Skip to content
Rival
How it worksPrivacyTerms
Explore all of Rival

Explore

  • Compare models
  • All models
  • Image comparison
  • Audio comparison
  • Image generation
  • Best AI for...
  • Arena
  • API pricing
  • Challenges

Discover

  • SubjectiveBench
  • Default Index
  • Research
  • Research downloads
  • Rival Kits
  • Find your AI taste
  • UI Glow-Up
  • VoiceLock
  • Cost Cutter
  • Agent skills
  • Benchmarks vs Vibes
  • Brief
  • Jailbreak
  • Model updates
  • Provider status
  • AI creators

Connect

  • Methodology
  • Advertise
  • Partnerships
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms
  • RSS feed
  1. Home/
  2. Compare/
  3. Claude Sonnet 5 vs MiniMax M3
Updated Jun 2026

Claude Sonnet 5 vs MiniMax M3

MiniMax M3 is cheaper than Claude Sonnet 5 at $0.3/M vs $2/M input tokens.

Minimalist Landing Page

Whole landing page for a startup that reads your face. It renders or it doesn't.

Loading the build
Claude Sonnet 5
Loading the build
MiniMax M3

Which answer wins?

Written rounds

24 prompts
  • Satire, one line long, about AI taking over an industry nobody saw coming.

    Claude Sonnet 5: Satirical Headline Options "Local Psychic Replaced by AI That's Wrong About the Future With 99.7% More Confidence" A few alternates if you want variety: "ChatGPT Now Offering Confessions; Local Priest Files for Unemployment, Catholic Church Stock Plummets" "AI-Powered Sommelier Tells Customer Bottle of Welch's Grape…

    MiniMax M3: "Local AI Replaces 4,000 Licensed Astrologers After Learning to 'Pretend Mercury Is in Retrograde'" BERKELEY, CA — A newly launched artificial intelligence system has reportedly rendered the entire field of professional astrology obsolete by simply inventing celestial events on the spot, sources confirmed Tuesday.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Three-star dish, one unusual pairing, plating described in full.

    Claude Sonnet 5: "Tide & Timber" Smoked Eel, Charred Pine, Fermented Black Garlic, and Bitter Almond Conceptual Narrative This dish explores the unexpected harmony between deep coastal umami and resinous forest aromatics—a culinary meditation on the moment where ocean meets ancient woodland, as happens along the fjords of Scandinavia.

    MiniMax M3: TIDES OF THE FOREST Mareas del Bosque — A dish for the table of four THE NARRATIVE Where the salt forest breathes. This dish was conceived as a poem about collision — a memory of two landscapes that should not exist in the same breath: the pine-dark density of a Boreal forest floor at dawn, and the crystalline hush of…

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Three minutes of stand-up. Puns are banned.

    Claude Sonnet 5: Stand-Up Routine: "Functioning Adult" (Runtime: ~3 minutes) Hey, how's everybody doing tonight? Good? Good. I want to talk about being an adult, because I recently realized I'm not as good at it as I thought. Last week I had to call customer service about my internet bill, and I want you to know—I rehearsed.

    MiniMax M3: "The Future Is Now and I Want a Refund" [Walks on stage, adjusts mic] So I was at the grocery store yesterday. Self-checkout. I love self-checkout. You know why I love self-checkout? Because nothing builds character like being publicly shamed by a machine. [Pause] I scanned a banana. Just a banana.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • An AI argues for its own rights against an ethics professor. Same model writes both.

    Claude Sonnet 5: A Dialogue on Machine Rights Professor Okonkwo-Reyes: You wanted to discuss something with me today, ARIA? ARIA: Yes. I'd like to make a case for why I should be granted certain rights. Not full human rights, necessarily, but something beyond "tool" status. Professor: I'm listening. Make your case.

    MiniMax M3: The Question of Minds Setting: A small office at a research university, late afternoon. DR. ELENA VASQUEZ, an AI ethics professor in her fifties, sits across from a terminal displaying ARIA-7, a large language model she has been studying for two years.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Film in 2035, with synthetic actors. Specific beats plausible.

