After June 15, API calls to these models return errors. Your API key still works — only the model name changes.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When was Claude 4 deprecated?
Claude 4 Opus and Claude Sonnet 4 were retired on June 15, 2026. API calls to these model IDs now return HTTP 410 Gone errors. You must migrate to Claude Opus 4.8, Claude Sonnet 4.6, or an alternative provider.
What is the cheapest alternative to Claude 4 Opus?
DeepSeek V4 Flash is the cheapest at $0.14/$0.28 per million tokens — 99% cheaper than Claude 4 Opus ($15/$75). For a similar quality level, DeepSeek V4 Pro at $0.435/$0.87 is 97% cheaper. The direct Anthropic replacement, Claude Opus 4.8, is 67% cheaper at $5/$25.
Do I need a new API key to migrate from Claude 4?
No. If you're staying with Anthropic, your existing API key works with Claude Opus 4.8 and Sonnet 4.6. Only the model name string in your code changes. If switching providers, you'll need a new API key from the new provider.
How much can I save by switching from Claude 4?
Savings range from 67% (Claude Opus 4.8) to 99% (DeepSeek V4 Flash). For a typical workload of 10M input + 2M output tokens/month, Claude 4 Opus costs $300/month. The same workload on Claude Opus 4.8 costs $100/month, and on DeepSeek V4 Pro it costs just $6.09/month.
Is Claude Sonnet 4.6 a direct replacement for Claude Sonnet 4?
Yes. Claude Sonnet 4.6 is the same price ($3/$15 per million tokens) but has 5x the context window (1M vs 200K tokens) and improved reasoning. It's a strict upgrade with no cost increase.
Does my existing code break on June 15?
Yes — any API calls using "claude-4-opus" or "claude-sonnet-4" as the model name return errors. You need to update the model string in your code. The rest of your integration (API key, SDK, endpoint) stays the same.
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