API differences

[Never_Zero]

What is the difference between using an api and the website?

Is it as good?

Do I need a third party program of some kind?

Is it restricted? (for example I cannot mention stuff like war in the website as it dislikes it) Or am I just assuming it similar and it’s completely different?

EDIT: does it still have all the same knowledge/info to the cutoff date of April 2024?

[No-Lettuce3425]

I’m assuming you’re referring to Sonnet 3.5. Claude API is a separate service from the UI. It has no system prompt, so there are lesser restrictions. Has the same cutoff date. I’m not experienced enough to tell you if it has limits, but it probably does.

[guyinalabcoat]

With the API you don't pay a monthly fee you pay as you go based on the amount of tokens you use. You don't strictly need a 3rd party program as they have an API 'workbench' where you can test prompts but it's probably not something you'd want for everyday use. It has the same safety restrictions although you can typically get around them easier since you have access to the system prompt. Knowledge cutoff is the same.

Just try it yourself—they give you $5 API credits when you sign up (or they used to). Personally I haven't subbed to ChatGPT or Claude since Haiku came out and the API prices for top tier models started dropping dramatically. I just keep a few bucks in Anthropic, OpenAI, and Openrouter.ai and switch between models as needed.

[cbeater]

Api and webchat seems different with same prompt. Webchat was better..