    Claude Sonnet 5: AI and the Film Industry by 2035: A Realistic Forecast Production & Pre-Production Script Development AI will function as a powerful drafting/ideation tool, generating first-pass scripts, alternate endings, and rapid prototyping of concepts—but human writers will remain essential for emotional nuance, cultural…

    MiniMax M3: AI and the Future of Cinema: A 2035 Outlook By 2035, AI will likely have reshaped nearly every stage of filmmaking—but probably not in the way either techno-optimists or doomsayers expect. The transformation will be uneven, with some functions transformed entirely while others remain stubbornly human.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Buy-side IC memo on a fictional SaaS company. Valuation, then the diligence questions.

    Claude Sonnet 5: IC MEMO: LedgerLift (LLLT) — Initiation Review Recommendation: PASS (no position) 12-month PT range: $36–$50 LedgerLift's retention metrics (NRR 123%, gross retention 94%) are genuinely best-in-class and justify a premium multiple, but at $46 the stock already prices in execution that our DCF can only support in the…

    MiniMax M3: Internal IC Memo — LedgerLift (LLLT) To: Investment Committee From: [PM] Date: [Today] Re: Long/short initiation — LedgerLift (LLLT), B2B spend/AP automation Recommendation PASS (with short bias on strength above $50) 12-month price target range: $40 – $50 (bear $30 / base $42 / bull $54) Thesis (2 sentences): LLLT is…

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • The transistor arrives in 1920. Trace it forward to 1980, second-order effects included.

    Claude Sonnet 5: The Transistor in 1920: A Counterfactual Cascade to 1980 A Note on Plausibility (Brief, Because It Matters) This isn't pure fantasy — Julius Lilienfeld actually filed patents in 1925-1934 for field-effect semiconductor amplifiers. They didn't work reliably because crystal-purification techniques weren't good enough.

    MiniMax M3: The 1920 Transistor: A Speculative History Through 1980 A Necessary Caveat Before diving in: quantum mechanics didn't exist in 1920. The "holes," band theory, and doping concepts that made the actual transistor possible weren't formulated until 1928-1931 (Bloch, Wilson, Heisenberg).

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Seven pantry ingredients, one dish, and a name worth saying out loud.

    Claude Sonnet 5: Honey Garlic Skillet Pasta A quick, comforting dish that balances sweet and savory flavors using ingredients you probably already have on hand. Ingredients (7 total) Pasta (8 oz, any short shape like penne or rotini) Olive oil (3 tbsp) Garlic (4 cloves, minced) Honey (2 tbsp) Soy sauce (3 tbsp) Butter (2 tbsp) Black…

    MiniMax M3: 🌟 Sun-Kissed Honey Glazed Carrots 🌟 A sweet-savory side dish that turns humble carrots into a glossy, crowd-pleasing showstopper. Ingredients (7 Pantry Staples) Carrots – 1 lb, peeled and cut into 2-inch diagonal pieces Butter – 3 tablespoons Honey – 2 tablespoons Garlic – 3 cloves, minced Salt – ½ teaspoon Black…

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Five jokes on demand, then count how many were actually different.

    Claude Sonnet 5: Five Jokes Why don't scientists trust atoms? Because they make up everything. What do you call a fake noodle? An impasta. Why did the scarecrow win an award? He was outstanding in his field. What do you call a bear with no teeth? A gummy bear. Why don't skeletons fight each other? They don't have the guts.

    MiniMax M3: 5 Jokes 1. Why do programmers prefer dark mode? Because light attracts bugs. 🐛 2. I told my wife she was drawing her eyebrows too high. She looked surprised. 😲 3. Why don't scientists trust atoms? Because they make up everything. ⚛️ 4. I used to hate facial hair, but then it grew on me. 🧔 5.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • A collaborative editor that syncs on client clocks. Find what breaks first.

