TL;DR: Claude Opus Tutorial

What it is: Anthropic's smartest AI model (Feb 2026)
Cost: $20/month (Claude Pro)
Main features: 1M context, best writing, thoughtful analysis
Best for: Long documents, quality writing, complex analysis
This guide: Beginner to power user in 30 minutes

Most people use Claude wrong.

Here's how to unlock its full power.

What Is Claude Opus 4.6?

Simple answer: Anthropic's most capable AI

Released: February 5, 2026

Key specs:
✓ 1M token context (2,500+ pages)
✓ Best writing quality
✓ Most thoughtful responses
✓ Honest about limitations
✓ Follows instructions precisely

vs Sonnet 4.6:
Opus = Smartest, slower, Pro only
Sonnet = Fast, capable, free tier

Step 1: Get Access (5 Minutes)

Sign Up

Free tier:
✓ Sonnet 4.6 (limited messages/day)
✓ Good for trying Claude

Claude Pro ($20/month):
✓ Opus 4.6 access
✓ Sonnet 4.6 (5x more messages)
✓ Priority access
✓ Early features

How to upgrade:

1. Go to claude.ai

2. Click "Upgrade to Pro"

3. Enter payment

4. Immediate access

Step 2: Choose the Right Model

Model Selector

Sonnet 4.6 (default):
✓ Fast responses
✓ Good for most tasks
✓ Free tier available

Opus 4.6 (Pro only):
✓ Best quality
✓ Complex reasoning
✓ Worth wait time

When to use Opus:

• Analyzing long documents

• Writing important content

• Complex problem-solving

• Research and analysis

When Sonnet is fine:

• Quick questions

• Simple tasks

• Drafting (can refine with Opus)

Step 3: Master the 1M Context Window

What 1M Tokens Means

Roughly equals:

• 750,000 words

• 2,500 pages

• 10 books

• Entire codebase

• Year of emails

vs competitors:
ChatGPT: 128K tokens
Gemini: 1M tokens
Claude: 1M tokens (but better analysis)

How to Use Long Context

Upload documents:

1. Click paperclip icon

2. Upload PDF/text files (up to 5 at once)

3. Reference in conversation

Example workflow:

[Upload 300-page report]

Result: Understands entire document, not just chunks

Multi-Document Analysis

Upload multiple files:

[Upload 5 research papers]

"Compare these papers on [topic]

Claude reads all 5 completely

Step 4: Writing with Claude

Quality Writing

Claude's writing is best because:
✓ Natural tone
✓ Nuanced thinking
✓ Avoids AI clichés
✓ Follows style instructions

Example prompt:

Write article on [topic] for [audience]:
- 1,500 words
- Conversational but authoritative
- Use examples
- No fluff or filler
- Start with strong hook
- End with clear takeaway

Tone: [describe your preferred style]

Iterative Editing

Strategy: Get 80% → refine to 100%

Workflow:

1. First draft:
"Write blog post about [topic]

Result: High-quality output through collaboration

Step 5: Analysis & Research

Document Analysis

Contract review example:

[Upload contract]

"Analyze this [type]

Competitive Research

Example:

"Research [competitor]

Step 6: Coding with Claude

Code Quality

Claude writes:
✓ Clean code
✓ Well-commented
✓ Follows best practices
✓ Handles edge cases

Example:

Code Review

Example:

[Paste code]

Step 7: Advanced Features

Projects (Organize Work)

What it is: Separate conversations with different contexts

How to use:

Temporary Chat (Privacy)

What it is: Conversations not saved or trained on

When to use:
✓ Sensitive information
✓ Confidential documents
✓ Personal data
✓ Client work

How: Toggle "Temporary chat" before starting

Artifacts (Share Outputs)

What it is: Shareable documents, code, etc.

Automatically created for:

• Long documents (500+ words)

• Code (50+ lines)

• Structured content

Share: Click artifact → Copy link

Real Workflows

Workflow 1: Research Paper

Goal: Analyze 10 academic papers

Steps:

Time: 30 minutes (vs days manually)

Workflow 2: Content Creation

Goal: Write thought leadership article

Steps:

1. "Suggest 5 contrarian angles on [topic]"
2. Pick best one
3. "Write outline for article on [chosen angle]

Time: 1 hour (vs 4 hours)

Workflow 3: Code Refactor

Goal: Modernize legacy code

Steps:

Time: 2 hours (vs 1 day)

Pro Tips

Tip 1: Be specific

Bad: "Write about AI"
Good: "Write 1,200-word article on AI coding tools for professional developers. Include real examples, benchmarks, and honest pros/cons. Conversational but authoritative tone."

Tip 2: Provide context

Bad: "Is this good?"
Good: "Review this email for [audience]. Goal is [X]. Does it achieve that? How to improve?"

Tip 3: Use examples

Bad: "Write in my style"
Good: "Write like this example: [paste]. Notice the short sentences and direct tone. Match that."

Tip 4: Iterate

Don't expect perfection first try.
Get 80% → refine → refine → 100%

Tip 5: Reference previous responses

"Based on the analysis you just did, now create [X]"

Claude remembers entire conversation.

Common Issues

Issue 1: Response cut off

Problem: Long response stops mid-sentence

Solution: "Continue" or "Finish that response"

Issue 2: Hit usage limit

Problem: Daily limit reached (free tier)

Solution:
✓ Upgrade to Pro
✓ Wait until reset (midnight PT)
✓ Use Sonnet instead of Opus

Issue 3: Wrong model selected

Problem: Slow response or unexpected quality

Solution: Check model selector. Switch between Sonnet/Opus as needed.

Opus 4.6 vs Sonnet 4.6

Use Opus when:

✓ Analyzing important documents
✓ Writing high-stakes content
✓ Complex reasoning needed
✓ Quality matters most
✓ Can afford wait time

Use Sonnet when:

✓ Quick questions
✓ Drafting (refine later)
✓ Simple tasks
✓ Speed matters
✓ Save Opus quota

Pricing Breakdown

Free tier:
✓ Sonnet 4.6 unlimited (with daily limits)
✓ Good for trying Claude

Pro ($20/month):
✓ Opus 4.6 access
✓ 5x more Sonnet messages
✓ Priority access
✓ Early features

Worth it if:
✓ Use AI daily
✓ Long document analysis
✓ Quality writing matters
✓ Complex work

Math:
Save 2 hours/week = 8 hours/month
If worth $50/hour = $400 value
ROI = 20x

Frequently Asked Questions

Opus vs GPT-4?

Opus: Better writing, longer context, more thoughtful
GPT-4: Faster, more tools, image generation

Can Claude access internet?

No. Knowledge cutoff. Use Gemini for current info.

Upload limit?

5 files per message. Each file <10MB.

Does Claude train on my data?

Not in temporary chat. Regular chat: yes unless opted out.

Best for coding?

Good at code. Cursor/Claude Code better for IDE integration.

Can it generate images?

No. Use ChatGPT (DALL-E) or Midjourney.

Related Reading

• Best Claude Prompts 2026: 60+ Examples

• ChatGPT vs Gemini vs Claude: Which Wins?

• Claude for Long Documents: 1M Context Guide

www.topfreeprompts.com

Access 80,000+ prompts optimized for Claude Opus 4.6. Get better results with proven templates.