets prompt cache"],"whyItMatters":"The price hike and variable savings could shift adoption of faster inference toward long-form tasks or bulk processing, while shorter queries may remain cost-prohibitive. Users must now calculate token volumes and wait times to justify the premium.","category":{"slug":"models","name":"Generative AI & Models","url":"https://digestai.news/category/models"},"entities":{"companies":["Anthropic"],"models":["Claude Opus 5.5","Claude Sonnet 5.5"],"people":[]},"firstPublishedAt":"2026-10-29T01:25:00Z","updatedAt":"2026-10-29T01:25:00Z","sourceCount":1,"hasPrimarySource":false,"sources":[{"outlet":"note.com","title":"Claude Opus 5.5 fast mode costs double; the price to buy 1 hour of waiting time is about $5 to $29","url":"https://note.com/ai_scout_jp/n/n5292762feed9?hl=en","publishedAt":"2026-10-29T01:25:00Z","type":"press","primary":false,"lead":true}],"sourceNotes":null,"discussions":[],"thread":null,"cite":{"text":"Digest AI, \"Anthropic doubles Opus 5.5 fast mode pricing to $8/$40 per million tokens\", 29 October 2026, https://digestai.news/story/anthropic-doubles-opus-5-5-fast-mode-pricing-to-8-40-per-million-token","publisher":"Digest AI","title":"Anthropic doubles Opus 5.5 fast mode pricing to $8/$40 per million tokens","datePublished":"2026-10-29T01:25:00Z","url":"https://digestai.news/story/anthropic-doubles-opus-5-5-fast-mode-pricing-to-8-40-per-million-token"},"generatedBy":"Written by Digest AI's editorial model from the linked sources; the sources are the record.","license":"Headlines, digests and key points are written by Digest AI and may be quoted with a link to the story page. Linked articles belong to their publishers. Terms: https://digestai.news/terms#reuse"}