What is Claude Code?
Claude Code is Anthropic's agentic coding tool that reads a codebase, edits files, runs commands, and works with git and other developer tools. It runs in the terminal, in VS Code and JetBrains extensions, in a desktop app, on the web at claude.ai/code, and from the Claude mobile app.
Who it's for
Anthropic's docs describe it for developers who want to build features, fix bugs, and automate tasks such as tests, lint fixes, and pull requests, alone or in teams. Most surfaces need a paid Claude subscription or an Anthropic Console account; the Free Claude plan does not include it.
Pros & cons
Strengths
- The docs list terminal (macOS, Linux, WSL, Windows), VS Code and Cursor, JetBrains IDEs, a desktop app, the web, and mobile as surfaces that share one engine, so CLAUDE.md files, settings, and MCP servers carry across the local surfaces.
- Anthropic says it connects to outside tools through MCP (its examples include Google Drive, Jira, and Slack) and offers GitHub Actions, GitLab CI/CD, and automatic pull request code review.
- The docs describe subagents, hooks, skills, an Agent SDK, and scheduled tasks (cloud, desktop, and in-session loops) for repeatable or parallel work.
- Cloud sessions on the web keep running after you disconnect, and Remote Control, Dispatch, and a Slack @Claude integration let you start or steer work from a phone or team chat.
- Anthropic's pricing page says Claude Code is included in all paid Claude plans and shares one usage pool with chat, with no separate Claude Code fee on those plans.
- The terminal, VS Code, and JetBrains also support third-party model providers per the docs, such as Amazon Bedrock and Google Cloud's Agent Platform; a Team or Enterprise self-hosted environment option is also listed.
Limitations
- The Free Claude plan does not include Claude Code per the pricing page; a paid plan or Console account is needed.
- Usage is metered: every plan has a rolling five-hour session limit, and paid plans add weekly limits. Anthropic's support pages say other caps may be applied and that Claude Code shares the pool with chat.
- Higher usage costs more: Max starts at $100 a month (5x Pro per session) and $200 a month (20x Pro), monthly billing only, and Team Premium seats are $125 a month per seat monthly ($100 billed annually).
- On Free, Pro, and Max accounts, Anthropic says it trains models on data, including Claude Code use, when the model-improvement setting is on; retention is 5 years if on and 30 days if off. Team, Enterprise, and API data is not used for training by default and is kept 30 days.
- Zero data retention is not part of the standard Enterprise plan; it is enabled per organization after an eligibility check. Payments are generally non-refundable per the pricing FAQ, though you can cancel anytime and keep access to the end of the billing period.
Plans and pricing
- Free (Claude): $0. Claude chat plan with a rolling five-hour session window; Claude Code is not included.
- Pro: $17 a month billed annually ($200 up front), or $20 monthly. One person. Includes Claude Code. At least 5x Free usage per five-hour session, plus weekly limits.
- Max 5x: $100 a month (monthly billing only). One person. 5x Pro usage per session, weekly limits, and $100 a month of API credits reported on the pricing page.
- Max 20x: $200 a month (monthly billing only). One person. 20x Pro usage per session, weekly limits, and $200 a month of API credits reported on the pricing page.
- Team Standard: $20 per seat a month billed annually, or $25 monthly. 2 to 150 seats. Includes Claude Code; the support page lists 1.25x Pro usage per session plus a weekly limit.
- Team Premium: $100 per seat a month billed annually, or $125 monthly. 5x the usage of Standard seats (6.25x Pro per session per the support page). Seat types can be mixed.
- Enterprise: $20 per seat a month billed annually, plus usage at API rates. 20-seat minimum. Includes Claude Code; usage cost scales with model and task, and admins set spend limits.
Prices come from claude.com/pricing and the Pro, Max, and Team support articles, shown as US prices excluding tax; the support pages say prices vary by region. Max has no annual option listed, and the Enterprise price is as printed on the pricing page. Confirm on the live pricing page, especially for Enterprise and API-based usage, which was not detailed here.
Details checked October 2026 against the vendor's own pages. Prices and limits change, so confirm before you buy. Official pricing page ↗
Sources
This profile was compiled from these public pages. We have not run hands-on tests.
Claude Code — at a glance
Claude Code is Anthropic's agentic coding tool that reads a codebase, edits files, runs commands, and works with git and other developer tools. It runs in the terminal, in VS Code and JetBrains extensions, in a desktop app, on the web at claude.ai/code, and from the Claude mobile app.
Try Claude Code →