What is the best alternative to Claude Fable 5?

Claude Fable 5.1 is the closest model that scores higher on the BenchLeader Index (67.1 against 66.6). For less money, Claude Opus 5.5 scores 69.2 at $8.00 per 1M tokens.

Is there a cheaper alternative to Claude Fable 5?

Yes: Claude Opus 5.5 (69.2, $8.00), Gemini 4 Carbon (68.9, $8.00) and GPT-6.1 Sol (67.2, $4.00), each within 4 Index points and cheaper than Claude Fable 5's $20.00.

Is there an open-source alternative to Claude Fable 5?

The best open-weights models on the BenchLeader Index are Kimi K3 (62.1), GLM-5 (60.2) and GLM 5.2 (60.1). You can download and run them yourself; check each licence on its model page.

How are these alternatives chosen?

From the models ranked on the BenchLeader Index today: the ones just above Claude Fable 5, cheaper ones within 4 points, ones at least 1.5× as fast within 4 points, and the best open-weights models. Prices are list prices blended three input tokens to one output.

Anthropic

Claude Fable 5 alternatives

Data as of 2 Nov 2026 · ranked on the BenchLeader Index

As of 2 Nov 2026, Claude Fable 5 by Anthropic scores 66.6 on the BenchLeader Index at $20.00 per 1M tokens blended. Claude Fable 5.1 scores higher (67.1); Claude Opus 5.5 is the best cheaper model within 4 points (69.2 at $8.00); Claude Opus 5.5 is at least 1.5× as fast at a similar score; Kimi K3 is the best open-weights option (62.1).

Scores higher

The closest models above Claude Fable 5 on the Index.

Claude Fable 5.1 Anthropic compare67.1 · $20.00
GPT-6.1 Sol OpenAI compare67.2 · $4.00
GPT-6 Astra OpenAI compare68.2 · $20.00

Cheaper, nearly as good

Within 4 Index points, for less per token.

Claude Opus 5.5 Anthropic compare69.2 · $8.00
Gemini 4 Carbon Google compare68.9 · $8.00
GPT-6.1 Sol OpenAI compare67.2 · $4.00
Gemini 4 Argon Google compare65.9 · $4.00
Claude Opus 5 Anthropic compare65.4 · $10.00

Faster

At least 1.5× the output speed, within 4 points.

Claude Opus 5.5 Anthropic compare69.2 · $8.00
Gemini 4 Carbon Google compare68.9 · $8.00
GPT-6.1 Sol OpenAI compare67.2 · $4.00

Open weights

The best models whose weights you can run yourself.

Kimi K3 Moonshot AI compare62.1 · $6.00
GLM-5 Zhipu AI60.2 · $1.55
GLM 5.2 Zhipu AI compare60.1 · $2.15

Every alternative side by side

Model	Index	$ / 1M blended	Tokens / s	Why
Claude Fable 5 (this model)	66.6	$20.00	54	–
Claude Opus 5.5	69.2	$8.00	96	cheaper, faster
Gemini 4 Carbon	68.9	$8.00	95	cheaper, faster
GPT-6 Astra	68.2	$20.00	44	scores higher
GPT-6.1 Sol	67.2	$4.00	87	scores higher, cheaper, faster
Claude Fable 5.1	67.1	$20.00	70	scores higher
Gemini 4 Argon	65.9	$4.00	83	cheaper
Claude Opus 5	65.4	$10.00	53	cheaper
Kimi K3	62.1	$6.00	66	open weights
GLM-5	60.2	$1.55	62	open weights
GLM 5.2	60.1	$2.15	89	open weights

Prices are list prices blended three input tokens to one output; speeds are measured medians, credited on each model page. The Index is BenchLeader's own, from independent benchmarks.

Questions people ask

What is the best alternative to Claude Fable 5?: Claude Fable 5.1 is the closest model that scores higher on the BenchLeader Index (67.1 against 66.6). For less money, Claude Opus 5.5 scores 69.2 at $8.00 per 1M tokens.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Claude Fable 5?: Yes: Claude Opus 5.5 (69.2, $8.00), Gemini 4 Carbon (68.9, $8.00) and GPT-6.1 Sol (67.2, $4.00), each within 4 Index points and cheaper than Claude Fable 5's $20.00.
Is there an open-source alternative to Claude Fable 5?: The best open-weights models on the BenchLeader Index are Kimi K3 (62.1), GLM-5 (60.2) and GLM 5.2 (60.1). You can download and run them yourself; check each licence on its model page.
How are these alternatives chosen?: From the models ranked on the BenchLeader Index today: the ones just above Claude Fable 5, cheaper ones within 4 points, ones at least 1.5× as fast within 4 points, and the best open-weights models. Prices are list prices blended three input tokens to one output.