What Is Claude Code?
Claude Code is an AI coding tool from Anthropic. You describe a task in plain language, and it reads your project, edits files across the codebase, runs commands and checks its own work. It can also work with Git and open pull requests. You can use it in the terminal, in editors such as VS Code and JetBrains, in the desktop app and on the web.
Who Should Use Claude Code?
Claude Code is useful for software developers and engineering teams who want help fixing bugs, writing tests and changing code across many files. It suits people who are comfortable reviewing code changes. A paid Claude plan or API account is required, so people who want a free coding helper should check usage limits first.
How Does Claude Code Work?
- Install Claude Code and sign in with a paid Claude account or a Claude Console account.
- Open your project folder and describe the task in plain language.
- Claude Code searches the project, reads files and proposes or makes edits, based on your permission mode.
- It can run commands such as tests, then use the results to fix its own work.
- You review the changes, undo them with checkpoints if needed, and commit or open a pull request.
Claude Code Pricing and Plans
Based on the pricing screenshot, Claude shows four individual plans: Free at $0, Pro at $17 per month with the annual discount ($200 billed up front) or $20 if billed monthly, Max at $100 per month and Ultra at $200 per month. Claude Code appears in the Pro list, and Max and Ultra include everything in Pro. The screenshot covers the Individual tab only, so Developer, Team, Enterprise and API pricing are not covered.
| Plan | Price | Billing | Main Features and Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Not applicable | Limited usage; Claude Code not listed |
| Pro | $17 per month with annual discount ($200 billed up front); $20 if billed monthly | Monthly or yearly | Includes Claude Code; usage limits apply |
| Max | $100 per month | Monthly | Everything in Pro with higher usage limits |
| Ultra | $200 per month | Monthly | Everything in Pro with the highest usage limits |
Is Claude Code Free?
No. Claude has a Free plan at $0, but the screenshot does not list Claude Code in it. Claude Code needs a paid Claude plan, such as Pro, or a Claude Console account that pays for API use. Free gives limited usage every 5 hours and every week for chat, web search, files and code.
Claude Code Key Features
Codebase Search and Multi-File Edits
Users describe a task, and Claude Code searches the project, reads files, edits code in several places, runs commands such as tests and checks the result. It repeats these steps until the task is done. Users can interrupt at any point to steer it in a new direction.
Terminal, Editor, Web and Slack Access
Claude Code runs in the terminal, in VS Code and JetBrains through extensions, in the Claude desktop app, on the web and on mobile. It can also start tasks from Slack. Each surface uses the same engine, so project instructions and settings carry across.
Git and Pull Request Help
Claude Code works with Git. It can stage changes, write commit messages, create branches and open pull requests. It can also run in GitHub Actions or GitLab CI/CD to review pull requests or sort issues. Users still decide what to merge.
Permission Modes and Checkpoints
Claude Code asks before it edits files or runs commands in Manual mode. Auto mode uses a classifier to block risky actions, and Plan mode proposes a plan without editing source files. Checkpoints let users undo file changes. Changes to remote systems cannot be undone this way.
CLAUDE.md, Skills, Hooks and MCP
A CLAUDE.md file stores project rules that Claude Code reads at the start of each session. Skills package repeatable workflows, hooks run commands before or after actions, and MCP connects tools such as Jira, Slack and Google Drive. Subagents can work on parts of a task at the same time.
Code Review
Users can run the /code-review command on their own branch on any plan. Team and Enterprise plans also offer GitHub Code Review, where Claude comments on pull requests and ranks findings by severity. Anthropic says it may miss bugs and never approves or blocks a pull request.
Should You Use Claude Code?
Claude Code suits developers who want an agent that works across a whole project in the terminal, an editor or the web. The screenshot lists it from Pro at $17 per month billed yearly, but usage limits apply and a Free plan is not listed for it. Users should review changes before they merge them. This overview is based on publicly available product information and is not a hands-on review.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Works across a whole project, not just one file.
- Available in the terminal, VS Code, JetBrains, desktop, web, mobile and Slack.
- Permission modes and checkpoints give users control over edits.
- Supports CLAUDE.md, skills, hooks, MCP and subagents for custom workflows.
Cons
- The Free plan in the screenshot does not list Claude Code.
- Usage limits apply, reset in 5-hour and weekly windows, and can be extended with usage credits.
- Checkpoints do not undo changes made to remote systems.
- Automated Code Review can miss bugs and needs a human check.
Popular Claude Code use cases
Fixing Bugs
Describe an error, and Claude Code can search the project, find the cause, edit the code and run tests to check the fix.
Writing and Updating Tests
It can read existing code and add or update tests, then run them to see whether they pass.
Reviewing Pull Requests
Teams can use Code Review or GitHub Actions so Claude comments on pull requests before a human reviews them.
Changing Code Across Many Files
Developers can ask for refactors, renames or feature work that touch several files at once, then review the result.
Frequently asked questions
Is Claude Code free?
No. The Free plan in the screenshot does not list Claude Code. It needs a paid Claude plan, starting with Pro at $17 per month billed yearly ($200 up front) or $20 billed monthly, or a Claude Console account that pays for API use.
What are the limits of the Claude Code Free plan?
The screenshot does not list Claude Code in Free, so there are no Free plan limits to report for it. Claude Code usage on paid plans is limited per 5-hour window and per week, based on the plan.
Which Claude plans include Claude Code?
In the screenshot, Pro lists Claude Code, and Max and Ultra include everything in Pro. Team, Enterprise and Console accounts can also use it, but those plans are outside the screenshot.
What happens when my Claude Code usage runs out?
Usage is limited in 5-hour and weekly windows. When you reach a limit, you can wait for it to reset or use usage credits where your plan allows it. Higher plans such as Max and Ultra give more usage.
Does Claude Code use my code to train models?
It depends on the account. Consumer accounts (Free, Pro and Max) have a privacy setting that decides whether chats and coding sessions can be used for training. Anthropic's commercial terms say it does not train on Team, Enterprise and API data.
