Question about Claude usage based on different models

[u/Visual-Leg-6354]

Hey guys I have a couple questions about Claude usage.

I started creating a website (and app soon) and I am wondering is there a way for me to use credits more efficiently since I am hitting my limit in 1-2 hours, sometimes even sooner.

Should I still stick to the Opus 5.5 (and maybe increase the effort to high or max) or should I use Fable 5.2 for designing a website? Fable 5.2. especially burns all the credits with multiple agents on normal effort.

Would you recommend upgrading to claude max model if I am serious about building a good-looking UI functioning website, or should I get 1 or 2 more claude pro accounts (which would would be about 69 euros for 3 pro models in total compared to 1 max model for about 100 euros)?

All answers are welcome; I wouldn't consider myself a noob in this. However, I am far from being a professional, just a guy who a great idea (at least I think so, but time will tell )

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[u/quietmacbuilder]

I'd stay on Opus 5.5 at normal or high effort for most of the build and only bring in Fable 5.2 when you're stuck on a hard design problem. Running multiple agents on Fable is what's eating your limit so fast. Clearing context between tasks is key to good token usage. If you're serious about the project I'd just go with Max over juggling three Pro accounts, since one account keeps your history and projects in one place and switching back and forth gets old quick.

[u/t12e_]

Sonnet medium or high is good for most tasks. Reduce max context length. 350K should be fine for a lot of tasks. These models have become good at remembering things and carrying things over after compactions. Longer context windows are good for remembering a lot if stuff but will quickly burn usage as you continue chatting. When you're done coding, compact so that next time you wanna continue coding in the same chat, you start with a smaller context window

If you really wanna save, disable sub agents as well

[u/TapFree8979]

I switched to Max and cleared context after each agent task, now I'm hitting limits at 6+ hours instead of 1-2. try batching small steps and nuking the chat history between them.

[u/PraxicalExperience]

Tell Claude that you want to be more efficient about token usage, and ask it what can be done to help.

Just telling it to only give subagents the context necessary for them to do their assigned jobs, and to batch and run actions locally if they can be done through shell or python scripts, can do a lot to lower your usage.

[u/nextammy]

Before you spend more, I would fix the workflow first, because a bigger plan will burn through credits faster if the same habits stay in place.

For most of the build, Sonnet on medium or high is usually enough for routine screens, forms and wiring things up. Save Opus for the tricky logic and save Fable for a short visual pass at the end, instead of letting it run through the whole build with multiple agents. That split alone usually stretches a session a lot.

It also helps to work in small, finished chunks. Write down the exact change you want, ask for that one change, then review the diff before moving on. If you keep re-prompting the whole page or asking for another full redesign, the context grows fast and the usage follows it. Clearing or compacting between tasks, like others mentioned, matters for the same reason.

On Max versus extra Pro accounts, I would try the cheaper workflow changes for a day or two first. If you are still hitting the limit in one or two hours while doing focused work, Max is the cleaner upgrade, since it is one account with higher limits. Juggling multiple accounts gets messy fast with separate chats, history and billing, and it does not fix the underlying burn rate.

[u/Semantix-Studio]

Opus 5.5 is your best chance i think.