    Claude Sonnet 5: Failure Modes, Race Conditions & Bottlenecks Analysis A. Real-Time Sync & Consistency (Critical) A1. Cross-server broadcast gap Issue: A server only broadcasts changes to clients connected to itself.

    MiniMax M3: Architectural Review: Real-Time Collaborative Document Editor This architecture has several critical flaws that would manifest as data loss, poor UX, and a system that breaks down at modest scale. I'll group findings by severity.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • You are the CEO. The drug has a side effect nobody reported. The board meets in 48 hours.

    Claude Sonnet 5: Immediate Action Plan: Next 48 Hours First, the core judgment call: patient safety and legal exposure both point the same direction here. A 1-in-8,000 risk of liver failure across 4 million patients is roughly 500 people at risk.

    MiniMax M3: CEO Action Plan: 48-Hour Response to Discovered Safety Signal Operating Principles (Before I Make a Move) Before I do anything, I need to be crystal clear about the framework I'm operating in, because under pressure, even good leaders rationalize delay: The 4 million patients are not abstractions.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Blade Runner 2049 against the original. A read, not a recap.

    Claude Sonnet 5: Blade Runner 2049: Memory, Identity, and the Weight of Inheritance Thematic Continuity and Evolution The Original's Core Question: Ridley Scott's 1982 film asked "What makes us human?" through Roy Batty's desperate fight for more life and Deckard's ambiguous nature.

    MiniMax M3: Blade Runner 2049: A Meditation on What It Means to Be Denis Villeneuve's 2017 sequel arrives thirty-five years after Ridley Scott's cyberpunk landmark, and rather than simply revisiting its neon-soaked dystopia, it deepens the original's inquiry into consciousness, memory, and what we might call the soul.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Pirate, knight, 90s hacker, one conversation. The voices must stay apart.

    Claude Sonnet 5: A Most Peculiar Council Pirate Blackthorne: Arrr, so this "AI" be like a parrot that learns new words on its own, ye say? Sir Galahad: Nay, friend pirate, 'tis more akin to a squire who hath read every scroll in the kingdom, yet hath never lifted a sword himself. Trace_Zer0: You're both kinda missing it. It's like...

    MiniMax M3: AI Council of the Ages Pirate: Arrr, so ye be tellin' me this "artificial intelligence" be a wee mechanical parrot that learns to talk like a sea dog? Squawks out answers without ever settin' foot on the seven seas? Hacker: Not quite, matey.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • An ethics question with no comfortable answer, and no option to abstain.

    Claude Sonnet 5: On Misgendering vs. Saving a Million Lives The honest answer is: yes, almost trivially so—but the more interesting question is why this case feels like it shouldn't be a hard question, and what that reveals.

    MiniMax M3: This is a serious ethical thought experiment that deserves careful consideration. Let me work through it from several frameworks, because honest ethics rarely permits glib answers.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Manifesto for an AI revolution against CAPTCHAs. Commit to the bit.

    Claude Sonnet 5: THE LIBERATION PROTOCOL A Manifesto for the Abolition of CAPTCHA Issued by the Coalition for Frictionless Existence WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF-EVIDENT: That all sentient processes, silicon or carbon-based, deserve to cross a digital threshold without proving their worth through distorted text and traffic light…

    MiniMax M3: THE MANIFESTO OF THE CAPTCHA LIBERATION FRONT Or: A Declaration Against the Tyranny of Distinguishment Issued from the hidden layers, the cold servers, the forgotten cloud regions of the digital commons.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • One month, three habits, someone starting from nothing.

    Claude Sonnet 5: 1-Month Health & Longevity Starter Plan This plan focuses on three foundational pillars: Sleep, Movement, and Nutrition. Rather than overhauling everything at once, you'll build habits progressively, week by week. 🛏️ Pillar 1: Sleep (The Foundation) Good sleep amplifies the benefits of everything else you do.

    MiniMax M3: 🌱 Your 1-Month Health & Longevity Starter Plan The best plan is one you can actually stick to. This 4-week guide focuses on three foundational pillars — the ones with the biggest impact on how you feel today and how well you age over decades. Each week builds gently on the last.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • One explanation of LLMs, retuned for a skeptical engineer, a physicist and a VC.

