Choosing the right Claude model

Questions

• Which Claude model should I use?
• What is the difference between Opus, Sonnet, and Haiku?
• Which model is fastest, and which is best for hard problems?
• What is Fable, and when would I use it?
• How do I pick a model that will not use up my limit so quickly?
• Which model should I use for coding, for research, or for writing?
• How do I change the model in the Claude app?
• Claude is slow or I keep hitting limits. Would a different model help?

Environment

This article applies to Bowdoin community members using the Claude apps or tools with a Bowdoin account.

• Who: Students, faculty, and staff using Claude.
• What: Model selection in the Claude web, desktop, and mobile apps, in Claude Code, and in Cowork.
• Not in scope: The exact set of models available to you depends on how your account is set up. Model names and capabilities change over time, so re-check when new versions are released.

Resolution

Claude comes in several models built for different kinds of work. Each model uses your usage limit at a different rate, so matching the model to the task keeps you fast and efficient. Using the most powerful model for a simple task wastes your limit for no benefit, and using a light model for a hard task can produce weaker results.

The models at a glance

• Claude Haiku (currently Haiku 4.5), fast and light. Best for quick answers, simple summaries, extracting information, and categorizing. Haiku uses the least of your limit and responds almost instantly.
• Claude Sonnet (currently Sonnet 5), the versatile default. Strong at coding, writing, analysis, and multi-step work. Sonnet is responsive enough for real-time back-and-forth and capable enough that most tasks will not outgrow it. If you are unsure which model to use, start with Sonnet.
• Claude Opus (currently Opus 4.8), the deep-reasoning specialist. Reserve Opus for genuinely hard problems: complex reasoning across many constraints, deep research, difficult debugging, and long specialized documents. Opus uses the most of your limit.
• Claude Fable (currently Fable 5), for creative and narrative writing. Consider Fable when the priority is storytelling, voice, and long-form creative prose rather than analysis or code. Availability at Bowdoin may vary; confirm with the Service Desk if Fable is not listed for your account.

How to choose by task

• Quick lookup, summary, or information extraction: Haiku.
• Writing, editing, and content creation: Sonnet, or Fable for creative and narrative writing.
• Coding, such as writing, debugging, or refactoring: Sonnet; use Opus for large, tightly connected, multi-file problems.
• Analysis and research that needs reasoning: Sonnet; use Opus for deep or high-stakes analysis.
• Long, complex documents or novel problems: Opus.

How to change the model

1. Start or open a chat in the Claude app.
2. Click the model selector, which shows the current model name near the message box or at the top of the chat.
3. Choose the model you want. The choice applies to the current conversation, and you can switch at any time.

Choosing models over time

A new Claude version is a fresh model rather than a small upgrade to the previous one. A task that suited Opus in one release may fit Sonnet in the next. When new versions arrive, spend a few minutes running your usual tasks across models to see which one now fits best.

Additional Help

If you need further assistance, you have several options:

• Bowdoin Bot: Chat with Bowdoin Bot directly from any KB page for instant answers.
• Phone: Call the Bowdoin College Service Desk at (207) 725-3030.
• In person: Visit the Tech Hub in Smith Union during business hours.
• Submit a ticket: Request assistance through the Service Catalog.

Additional Resources

• Anthropic: Choosing the right Claude model