Fable 5 is no longer included in Pro: what it means and what to use instead
Since July 20, Fable 5 on the Claude Pro plan runs on separate credits. Here is how it looks, what it costs in the API, and which model to pick instead.
Since July 20, 2026 Anthropic's most powerful model, Fable 5, is no longer included in the Claude Pro subscription. It stays in the selector, but on Pro its usage now runs on separate credits. Here is what that means in practice if you are on the $20 Pro plan.
What changed?
Previously Fable 5 was available on Pro within the subscription limits. The end date was announced in advance right in the app: the model selector showed "Included until July 19" next to Fable 5. July 19 passed, and since July 20 the model runs on paid credits on Pro and Team Standard. On Max and Team Premium it remains included up to half of the weekly usage limit, with credits beyond that. Source: Anthropic release summary for July 20.
For price context: in the API Fable 5 costs $10 per million input tokens, twice the price of the new Opus 5 at $5. The cost of credits in the Claude app is shown by Claude itself when you pick the model: check the price in your account before launching a heavy task.
How does it look in the app?
The model didn't disappear. Open the selector at the bottom of the input box and Fable 5 is there, but using it on Pro spends credits, and Claude warns you about it. If you have no credits, it offers to buy them. It can't silently charge you without warning, but if you're used to clicking without looking, now is the time to look.
What to use instead on Pro?
For the vast majority of tasks you never needed Fable 5 in the first place. The working combo on Pro right now:
- Sonnet 5 for everyday work: texts, tables, emails, breakdowns.
- Opus 5 for complex work: released July 24, it is now the main model for multi-step tasks, large documents and code. Full release breakdown.
- Fable 5 stays for the cases the other two couldn't crack, as a deliberate purchase rather than an accidental click.
We teach how to pick the model per task without overpaying in our free guides and the first lesson with no signup.
AGINE Academy is an independent product, not affiliated with Anthropic. Claude is a product of Anthropic.
Questions
No. The model stays in the selector, but since July 20, 2026 its usage on Pro runs on separate credits instead of the subscription. Claude warns you about the charge when you pick the model and offers to buy credits if you have none.
Sonnet 5 for everyday tasks, and Opus 5 for complex multi-step work: it came out on July 24 and costs half as much as Fable 5 in the API. Fable 5 itself is rarely needed: keep it for tasks the other models couldn't handle.
On Max and Team Premium it remains included in the subscription up to half of the weekly usage limit. Beyond that limit, usage runs on credits as well.