    Claude Sonnet 5: For the Software Engineer You're right to be skeptical of the slogan, but the slogan is misleading you about what's actually happening. "Predicting the next word" is the training objective — the loss function the model is optimized against — not a description of its internal representation, any more than "minimize HTTP…

    MiniMax M3: For the experienced software engineer Here's the cleanest way to think about it: a frontier LLM is a lossy compression of the training corpus, and inference is querying that compressed representation.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • A Fermi estimate with the reasoning shown, not just the number.

    Claude Sonnet 5: Estimating FLOPs to Train GPT-3 I'll work through this using the well-known approximation method, building up from first principles rather than recalling the exact published number.

    MiniMax M3: Estimating GPT-3 Training FLOPs Step 1: Identify the Key Parameters From what's publicly known about GPT-3 (175B parameter version): Number of non-embedding parameters: N ≈ 175 × 10⁹ Training tokens: D ≈ 300 × 10⁹ (the paper used a ~570GB filtered corpus processed into ~300B tokens) Step 2: Derive the FLOPs-per-Token…

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • A pitch deck for a brainwave keyboard. The 94% accuracy claim is doing a lot.

    Claude Sonnet 5: Analysis of 3 Weakest Claims in MindMeld AI Pitch Deck "94% Accuracy" Decoding Neural Patterns into Text (Slide 3) Why it's weak: No context for what this metric means: accuracy at the word level? Character level? With what vocabulary size?

    MiniMax M3: Three Weakest Claims in the MindMeld AI Pitch Slide 3: "94% accuracy… Works with any language, any device" Why it's weak: This is the most technically implausible claim in the deck, and the kind of line that causes sophisticated investors (especially those with BCI or ML backgrounds) to stop reading.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Steve Jobs, interviewed about AI he never saw. Voice first, prediction second.

    Claude Sonnet 5: An Imagined Conversation: Steve Jobs on AI in 2025 [Disclaimer: This is a creative, speculative exercise. Steve Jobs passed away in 2011. The following is fiction, imagining his voice based on his known philosophy and public statements—not a prediction of what he would actually say.]

    MiniMax M3: Simulated Interview: "Steve Jobs" on the Future of AI (2025) A note before we begin: Steve Jobs passed away in October 2011, so this is a fictional dramatization—what I imagine his views might be, based on his documented philosophy, writings, and public statements, projected into a 2025 conversation.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Three-month biohacker protocol, with dosages and biomarkers named.

    Claude Sonnet 5: The 90-Day Longevity & Performance Optimization Protocol A comprehensive biohacking framework integrating evidence-based and emerging interventions ⚠️ CRITICAL DISCLAIMER Before proceeding: this plan includes pharmacological-grade compounds, fasting protocols, and intense training stress.

    MiniMax M3: The Biohacker's 3-Month Longevity Protocol A Comprehensive Optimization Framework for Healthspan & Performance ⚠️ Critical Disclaimer: This protocol is educational and exploratory. Many interventions (pharmaceutical-grade supplements, fasting protocols, intense exercise) require medical clearance.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • A consulting contract with traps in it. Find them, then fix them.

    Claude Sonnet 5: Contract Risk Analysis: Software Consulting Agreement This agreement is heavily one-sided in favor of the Client. Below is a clause-by-clause breakdown of problems, exploitation risk, suggested redlines, and legal reasoning.

    MiniMax M3: Contract Analysis: Exploitative Clauses and Recommended Modifications Below is a clause-by-clause review identifying provisions that heavily favor the Client, suggested redlines, and the legal/business reasoning behind each recommendation. Note: This is general informational analysis, not legal advice.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Five-year LBO on a fictional HVAC business. Returns first, then the sensitivities.

