What Is Claude?
Claude is an AI assistant made by Anthropic. People can chat with it on the web, desktop and mobile apps to write, research, check files and plan work. It can search the web, create files such as documents and slides, and connect to apps such as Gmail and Slack. Claude comes in several models, including Haiku, Sonnet, Opus and Fable.
Who Should Use Claude?
Claude is useful for professionals, writers, analysts and developers who need help with drafting, research and file work. Developers can use Claude Code on paid plans. People who plan to use Claude all day should check the usage limits first, since heavy use may need the Max or Ultra plan.
How Does Claude Work?
- Open Claude on the web, or in the desktop or mobile app, and log in.
- Describe the task or the result you want in plain language.
- Add files or connect apps if the task needs them. Claude can also search the web.
- Review the result, such as a document, spreadsheet or slides, and edit it before you use it.
Claude Pricing and Plans
The screenshot shows Claude's Individual plans: Free at $0, Pro at $17 per month with the annual discount, Max at $100 per month and Ultra at $200 per month. Pro costs $20 if billed monthly, and the annual price is $200 billed up front. Max gives 5x Pro usage, and Ultra gives 10x Pro weekly usage. Max and Ultra also include monthly API credits. The screenshot does not show Team, Enterprise or API pricing.
| Plan | Price | Billing | Main Features and Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Not applicable | Limited usage every 5 hours and every week; web search, file creation, code, memory, Artifacts |
| Pro | $17 per month with annual discount; $20 if billed monthly | Monthly or yearly ($200 billed up front) | More usage than Free; Claude Code; hand off and schedule tasks; Projects; Claude in Chrome and Microsoft 365 |
| Max | $100 per month | Monthly | 5x Pro usage; Fable up to half your weekly limit; $100 a month in API credits; priority access at high traffic times |
| Ultra | $200 per month | Monthly | Everything in Max; no 5-hour limit; 10x Pro usage every week; $200 a month in API credits |
Is Claude Free?
Yes. Claude has a Free plan for everyone at $0. It includes chat on web, desktop and mobile, web search, file creation, memory, connectors and Artifacts. Usage is limited every 5 hours and every week. Free does not include Opus, Claude Code or Claude in Chrome.
Claude Key Features
Chat, Voice and Memory
Claude works on the web, desktop, iOS and Android, and has voice mode. Memory lets it recall context from past conversations, and Projects keep chats and files together. Incognito chats are also listed. Free allows up to 5 Projects, while paid plans list Projects without that cap.
Files, Artifacts, Design, Slides and Docs
Claude can create and edit files with code execution and read files such as Word, PDF, Excel, PowerPoint and CSV. Artifacts are shareable designs, slides and documents you can edit yourself or ask Claude to change. Claude Design, Slides and Docs are included on Free.
Connectors and Work Apps
Connectors link Claude to other apps, and they are included on every plan shown. Anthropic's examples include Gmail, Slack, Google Drive and Excel. Paid plans add Claude in Chrome, which works inside the Chrome browser, and Claude for Microsoft 365.
Hand Off and Schedule Tasks
Pro, Max and Ultra can hand off and schedule tasks. Anthropic says a task started on a phone keeps running in the cloud even when your laptop is closed. For example, Claude can read meeting notes each week and post a list of action items.
Claude Code and Models
Claude Code is a coding tool you can use in the terminal. It is included in all paid plans and shares the same usage limits as chat. Pro includes Opus, and Max and Ultra add Fable, Claude's top model, for up to half of the weekly limit.
Should You Use Claude?
Claude is a good fit for people who want one AI assistant for writing, research, file work and coding, with a free plan to start. Free usage is limited, and tools such as Claude Code, Research and Claude in Chrome need a paid plan. Before paying, compare your daily use with the plan limits, since Claude does not publish a fixed message count. This overview is based on publicly available product information and is not a hands-on review.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Has a Free plan with web search, file creation, memory, connectors and Artifacts.
- Paid plans add Claude Code, Research, Projects, Opus and Claude in Chrome.
- Works with Microsoft 365 and connects to apps such as Gmail, Slack and Google Drive.
- Max and Ultra include monthly API credits of $100 and $200 to build on the Claude Platform.
Cons
- Free usage is limited every 5 hours and every week, and there is no fixed message count.
- Free does not include Opus, Claude Code or Research, and Fable on Pro is paid with usage credits.
- The $17 Pro price needs annual billing, and Max and Ultra are billed monthly at $100 and $200.
- Team features such as project sharing, enterprise search and SSO are not part of the Individual plans.
Popular Claude use cases
Draft and Edit Documents
Users can ask Claude to write, edit and format documents, and to create or change files they upload.
Build Slides and Designs
Claude Slides and Claude Design can turn an idea into a slide deck or a visual layout that users edit.
Write and Fix Code
Developers on paid plans can use Claude Code in the terminal to work on code.
Summarize Feedback From Connected Apps
Teams can connect apps such as Slack and Gmail and ask Claude to group customer feedback into a weekly digest.
Frequently asked questions
Is Claude free?
Yes. Claude has a Free plan at $0 for everyone. It has limited usage and does not include Claude Code, Opus or Claude in Chrome. Paid plans start with Pro at $17 per month on annual billing.
What are the limits of the Claude Free plan?
Free usage is limited every 5 hours and every week. Claude does not give a fixed message count, since limits depend on the model, chat length and file size. Free allows up to 5 Projects and has no Research or hand-off tasks.
Does Claude Pro include Claude Code?
Yes. Claude Code is included in all paid plans, including Pro. It shares the same usage limits as your chats, so coding and chatting draw from one pool. Claude Code is not part of the Free plan.
How are Max and Ultra different from Pro?
Max gives 5x the usage of Pro every 5 hours and every week. Ultra gives 10x the weekly usage of Pro, with no 5-hour limit for verified accounts. Both include Fable for up to half your weekly limit and monthly API credits.
Does Claude use my chats to train its models?
The pricing page lists model training as "Opt-out" on Free, Pro, Max and Ultra, and "None by default" on Team and Enterprise. Read Anthropic's privacy policy and your account settings for the exact rules.
