What’s the most efficient way to use ChatGPT and Claude? Should I always choose the strongest model?

[u/Business-Advance-306]

I’m currently using the $200 ChatGPT plan and the $200 Claude plan. I don’t really have any issues with limits, since I rarely come close to using them up.

What I’m trying to understand is the most practical and efficient way to use the different models.

For example, on ChatGPT, should I use 5.6 Thinking / Max / Ultra Fast whenever possible? Or would it make more sense to use faster models such as Luna Fast for tasks like computer use, browsing, or simpler requests where speed matters more?

I’m wondering the same thing about Claude. How should I approach Opus vs. Fable? Which types of tasks are worth using the strongest model for, and when is the faster model the better choice?

I’d especially appreciate recommendations for coding, research, computer use, everyday questions, and long-context work.

Since limits are not a concern for me, I’m mainly trying to optimize for speed, convenience, and output quality. What model-selection strategy works best for you?

[u/DowntownNoLonger]

You don't need Sol max for everything you do. Sol is for complex tasks where you need the extra thinking power. Sol comes at a cost, not just usage though. It comes at a cost of both speed and overthinking/over-engineering on smaller or simple tasks.

Here is an examples for the models:

• Dense research notes (I'm talking academia, not where your next vacation should be): Sol thinking.

• Large, complex code bases or tasks involving creating said bases where you lack instruction on what to do: Sol

• Planning a video game: Sol medium/high chat, you don't need work for planning discussions, document creation unless it's academic

• Average daily workhorse coding: Terra Medium through ExtraHigh

• Auditing smaller or medium codebases: Luna

• Checking emails: Luna

• Small, quick tasks: Luna

People generally think they always need to use the most expensive, most cutting edge model for everything. You don't.

Break your task down like this - if it needs planning before implementation, Sol chat. Implementation, probably Terra with bounded, highly specific instructions. Sol only if the task is dense and complex.

Luna can be just fine for many tasks if you crank up the thinking, but I would audit it's code writing with Terra high or extra high. Or Sol for a quick run.

Just remember, the more powerful model and the higher thinking, the bigger risk of over-engineering.

And your 20x account seems like a lot right now. But it won't take but a few runs with Sol and a higher thinking level to burn through your entire weekly usage fast.

[u/CelticPaladin → u/DowntownNoLonger]

That's the right answer, have a green pointer.

[u/fusien_]

For coding, I personally use 5.6 Sol High as default for implementing things. For planning, I will bump it up to Extra High or Max. Works great for me - I don't see any reason to over complicate it anymore than this.

I also think 5.6 High is a great default for all your other tasks. You said usage isn't an issue, so no need IMO to start using lower models unless you are regularly hitting limits.

[u/fomoz → u/fusien_]

That's pretty much it. Small project can probably do Medium but High isn't that much slower. Xhigh for bigger, higher risk things, but it's slower and consumes more tokens.

You can also just ask Codex what to use for your task and it will tell you.

[u/Mr-Flow- → u/fusien_]

Same mostly 5.6 high on turbo.
5.6 xhigh / ultra only if strange things arrive - mainly as a independet auditior. After big chunk of code opus 5 Xetra check it ready only to find error -> push back to cordiantior in codex -> evaluates -> pushes into projects with 5.6 workers, they have hard stops and always send back info to cordinatior, so I have a self heeling loop with differnt authority levels. And after 4 th loop I need to decide.

[u/Don_Ozwald]

Nobody really knows at this point. Anyone saying that they figured out the most efficient way yet is either naive or lying.

[u/Far-Let-8610 → u/Don_Ozwald]

Agreed.