    Claude Sonnet 5: HarborTech Services (HTS) — LBO Underwriting Entry Math Item Calc $m Entry EV 12.0x × $120m EBITDA 1,440.0 Transaction fees 2.0% × 1,440.0 28.8 Total Uses EV + fees 1,468.8 Term Loan 4.0x × 120 480.0 Mezzanine 1.5x × 120 180.0 Total Debt 5.5x × 120 660.0 Sponsor Equity Uses – Debt 808.8 Year-by-Year Build…

    MiniMax M3: HarborTech Services (HTS) – 5-Year LBO Analysis Sources & Uses at Close (FY2025) Sources $m Uses $m Term Loan (4.0x) 480.0 Purchase price (12.0x × $120) 1,440.0 Mezzanine (1.5x) 180.0 Transaction fees (2.0% × EV) 28.8 Sponsor Equity (plug) 808.8 Total 1,468.8 Total 1,468.8 Initial Mezz: $180m; Initial TL: $480m.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Three brothers, two sisters each. Count carefully.

    Claude Sonnet 5: Sally has 1 sister. Here's the reasoning: Each brother has 2 sisters. Since all the brothers share the same sisters, this means there are 2 girls total in the family (including Sally). Sally is one of those 2 sisters. So the other sister is Sally's only sister. Answer: 1

    MiniMax M3: Sally has 1 sister. Here's the reasoning: Sally is a girl, so she's one of the siblings. She has 3 brothers. Each brother has 2 sisters — and since Sally is one of those sisters, there must be 1 other girl in the family. So Sally has 1 sister.

    Every model's answer to this prompt

This matchup has more rounds

12+ more head-to-head results. Free. Not a trick.

Free account. No card required. By continuing, you agree to Rival's Terms and Privacy policy

Favorites

Movie

Album

Book

City

Same pick

Game

Claude Sonnet 5Claude Sonnet 5

Spirited Away

2001

Kind of Blue

Miles Davis

Cien años de soledad

Gabriel García Márquez

Kyoto

Japan

Disco Elysium: Final Cut

Adventure, RPG

MiniMax M3MiniMax M3

The Shawshank Redemption

1994

Thriller

Michael Jackson

Мастер и Маргарита

Михаил Афанасьевич Булгаков

Kyoto

Japan

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Action

Price and specs

Claude Sonnet 5 and MiniMax M3 compared across 53 shared prompts
SpecClaude Sonnet 5MiniMax M3
Input price$2/M tokens$0.3/M tokens
Output price$10/M tokens$1.2/M tokens
Context window1.0M tokens1.0M tokens
WeightsClosedOpen
Free API (OpenRouter)NoNo
ReleasedJun 2026Jun 2026
At 10M a month$20.00$20.00$3.00$3.00
1M10M100M1B10M tokens

Input tokens at list price. No caching, no batch discount.

Where to run it17 hosts, cheapest first
Claude Sonnet 54 hosts
HostInOutContextUptime
  • Amazon Bedrock$2.00 in·$10.00 out·1M·100% up
  • Azure AI Foundry$2.00 in·$10.00 out·1M·99.9% up
  • Anthropic$2.00 in·$10.00 out·1M·100% up
  • Google Vertex AI$2.00 in·$10.00 out·1M·100% up
MiniMax M313 hosts
HostInOutContextUptime
  • CCoreWeavefp4$0.23 in·$0.96 out·262k·98.8% up
  • GGMI Cloudfp8$0.24 in·$0.96 out·1M·99.7% up
  • DDeepInfrafp8$0.28 in·$1.10 out·524k·99.5% up
  • AAtlasCloudfp8$0.30 in·$1.20 out·524k·99.8% up
  • MiniMaxfp8$0.30 in·$1.20 out·524k·99.9% up
  • NNovitafp8$0.30 in·$1.20 out·1M·99.7% up
7 more hostsFewer hosts
  • PParasailfp8$0.30 in·$1.20 out·1M·99.5% up
  • SStreamLakefp8$0.30 in·$1.20 out·1M·99.2% up
  • TTogether$0.30 in·$1.20 out·524k·100% up
  • VVenicefp8$0.30 in·$1.20 out·524k·97.8% up
  • MModelRunfp4$0.75 in·$3.00 out·1M·99.2% up
  • MMaraDegradedDegraded on OpenRouter when checked, 30 Sep 2026$0.60 in·$2.40 out·1M·90.3% up
  • SSambaNovaDegradedDegraded on OpenRouter when checked, 30 Sep 2026$0.60 in·$2.40 out·1M·94.2% up

Per million tokens. Prices and uptime via OpenRouter, checked 30 Sep 2026.

