OpenCode Zen vs Anthropic Direct - Pricing Comparison

What You Need to Know

If you're using Anthropic's Claude models with OpenCode, you have two options: OpenCode Zen (curated gateway) or direct Anthropic API. The good news: they cost exactly the same for Claude models. OpenCode Zen charges the same per-token rates as Anthropic's API, with no markup beyond credit card processing fees.

TL;DR - Should I Use Zen?

Use OpenCode Zen if:

• You want tested/verified model configurations
• You need access to multiple providers (Chinese models, Grok, etc.)
• You prefer pay-as-you-go with no billing account setup
• You want team management features (coming soon: free workspaces)

Use Anthropic Direct if:

• You only use Claude models
• You already have Anthropic API credits
• You prefer direct provider relationship
• Your organization requires vendor contracts

Bottom line: For Anthropic-only users, it's mostly a preference. Prices are identical.

Claude Model Pricing (Identical on Both)

Current Models (Per 1M Tokens)

Legacy Models

Source: Verified identical on both OpenCode Zen pricing↗ and Anthropic API pricing↗ as of November 2025.

What Zen Adds Beyond Claude

Free Models (Exclusive to Zen)

• Grok Code Fast 1 - Free (limited time, data may be used for training)
• Code Supernova - Free (limited time, stealth model beta)

Chinese AI Models

OpenAI Models (via Zen)

Real-World Cost Examples

Example 1: Daily Coding Session

Scenario: 2 hours of coding with Sonnet 4.5, typical file context

• Input: ~150K tokens (codebase context)
• Output: ~20K tokens (code generation)
• Cost: ~$0.75 per session

Monthly (20 workdays): ~$15/month

Example 2: Heavy Context Work

Scenario: Large codebase refactoring (> 200K tokens context)

• Input: 300K tokens (large context window)
• Output: 50K tokens (extensive changes)
• Cost: ~$2.55 per session

Why the jump? Pricing doubles for prompts > 200K tokens on Sonnet 4.5.

Example 3: Budget-Conscious Development

Scenario: Use Haiku 4.5 for routine tasks, Sonnet for complex work

• 80% tasks on Haiku: $0.15/session avg
• 20% tasks on Sonnet: $0.75/session avg
• Blended cost: ~$0.27/session

Monthly (20 workdays): ~$5.40/month

Example 4: Team Environment (5 developers)

Scenario: Mixed usage across team

• 100 sessions/month total (varied models)
• Average session: $0.50
• Total: $50/month for entire team

With Zen Team Plan:

• Standard seats: $25/person/month ($125 total) + API usage ($50) = $175/month
• Includes admin controls, SSO, billing management

Hidden Costs to Consider

Credit Card Processing Fees

OpenCode Zen: Passes through credit card fees at cost (typically 2.9% + $0.30)

• $100 in API usage = ~$2.90 in fees
• Total: $102.90

Anthropic Direct: Included in pricing (no separate fee disclosure)

Minimum Commitments

OpenCode Zen:

• Individual: No minimum
• Team: 5 members minimum ($125/month for standard seats)

Anthropic Direct:

• Free tier available
• Pay-as-you-go with no minimum

Batch Processing Discount

Both services offer 50% off for asynchronous batch processing

• Useful for non-realtime workloads
• Example: Sonnet 4.5 input drops from $3/MTok to $1.50/MTok

Privacy and Data Retention

OpenCode Zen

• Zero-retention policy (except during free model betas)
• Exceptions:
  • Grok Code Fast 1: Data may be used for training during free period
  • Code Supernova: Data may be used for training during free period
  • OpenAI APIs: 30-day retention per OpenAI policy
  • Anthropic APIs: 30-day retention per Anthropic policy

Anthropic Direct

• 30-day retention for all API requests
• No training on API data per Anthropic's policy
• Data stored in US

Both are equivalent for Claude models - same 30-day retention policy.

Advanced Features Comparison

Prompt Caching (Both Services)

Save on repeated context by caching prompts:

• Write cost: 1.25x input price (one-time)
• Read cost: 10x cheaper than full input
• TTL: 5 minutes (standard), extended caching available

Example savings:

• Full input: 100K tokens at $3/MTok = $0.30
• Cached read: 100K tokens at $0.30/MTok = $0.03
• Savings: 90% on repeated context

Service Tiers (Anthropic Direct Only)

• Priority: Guaranteed availability, faster response (contact sales)
• Standard: Default tier (same as Zen)
• Batch: 50% discount for async workloads (also on Zen)

OpenCode Zen doesn't explicitly offer priority tiers yet.

Extended Tools (Anthropic Direct)

Web Search:

• $10 per 1K searches (doesn't include token costs)
• Give Claude access to current web info

Code Execution:

• 50 free hours/day per organization
• $0.05/hour beyond that
• Python sandbox for data analysis

Note: These features are available through Anthropic Direct API, not yet integrated in OpenCode Zen.

