OpenAI and Anthropic release cheaper models on the same day
Archive · Issue of 25 September 2026
What happened
On 22 September 2026 both big US AI labs released new models at lower prices. Anthropic launched Claude Opus 5.5. Its per-token prices are 20% below Opus 5, and Anthropic says typical workloads cost about 40% less and output comes over 30% faster (Anthropic). OpenAI launched GPT-6 Sol and GPT-6 Luna, two cheaper versions of its GPT-6 Astra model from earlier in September, at about half the price of the models they replace (OpenAI; launch date per DataNorth).
Why it matters for your business
If you pay a flat monthly fee for ChatGPT or Claude, you don’t pay per token. What changes for you is what’s included:
- Claude: Anthropic says Opus 5.5 comes with higher usage limits on the Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise plans.
- ChatGPT: OpenAI says Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise and Edu users get Sol and Luna in ChatGPT Work and Codex. Free and Go users get Luna in the desktop app.
Where prices matter directly is if your software provider, IT partner or own staff use these models through the API (a way for other software to use the model and pay per use). Then the same job now costs less. A tool you use that has “AI inside”, from your CRM to your helpdesk, may get cheaper to run. Whether that reaches your invoice depends on the vendor.
The Swiss angle
Published prices are in US dollars per million tokens (a token is roughly a short word):
| Model | Input | Output | Approx. in CHF |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claude Opus 5.5 | USD 4 | USD 20 | CHF 3.33 / CHF 16.63 |
| GPT-6 Sol | USD 2 | USD 10 | CHF 1.66 / CHF 8.32 |
| GPT-6 Luna | USD 0.10 | USD 0.50 | CHF 0.08 / CHF 0.42 |
CHF figures are approximate, at about CHF 0.83 per USD (Wise), excl. VAT. Neither announcement mentions changes to subscription prices.
What to do
Nothing to buy. If a supplier charges you for AI usage, ask whether they’ve moved to the new, cheaper models and whether your price will reflect it.
Sources
- Anthropic, Claude Opus 5.5 announcement, 22 September 2026: https://www.anthropic.com/claude-opus-5-5
- OpenAI, “Introducing GPT-6 Sol and Luna”: https://openai.com/index/introducing-gpt-6-sol-and-luna/
- DataNorth, “OpenAI launches GPT-6 Sol and Luna”, 23 September 2026 (confirms launch date of 22 September): https://datanorth.ai/news/openai-launches-gpt-6-sol-and-luna
- Wise, USD/CHF rate, 6 October 2026: https://wise.com/us/currency-converter/usd-to-chf-rate/history
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