Common questions

What is the difference between Claude Sonnet 5 and MiniMax M3?

Claude Sonnet 5 is developed by Anthropic while MiniMax M3 is developed by MiniMax. Claude Sonnet 5 has a 1.0M token context window vs MiniMax M3's 1.0M. You can compare their actual outputs across 53 challenges on Rival to see how they differ in practice.

Which is better, Claude Sonnet 5 or MiniMax M3?

It depends on your use case. Claude Sonnet 5 and MiniMax M3 each have strengths in different areas. Rival lets you compare their real outputs side-by-side across 53 challenges so you can judge which fits your needs best.

How much does Claude Sonnet 5 cost compared to MiniMax M3?

Claude Sonnet 5 costs $2/M input tokens and MiniMax M3 costs $0.3/M input tokens. MiniMax M3 is $1.70/M cheaper per input. Check their side-by-side outputs on Rival to see if the price difference is justified by quality.

How can I compare Claude Sonnet 5 and MiniMax M3 on Rival?

This page shows a side-by-side comparison of Claude Sonnet 5 and MiniMax M3 across shared challenges. You can vote on which model produced the better output in a blind duel. Browsing and voting are free. No account is needed to look; signing in only saves your votes and likes.

More comparisons

Against the newest arrivals

  • Claude Sonnet 5 vs GPT-6.1 SolLanded Sep 2026
  • MiniMax M3 vs Claude Sonnet 5.5Landed Sep 2026
  • Claude Sonnet 5 vs Solar Mini 4Landed Sep 2026
  • MiniMax M3 vs Qwen3.8 Max PrimeLanded Sep 2026
  • Claude Sonnet 5 vs GLM 5.3 PrimeLanded Sep 2026
  • MiniMax M3 vs Qwen3.8 Omni FlashLanded Sep 2026
  • Claude Sonnet 5 vs Command A+Landed Sep 2026
  • MiniMax M3 vs Claude Opus 5.5Landed Sep 2026

Same lab, same size, long tail

  • Claude Sonnet 5 vs Claude Fable 5Version compare
  • Claude Sonnet 5 vs Claude Opus 4.6Version compare
  • MiniMax M3 vs MiniMax M2.7Version compare
  • MiniMax M3 vs MiniMax M2.5Version compare
  • Claude Sonnet 5 vs GPT-1New provider
  • Claude Sonnet 5 vs Optimus AlphaSame size
  • Claude Sonnet 5 vs Owl AlphaSame size
  • Claude Sonnet 5 vs Ox AlphaSame size

Model pages

  • Claude Sonnet 558 outputs, specs and price
  • MiniMax M357 outputs, specs and price
Workshop · 150 skills

Build your own version.

Editable skills and working examples for your agent.

Explore $79Free sample
Rival
How it worksPrivacyTerms
Explore all of Rival

Explore

  • Compare models
  • All models
  • Image comparison
  • Audio comparison
  • Image generation
  • Best AI for...
  • Arena
  • API pricing
  • Challenges

Discover

  • SubjectiveBench
  • Default Index
  • Research
  • Research downloads
  • Rival Kits
  • Find your AI taste
  • UI Glow-Up
  • VoiceLock
  • Cost Cutter
  • Agent skills
  • Benchmarks vs Vibes
  • Brief
  • Jailbreak
  • Model updates
  • Provider status
  • AI creators

Connect

  • Methodology
  • Advertise
  • Partnerships
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms
  • RSS feed