Team Features

OpenCode Zen Workspaces (Beta - Free)

• Roles: Admin vs Member permissions
• Model access controls: Enable/disable models org-wide
• Spending limits: Set monthly caps per member
• Bring your own key: Use existing Anthropic/OpenAI keys
• Billing: Centralized billing management

Pricing: Free during beta (pricing TBA)

Anthropic Enterprise

• SSO and domain capture
• SCIM provisioning
• Audit logs
• Compliance API
• Custom data retention

Pricing: Contact sales

Comparison: Anthropic Enterprise is more mature for large orgs with compliance needs. Zen workspaces are simpler and currently free.

When to Switch

From Zen to Anthropic Direct

Switch if:

• You only use Claude models exclusively
• You need enterprise compliance features (SOC2, HIPAA, etc.)
• You prefer vendor relationship with Anthropic directly
• Your org already has Anthropic contracts

From Anthropic Direct to Zen

Switch if:

• You want to experiment with other models (Chinese AI, GPT, Grok)
• You prefer unified billing across multiple providers
• You like tested/verified model configurations
• You want simpler team management (once workspaces mature)

Practical Recommendations

For Individual Developers

If primarily using Claude: Either works - pick based on preference

• Zen: Easier experimentation with other models
• Direct: Simpler if Claude-only

If exploring multiple models: Use Zen

• Access to Qwen, Kimi, GLM, Grok in one place
• Free tier models available

For Small Teams (2-10 devs)

Use Zen if:

• You want centralized billing
• Team uses mixed models
• You need basic access controls

Use Anthropic Direct if:

• Claude-only workflow
• No need for team management features
• Existing Anthropic relationship

For Enterprises (10+ devs)

Use Anthropic Direct if:

• Compliance requirements (SOC2, HIPAA, etc.)
• Need enterprise SLAs
• Require audit logs and SCIM

Consider Zen if:

• Multi-provider strategy (Claude + others)
• Want to test different model/provider combinations
• OpenCode is primary coding interface

Cost Optimization Tips

1. Use Prompt Caching Aggressively

bash
# Example: Large codebase as cached context
# First call: 200K tokens write = $0.75
# Next 20 calls (within 5min): 200K tokens read = $0.06 each
# Savings: $0.69 per call × 20 = $13.80 saved

2. Right-Size Your Model

3. Use Batch Processing for Non-Urgent Work

bash
# Regular: 1M input tokens on Sonnet 4.5 = $3.00
# Batch: Same request = $1.50 (50% off)

Good for batch:

• Test generation
• Documentation writing
• Code analysis
• Non-interactive refactoring

4. Monitor Context Window Threshold

Sonnet 4.5 pricing doubles at 200K tokens:

• Keep context under 200K when possible
• Use selective file inclusion (@file.ts strategically)
• Consider splitting large refactors into smaller sessions

5. Try Free Models for Exploration

On OpenCode Zen:

• Use Grok Code Fast 1 (free) for experimentation
• Use Code Supernova (free) for testing workflows
• Switch to paid models for production work

Billing and Payment

OpenCode Zen

• Model: Prepaid credits
• Top-up: Add credits as needed
• No subscription for individual use
• Team plans: $25-$150/person/month (minimum 5 members)

Anthropic Direct

• Model: Pay-as-you-go (billed monthly)
• Free tier: Available with rate limits
• No commitment required
• Enterprise: Custom contracts

Final Recommendation

For You (Mainly Using Anthropic)

Since you're primarily using Anthropic models, either option works perfectly well - the pricing is identical.

Go with OpenCode Zen if:

• You like the convenience of one login for everything OpenCode-related
• You want to try other models (Qwen, Kimi, free Grok) without extra setup
• You appreciate that Zen models are pre-tested/configured by the OpenCode team

Stick with Anthropic Direct if:

• You prefer managing API keys directly with the provider
• You want a direct relationship with Anthropic (for support, enterprise features, etc.)
• You're already comfortable with your current Anthropic setup

Cost-wise, there's no difference. The choice is purely about convenience and feature access.

Quick Setup Comparison

OpenCode Zen:

bash
opencode auth login
# Select: opencode
# Visit: https://opencode.ai/auth
# Add billing → Copy API key → Paste

Anthropic Direct:

bash
opencode auth login
# Select: anthropic
# Visit: https://console.anthropic.com
# Create API key → Paste

Both take about 2 minutes.

Related Resources

• OpenCode - Managing and Searching Conversations - Session management tips
• OpenCode Zen Documentation↗
• Anthropic API Pricing↗
• OpenCode Providers Guide↗

Updates and Changes

Last verified: November 8, 2025

Watch for:

• OpenCode Zen workspace pricing (currently free beta)
• New models added to Zen catalog
• Anthropic API price changes
• Free model program deadlines (Grok, Supernova)

Check official pricing pages for latest rates:

• Zen: https://opencode.ai/docs/zen/#pricing↗
• Anthropic: https://claude.com/pricing↗