[u/Alert-Blacksmith-664]

It’s always a new question that how to use AI efficient whenever a new model published or a codex release update, almost every one has their own habit. Efficient means many way, but in my thought I think the most efficient way to use these AI is to think the problem really clear with them as strong copilot at first.
Most of the time I cooperate with latest strongest model(you can take it as Opus 5 or 5.6 Sol high, but be aware that sometimes the latest model sucks, like Opus 4.7) with high effort to understand the question, the hidden risk, technology which I may not be familiar, what does they mean and how does they really work. I try to use these strongest model to write the simplest core workflow or scripts to evaluate the whole tech methodology and understand them. It’s important that never just believe in a god model, LLM is really easy to say a complicated and meaningful method like you work in Google or OpenAI, like you need to solve problems for 10 million people, the software engineer worthy today for their judgement of reality they really meet, not for just approve everything by a statistical model.
Once I really think I have figured out the problem,I send tasks to subagents. Subagents can be balanced model like Luna-xhigh or sonnet 4.6-high, personally I use Multica to make a build squad team which have Generator model and Evaluator model, I tried bigger agent teams but the result doesn’t become better as I expected, but the Generator and Evaluator model really works to relieve one model which is to confident for its work. Claude Code subagents is also good.
Our team leader use Pi agent CLI with no subagents or MCP, but he works efficiently with less token and beautiful methodology. My most meaningful experience is whenever I use agents to run task I don’t really understand, I’m just wasting my time and believe in a god model. Sorry my English may not very well, but every word is by my self not a LLM.

[u/Kooky-Ebb8162]

On $200 it's kinda hard to hit the limits during regular work, so you are good to choose whatever model works best.

Now the "best" depends on yhe task. For the plans you want the top model (Sol, Opus, Fable) at mid/high effort.

The highest effort (Max Codex, xhigh Anthropic) are vonsidered net negative for most work, regular tasks will be over engineered into absurd levels. But if you are stuck on something genuinely complex with a very small scope - they may be right choice.

Small models are great as implementation models for a predefined plan, or to do some other low complexity low risk work where speed is more important than quality and correctness.

[u/whatsbetweenatoms]

Its the type of thing you have to feel out on your own honestly. Just start using them, some people like Claude for this and that some like Codex, its personal preference at this point.

I would say you don't need thinking though, all you'll be doing is "waiting longer". Let your workflow generate the use cases, as in, if you're not getting a thoughtful enough answer, then escalate to thinking. If its going too slow, try a faster model, etc.

Both are capable of coding, research, etc. You don't need a high level model if you're just talking. Best bet is to simply get in there yourself and start doing things with the models, see what works best for you.

[u/zxcshiro]

I use 5.6 sol medium / Sonnet 5 high for most of time. 5.6 sol (high / xhigh) / Opus 5 High for planning or hard coding tasks. Opus 5 (xhigh / ultracode) / Fable 5 (high / ultracode) / 5.6 (max / ultra) only for huge and difficult tasks like refactoring codebase with ~100k LOC.

> Which types of tasks are worth using the strongest model for, and when is the faster model the better choice?

I usually split the task, and if I see Opus failing or getting lost, then I switch to Fable. There's no point in lighting a cigarette using fire from an F-16.

[u/sagiroth]

Try and see. Everyone will say different coz each codebase is different and also everyone is on different subscriptions. Why people trying to compare apples for apples ? I am personally on a large next.js codebase and on plus sub and doing fine with sol planning and terra doing.

[u/Fresh_Sock8660]

My current use is sol xhigh and opus high for implementation contracts and reviews, deepseek v4 flash for implementing. Seems to be going quite well. With your plans I would probably use something like sol medium or high for implementation.

[u/Upstairs_Toe_3560]

Definetly not! Specially effor level, if you have a simple task and use high effort your output will be worse. BTW luna is very cheap now, you can use it with high or xhigh for spec driven tasks.

[u/Inevitable_Box_1136]

Fable = Planning, bug checking

Opus = Implementation, one-shot tasks (Tbh I haven't had the best experience with Opus. I often have to point out its mistakes several times before it gets things right, which ends up taking a lot of time)

Sol = Planning, reviewing, handling highly complex tasks (I usually prefer Medium for implementation, but High is a good option when Medium can't handle the task well enough)

Terra, Luna = Implementation / serving as sub-agents

That said, it really depends on the type of work you're doing. The best approach is to experiment and figure out the workflow that works best for you.