# Fast mode is out of research preview for Claude Opus 5.5, and you no longer need to request access

By Steven Van · 2026-10-15

Opus 5.5 fast mode needs no beta header or access request, and every usage tier now gets a default rate limit.

Developers no longer need to request access to fast mode for [Claude Opus 5.5](<https://creatorstoolbox.com/tools/anthropic>). Anthropic [moved the feature out of research preview](<https://platform.claude.com/docs/en/build-with-claude/fast-mode>) for that model on October 15, 2026.

## What changes for Opus 5.5

- Requests to Claude Opus 5.5 no longer need the fast-mode-2026-02-01 beta header. Requests that still send it keep working.

- Claude Opus 5.5 now has a default fast mode rate limit in every usage tier, so there is no access request to make.

## Using it

Fast mode is opted into by setting speed: "fast" on a request. It runs the same model with a faster inference configuration, giving up to 2.5x higher output tokens per second. The gain is in output speed, not time to first token, and it is most visible with streaming. Fast mode has its own rate limit, separate from standard Opus limits. Exceeding it returns a 429 error with a retry-after header.

Fast mode for Claude Opus 5.5 is priced at **$8 per million input tokens and $40 per million output tokens**.

## Opus 5 and Opus 4.8

Fast mode for Claude Opus 5 and Claude Opus 4.8 remains in research preview. Requests to those models still need the beta header, and access is by request through an account manager or the waitlist.

![Anthropic](<https://www.google.com/s2/favicons?domain=anthropic.com&sz=128>)

Anthropic

Anthropic is an AI safety and research company that's working to build reliable, interpretable, and steerable AI systems.

[View Anthropic →](<https://creatorstoolbox.com/tools/anthropic>)

[Original source](<https://platform.claude.com/docs/en/release-notes/overview#october-15-2026>)

[Read Fast mode is out of research preview for Claude Opus 5.5, and you no longer need to request access on Creators Toolbox](<https://creatorstoolbox.com/blog/anthropic-fast-mode-is-out-of-research-preview-for-claude-opus-5-5-and-you-no>)

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Canonical source: https://creatorstoolbox.com/blog/anthropic-fast-mode-is-out-of-research-preview-for-claude-opus-5-5-and-you-no